Volume 6, Number 6
Dec 1993

People

• Dr. James C. Abbott retired in February from Proctor & Gamble, but intends to remain active in ASTM, TAPPI, and ISO while he consults part time on quality and quality management matters. He can be reached at 2869 Losantiville Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45213 (513/731-1159).
• Dennis Deegan retired in January from Westvaco. He lives in Connecticut and can be reached at 203/255-2461.
• Alex McKenzie, author of "Permanent Papers--From Then to When?" (Alkaline Paper Advocate, March 1992, p. 1-2, 4-5), died in June 1993. H.G. Higgins, an old colleague of his, describes in his "Letter from Australia" column in the March Tappi Journal how the short monograph McKenzie was working on at the time of his death was later prepared for publication. An Australian review of the monograph is described in the Literature section of this issue.

  It seems appropriate here to quote part of his article, reprinted in the March 1992 Alkaline Paper Advocate (p. 5), because of its relevance to the ISR workshop in July (see news article, this issue):

  "...To allow us the greatest freedom possible in choosing components for the permanent papers of the future, the following information must be obtained: (a) the stability under alkaline conditions of any currently available pulps which would in all other respects be adequate for the intended use, (b) the comparable stability of newly introduced pulps and (c) sufficient data on the physical properties of pulps prepared by new processes or from alternative fiber resources to ensure that the introduction of such pulps will not adversely affect the performance of products prepared from them. In this context, stability is often assessed only on the basis of strength loss, but color reversion should also be considered whenever good print contrast or accurate color rendition should be maintained.

  "The program outlined above represents a long-term plan with a continuing component which will be necessary for as long as new types of pulp are being developed. Eventually, the information generated should provide a guide for the formulation of permanent papers which is more soundly based (and hopefully less restricted) than is the case at present."