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Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2026-11-12 Origin: Site
Softwood pulp is made from long-fibre conifers (pine, spruce) and gives tissue its tensile, tear and wet-web strength, while hardwood pulp is made from short-fibre trees (eucalyptus, birch) and gives softness, smoothness, opacity and absorption. Softwood fibres are roughly 2.5–3.8 mm long; hardwood fibres are only 0.7–1.2 mm. Tissue mills rarely use one alone — they blend the two, commonly with a long-fibre fraction of about 25–40%, to balance strength against the soft hand feel consumers want.
Factor | Softwood pulp | Hardwood pulp |
|---|---|---|
Common grades | NBSK (Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft) | BHKP (Bleached Hardwood Kraft) |
Tree species | Pine, spruce, fir | Eucalyptus, birch, beech, acacia |
Fibre length | About 2.5–3.8 mm (long) | About 0.7–1.2 mm (short) |
Main contribution | Tensile, tear, wet-web strength, runability | Softness, smoothness, formation, opacity, absorption, bulk |
Sheet character | Strong, resilient, can feel coarser | Soft, fine, uniform, gentle on skin |
Typical role | Strength backbone | Filler and softness provider |
The difference starts with fibre morphology. A long softwood fibre has more contact area and forms more inter-fibre bonds, so it carries load across the web. This is what lets a parent roll survive high-speed unwinding, embossing and rewinding without breaking.
Short hardwood fibres pack more uniformly, producing an even formation with a smooth, soft surface and good opacity. They also support absorbency and bulk, which matter for facial tissue and towels. Used alone, however, short fibres do not build enough strength for a fast converting line.
NBSK (Northern Bleached Softwood Kraft) is the benchmark long-fibre pulp. Its strong, durable fibres are the strength component in premium tissue and are valued for wet-web strength.
BHKP (Bleached Hardwood Kraft) is the short-fibre workhorse. Eucalyptus BHKP is widely used for its softness and uniform formation; birch is noted for relatively high strength. Research comparing hardwood species reports that birch can deliver higher dry and wet tensile strength than eucalyptus or beech, even though all three are short-fibre pulps.
A tissue furnish is engineered to hit both a strength target and a softness target. The exact ratio depends on the product and the creping process.
End product | Typical balance | Reason |
|---|---|---|
Toilet tissue | Higher hardwood, softwood around 25–35% | Softness and bulk with enough run strength |
Facial tissue | Mostly hardwood, softwood around 25–35% | Gentle feel, smooth surface, low lint |
Napkin | Moderate softwood, around 30–40% | Needs fold stiffness and tear resistance |
Kitchen / hardwound towel | Higher softwood, often 35–50%+ | Wet strength and toughness for wet use |
Increasing the softwood fraction raises tensile and tear strength (ISO 12625-4/5) but can make the sheet feel firmer and reduce bulk. Increasing hardwood improves softness and formation but lowers the strength margin. Refining and creping are then used to fine-tune the balance without changing the furnish.
Strength and runability: driven mainly by long softwood fibres; critical for avoiding web breaks.
Softness and hand feel: driven mainly by short hardwood fibres and the crepe ratio.
Opacity and appearance: short fibres improve formation and opacity (ISO 12625-16).
Absorbency: hardwood fibres and sheet bulk support water uptake (ISO 12625-8).
Sustainability: both can be sourced as FSC-certified virgin pulp; recycled and bamboo are separate alternatives.
HUAXIN supplies virgin-wood parent and jumbo reels using controlled softwood/hardwood furnishes, with width 200–2850 mm, GSM 11–42 g/m², diameter up to 1150 mm and a 76 mm (3 in) core. GSM by product: toilet 14–22, facial 14–18, napkin 16–22 and kitchen 32–40 g/m². Reels are tested against ISO 12625 Parts 3–8, with moisture held at 4–7%. A full container holds about 26 reels / 12–13 tons.
Which is stronger, softwood or hardwood pulp? Softwood pulp is stronger. Its long fibres (about 2.5–3.8 mm) create more inter-fibre bonds, giving higher tensile, tear and wet-web strength. Hardwood's short fibres (0.7–1.2 mm) prioritise softness and formation instead.
Why is hardwood pulp used in facial tissue? Hardwood fibres are short and fine, so they produce a soft, smooth, uniform sheet with good opacity and low lint — exactly the gentle feel facial tissue needs. A share of softwood is still added for line strength.
What is the typical softwood-to-hardwood ratio in tissue? It varies by product, but a long-fibre (softwood) share of roughly 25–40% is common. Towels use more softwood for wet strength, while facial and toilet tissue use more hardwood for softness.
What is the difference between NBSK and BHKP? NBSK is bleached softwood kraft pulp with long, strong fibres that provide strength. BHKP is bleached hardwood kraft pulp with short fibres that provide softness and smoothness. Most tissue is a blend of the two.
