Abstract
Linerboards have been produced by recycling recovered paper such as old corrugated containers(OCC). Usually linerboards produced during summer season show weak strength compared with those of produced during winter. In order to cope with the weak strength of linerboards produced during summer, and to confirm uniform quality, it is important to understand the seasonal effect on strength properties. Effect of pulping temperature of the OCC for linearboard production was investigated by controlling pulping temperatures at $18^{\circ}C$ and $51^{\circ}C$. Low pulping temperature ($18^{\circ}C$) caused more generation of fines in stock. Consequently retention and drainage of linerboard defibrated at high pulping temperature ($51^{\circ}C$) were better than those of $18^{\circ}C$. Strength properties of handsheet at low pulping temperature were higher than those of high pulping temperature and it could be confirmed that low pulping temperature during winter is one reason of seasonal variation of recycled linerboard strength. It is considered that surface modification of OCC fibers by harsh pulping action during winter caused increase of paper strength.