Non-Contact Paper Thickness and Quality Monitoring Based on Mid-Infrared Optical Coherence Tomography and THz Time Domain Spectroscopy

In industrial paper production, online monitoring of a range of quality parameters is essential for ensuring that the performance and appearance of the final product is suitable for a given application. In this article, two optical sensing techniques are investigated for non-destructive, non-contact characterization of paper thickness, surface roughness, and production defects. The first technique is optical coherence tomography based on a mid-infrared supercontinuum laser, which can cover thicknesses from ~20–90 µm and provide information about the surface finish. Detection of subsurface voids, cuts, and oil contamination was also demonstrated. The second technique is terahertz time domain spectroscopy, which is used to measure paper thicknesses of up to 443 µm. A proof-of-concept thickness measurement in freely suspended paper was also demonstrated. These demonstrations highlight the added functionality and potential of tomographic optical sensing methods towards industrial non-contact quality monitoring.