The aim of this study was to investigate the properties of hydrophobically modified (HM) quaterna-ry ammonium starch ethers for paper sizing. These starches possess temperature-responsive properties; that is, gelation or phase separation occurs at a certain temperature upon cooling. This insolubility of the HM starches in water at room temperature improved their performance as sizing agents. The contact angles for water on sized liner were substantially larger than on unsized liner. When the application temperature was well above the critical phase-separation temperature, larger contact angles were obtained for liner independently of pH compared with those at
the lower application temperature. Cobb60 values for liner decreased upon surface sizing, with a low pH and high application temperature giving lower water penetration. Contact angles on greaseproof paper decreased upon sur-face sizing as compared to unsized greaseproof paper, independently of pH and temperature. Greaseproof paper showed no great difference between unsized substrates and substrates sized with HM starch at different pH. This is
probably due to the already hydrophobic nature of greaseproof paper. However, the Cobb60 values increased at low pH and low application temperature. Surfactants were added to investigate how they affect the sized surface. Addition of surfactant reduces the contact angles, in spite of indications of complex formation.
