Diatomite Modified With Alkyl Ketene Dimer For Hydrophobicity of Cellulosic Paper

Multi-functionalization of papermaking chemicals is one of its main developing strategies. Fillers and internal sizing agents are often mutually restricted in practice. Therefore, it is feasible to prepare a new papermaking chemical by combining its functions. A process of diatomite modified with Alkyl ketene dimer (AKD) was developed in this study. The modified diatomite (AD) can concurrently play the role of mineral filler and sizing agent in the papermaking process. With the equal dosage of AKD, the AD had better sizing and retention performance than the commercial AKD emulsion in the case of cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) and the CPAM/ bentonite retention system. The sizing mechanism of the AD can be interpreted as numerous hydrophobic sites and micro-surface structure of the paper sheet caused by the AD. Since the ester linkages were not detected in FT-IR spectra of the paper sheet filled by the AD, the chemical reaction may not be indispensable for its sizing performance. What’s more, an interesting “sticky” hydrophobicity phenomenon was observed when filling with AD. The approach in this study to prepare the “sticky” hydrophobic paper sheet can find its applications in some non-traditional application fields of cellulosic paper.

Preparation and characterization of tung oil-rosin-based polyester internal sizing agent

A series of tung oil-rosin-based polyester (TRP) used as internal sizing agents were prepared using rosin, tung oil, maleic anhydride, and glycerol. TRP structure and properties were examined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The TRP latexes were subsequently used as internal sizing agents, and the sizing properties were evaluated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), a video-based dynamic contact angle measuring device and a Cobb absorbency tester. The optimal conditions for preparing the TRP sizing agent were as follows: the hydroxy-carboxyl ratio of the material was 0.25; the maleic anhydride dosage was 20 % of rosin; and the tung oil dosage was 40 % of rosin. Under the best conditions, the sized paper Cobb-60 was 15.6 g / m 2 \text{g}/{\text{m}^{2}} , the tensile index was 45.1 N·m/g, the burst index was 3.1 kPa· m 2 {\text{m}^{2}} /g, and the tear index was 15.6 mN· m 2 {\text{m}^{2}} /g.

Effects of hydrophobic sizing on paper dry and wet-strength properties: A comparative study between AKD sizing of NBSK handsheets and rosin sizing of CTMP handsheets

Alkyl ketene dimer (AKD) and rosin sizing are used in papermaking to decrease paper’s tendency to absorb liquid water. Earlier information regarding the effects of internal sizing on paper dry strength is not consistent. In the present laboratory study, AKD sizing of handsheets made from Nordic bleached softwood pulp (NBSK), and rosin sizing of handsheets made from Nordic hardwood chemi-thermomechanical pulp (CTMP) were done via an internal sizing method, and by immersing handsheets in aqueous sizing agent dispersion. In the study, AKD sizing had no significant effect on the dry strength of NBSK handsheets. The result corresponds to practical experiences of papermakers. However, both AKD sizing methods resulted in a substantial and long-lasting increase of handsheet wet-strength. Unlike internal AKD sizing of NBSK handsheets, rosin internal sizing of CTMP handsheets resulted in decreased handsheet dry strength. The decrease indicates that, under the conditions present during the experiment, rosin sizing agents interfered with interfiber hydrogen bonding of CTMP fibers. Given that, in practice, no such undesired effects have been commonly linked to rosin sizing, the observed effect may be specific to sheet-making conditions. However, the effect of rosin sizing on strength properties and their variation cannot be ruled out completely.