The Influence of Filler Content and Process Additives on Wet Web Strength and Runnability, 2011 PaperCon Conference

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Paper machine runnability is largely determined by the cohesive forces within the wet web and the adhesion of that web to roll and fabric surfaces. Papermakers wish to increase sheet filler content in order to reduce manufacturing costs. It is well known that cohesion of the never-dried web decreases as sheet filler content increases. This phenomenon is easily observable on commercial paper machines but difficult to quantify.

This paper details a laboratory technique for measuring never-dried wet web cohesion. The method is used with PCC-filled copy paper furnish to quantify the decrease in wet tensile strength with increasing filler content. Optimized wet end process additives are demonstrated to mitigate the decrease in cohesion. Use of the right wet end chemistry is shown to help overcome paper machine performance problems caused by increasing filler content.