Optimizing Mfas With Starch and Scp Products, 1996 Metered Size Press Forum Proceedings

Thomas J. Hurd

Penford Products Co.

Kim M. Kicza

Penford Products Co.

While the application of clear size on the paper machine continues to be dominated by the conventional size press, the metering film applicator (MFA) has become a growing part of papermaking. MFAs were developed to overcome inherent disadvantages of the pond mode of surface sizing. Film transfer size presses were designed to fulfill the need for improved quality, better efficiency (runnability), higher speeds, and lower energy consumption. These units have also afforded the papermaker the opportunity to apply precoat and/or coating formulations ranging from low solids and viscosity to high solids and viscosity. The MFAs present the opportunity to improve existing quality and develop new and competitive grades through pigmenting and/or precoating. For our discussion, we will explore differences in and requirements for clear size applications on MFAs and then expand this to look at starch copolymer (SCP) products and their use as binder components in pigmenting and/or precoating on film transfer size presses.