Benefits of a Vendor/Customer Partnership in Improving White Water Chemistry, 1993 Nonwovens Conference Proceedings

Kimberly Harrold, James E. Jordan, Mickey G. Stratton

In a six-week trial, personnel at Tamko, a fiberglass shingle manufacture, and Calgon Corporation experimented with the use of a viscosity modifying polymer that is robust in a pH range of 6 to 8 and provides equivalent glass fiber dispersion at a 12% lower viscosity target (from 2.1 to 1.85 cp). Use of the experimental viscosity modifier also reduced foaming as well as variations in viscosity and binder makeup water rate. In addition, data indicates that Cross Machine (C.M.) tensile strength may have increased as a result of the lower viscosity.

Based on the results of trial, mechanical improvements were made and the viscosity modifier feed system repaired. The order of material addition also was changed to water, glass and then viscosity modifier. The percentage of solution of the viscosity modifier was reduced to 1% as well. Future tests will be conducted to confirm the validity of the first trail results via SPC data.

The following procedural changes also were considered :

- Aging the viscosity modifier solution

- Changing the injection point

- Diluting the concentrated viscosity modifier with low consistency white water

- Fine tuning the changes to the viscosity control procedure

Additional tests using WC data will be conducted to confirm the effectiveness of these changes. Reducing the C.O.D. in the waste water by lowering the viscosity level also is a topic for future investigation.