Nanotechnology in Practice: Improving Machine Performance in a Newsprint Mill, 2003 Spring Technical Conference Proceedings

The use of microparticle retention systems has become increasingly important in the past decade. Microparticle systems tend to give better retention, drainage, and formation than do conventional polymer retention systems. The small, tight flocs, which form with the aid of microparticle retention aids and adsorb strongly to the fiber furnish components, create a more open and uniform sheet structure in paper. Since their introduction a number of years ago, microparticle systems have consisted mostly of two types, silica - cationic starch based, or bentonite - polyacrylamide based. In the last few years, a number of other competing technologies have been developed and used successfully.

Papermakers have continued to seek more advanced technology that would allow them to meet stringent requirements for formation and opacity in lightweight fine paper grades as well as superior retention of fillers and fines. For heavier weight grades of paper and paperboard, increased or high response drainage is often key to keeping up consistent machine speeds without sacrificing paper and paperboard properties.

This paper will present a newsprint case study using an engineered colloidal technology. We will present the benefits associated with the use of this technology. Areas discussed will be wet-end chemistry, on-line first pass retention control, process stability, and impact on paper quality.