Carrageenan as a dry strength additive for papermaking.
Carrageenans are commercially important sulfated gums found in various species of red seaweeds (Rhodophyta), wherein they serve a structural function similar to that of pectins in land plants. In this study, carrageenan was used independently or in combination with cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) and/or Al2(SO4)3 to explore its application as a dry strength additive in papermaking. Strength index determination, ash content detection, FTIR characterization and SEM observation were performed on prepared handsheets. The results showed that with 0.6% Al2(SO4)3 and 0.2% carrageenan as additives, the tensile index increased by 13.53% and precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) retention increased by 57.06%. With 0.6% Al2(SO4)3, 0.2% carrageenan and 0.03% CPAM as additives, PCC retention increased by 121% while the tensile index did not fall compared to handsheets without additives, indicating that carrageenan could enhance the strength of handsheets and be used as an anionic dry strength agent.
College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Shanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, Shanxi Province P. R. China.|School of Chemical Engineering, Wuzhou University, Wuzhou, Guangxi Province P. R. China.
Zhenhua
Z
Liu
School of Chemical Engineering, Wuzhou University, Wuzhou, Guangxi Province P. R. China.
Xinping
X
Li
College of Bioresources Chemical and Materials Engineering, Shanxi University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, Shanxi Province P. R. China.
Wei
W
Xie