Paper Chemicals
The pulp chemicals are used to facilitate processing of pulp, optimizing the paper production processes and increasing the productivity as well as improving the properties of the paper that is produced. Meanwhile, Paper chemicals designate a group of chemicals that modify the properties of paper. These chemicals can be used to alter the paper in many ways, including changing its color and brightness, or by increasing its strength and resistance to water.
Sizing Agents (Alkyl Ketene Dimer – AKD) – Sizing is used during paper manufacture to reduce the paper’s tendency when dry to absorb liquid, with the goal of allowing inks and paints to remain on the surface of the paper and to dry there, rather than be absorbed into the paper. This provides a more consistent, economical, and precise printing, painting, and writing surface. This is achieved by curbing the paper fibers tendency to absorb liquids by capillary action. In addition, sizing affects abrasiveness, creasibility, finish, printability, smoothness, and surface bond strength and decreases surface porosity and fuzzing.
Retention Aids – A Retention agent is a polymer with high cationic, positively charged groups that is added to bind fillers to the paper. Fillers, such as calcium carbonate, usually have a weak surface charge.
An additional feature of a retention agent is to accelerate the dewatering in the wire section of the paper machine.