OPTIMIZATION OF HANDSHEET GREASEPROOF PROPERTIES: THE EFFECTS OF FURNISH, REFINING, FILLERS, AND BINDERS

Abstract

Internal addition of fluorochemical greaseproof agent was applied to furnishes of different fibers, filler, binder types, and loadings to examine their effects under different degrees of refining on the greaseproof indicators such as air resistance, water absorption, and the Kit values of the resulting handsheets. The results showed that more refining tended to produce a tighter textured paper which was more suitable for the greaseproof purpose. The Kit values of the resulting handsheets were found to correlate with a polynomial regression equation of the Gurley air resistance (A) of the paper with an equation of Kit no. = 2.51 + 0.064 A – 0.002 A2. The results also showed that furnishes that blended northern softwood and Eucalyptus pulps at ratios from 25:75 to 75:25, depending on the strength requirements, had the best greaseproof performance. Among the fillers, sericite was superior to bentonite and PCC for contributing to greaseproof properties. However, filler loading exceeding 6.1% was undesirable. Soluble starch and polyvinyl alcohol were suitable binders for making greaseproof papers. Their dosages should be kept between 0.4 to 1.6%.

Keywords

• Greaseproof paper
• Fluorochemical greaseproof agent
• Kit no.
• Degree of refining
• Sericite