MXPA00012076A - Sized paper and its use in high speed converting or reprographics operations - Google Patents

Abstract

A process for using paper in high speed converting or reprographics operations, comprising the steps of providing paper sized under alkaline conditions with alkenyl succinic anhydride (ASA) and 2-oxetanone that is not solid at 35°C, and using the paper in high speed converting or reprographic operations. A process for making paper under alkaline conditions comprising the steps of providing sizing agent comprising alkenyl succinic anhydride (ASA) and 2-oxetanone that is not solid at 35°C, and sizing the paper with the sizing agent.

Description

"PAPER APPRESSED UNDER ALKALINE CONDITIONS AND ITS USE IN HIGH SPEED CONVERSION OR REPROGRAPHIC OPERATIONS" FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention tes to processes for using paper prepared under alkaline conditions in high speed conversion or reprographic operations.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The amount of fine paper produced under alkaline conditions has increased rapidly, stimulated by cost savings, the ability to use precipitated calcium carbonate, an increased demand for improved paper staying and gloss, and an increased tendency to close the wet end of the paper. paper machine Many current applications for fine paper require specific attention to sizing before conversion or end use. Examples are high-speed photocopying paper, envelopes, "bond" in forms including computer printer paper, and adding machine paper. The most common sizing agents for fine paper manufactured under alkaline conditions are succinic alkenyl anhydride (ASA) and alkyl ketene dimer (AKD). Both types have reactive functional groups that are believed to be linked covalently to cellulose fiber, and hydrophobic tails that are oriented away from the fiber. The nature and orientation of these hydrophobic glues cause the fiber to repel water. Commercial AKDs containing a beta-lactone ring (also known as a 2-oxetanone ring), are prepared by the dimerization of alkyl ketenes manufactured from two saturated straight-chain fatty acid chlorides, the most widely used ones being prepared from the palmitic and / or stearic acid. Other dimers of ketene, such as alkenyl-based ketene dimer (Aquapel® 421, obtainable from Hercules Incorporated, Wilmington, DE, USA), have also been used commercially ASA-based commercial sizing agents are prepared By reacting maleic anhydride with olefins containing from about 14 to about 22 carbon atoms, although the ASA and AKD sizing agents are commercially satisfactory, they have disadvantages: In the paper machine, the ASA frequently causes deposits that can give As a result, paper weft breaks and holes in the paper, ASA addition levels above 2.0 to 2.5 pounds per tonne of paper usually lead to unacceptable paper machine operating capacity and paper quality problems. However, addition levels greater than 2.0 to 2.5 pounds per ton are frequently required to fine-tune the qualities of paper Manufactured with high levels of filling or loading material. Finally, because the ASA can not be shipped and stored as an emulsion for extended periods of time, the paper manufacturer must prepare the emulsion immediately before use. For AKD-based sizing, the most frequently cited inconvenience is the rate of sizing development in the papermaking machine. Frequently, a prolonged period of healing is required before the development of the sizing is completed. Both types of sizing agents, particularly the AKD type, have been associated with handling problems in the typical high speed conversion operations required for current uses of fine paper manufactured under alkaline conditions (referred to as fine alkaline paper). ). Problems include reduced operating speed in form presses and other converting machines, double feeds or interlocking in high-speed copiers, and mismatches or registration during printing and envelope folding equipment operating at high speeds. Recently, 2-oxetanone sizing agents that are solid at 35 ° C have been introduced (e.g., the Precis® 2000 sizing agent obtainable from Hercules Incorporated, Wilmington, DE) to address the problem of handling problems in high speed conversion operations. One of these management problems in high speed conversion operations has been identified and measured as described in "Improving the Conversion and Functioning of Final Use of Fine Alkaline Paper", TAPPI 1994 Paper Makers Conference Proceedings, Book 1 (1994) , pages 155 to 163, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. The problem occurs when using an IBM 3800 high-speed continuous-form laser printer that has no special modifications designed to facilitate the handling of alkaline fine paper. This commercially significant laser printer, therefore, can serve as an effective testing device for defining the convertibility of various types of paper stocked in a state-of-the-art conversion equipment and its subsequent end-use operation. In particular, the "wavy" phenomenon provides a measurable indication of the degree of slippage in the IBM 3800 printer between the non-driven roll beyond the fuse and the driven roll above the stacker. This undulation involves a divergence of the paper path from the straight line between the rolls, which is 5 centimeters above the base plate, causing coincidence errors and bending in the stacker. The waviness regime during the constant state operating time is measured as the corrugation height in centimeters above the straight paper path after 600 seconds of operating time and multiplied by 10,000. Fine paper primed with typical alkaline AKD at sizing addition levels greater than 1 kilogram per 0.9 metric tonne of paper often shows an unacceptable ripple rate, typically in the order of 20 to 80. Paper handling regimes in other machinery high-speed conversion, such as the Hamilton-Stevens continuous-form press, or the Winkler &; Dunnebier CH also provide numerical convertibility measures.

The European Patent Application No. 0629741 Al discloses pepel sizing with the sizing agent 2-oxetanone that is a mixture of alkyl ketene dimer and multimers of 2-oxetanone of various molecular weights. The paper exhibits levels of sizing comparable to those obtained with current ketene dimer and sizings alkenyl succinic anhydride alkyl, and provides improved conversion and reprographic machines of high speed operation. U.S. Patent Number 5,685,815, and the European Patent Application Number 0 666 368 disclose paper which is prepared in a 2-oxetanone sizing agent and which does not encounter problems of machine feeding in high-speed conversion or reprographic machines. The 2-oxetanone sizing agent is liquid at less than 35 ° C. and is prepared from fatty acids having structural irregularities in their hydrocarbon chains such as carbon-to-carbon double bonds and chain branching. U.S. Patent No. 5,725,731 discloses thin paper sizing compositions that do not encounter machine feeding problems in high speed conversion. The sizing compositions are not solid at 35 ° C and comprise a mixture of 2-oxetanone compounds which are the reaction product of a mixture of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. US Patent 5,407,537 Number discloses a method for using compounds reactive sizing synthetic eliminates the use of an emulsifier and reduces hydrolysis size composition during their residence time in the process water. Preferred synthetic reactive sizing compounds are the succinic alkenyl anhydrides wherein the alkenyl group has from 8 to 16 carbon atoms. The possibility of using mixtures of succinic alkenyl anhydrides and alkyl ketene dimers is disclosed. The United Kingdom GB Patent Application 2,252,984 A discloses a sizing composition which is a mixture of 3 to 50 weight percent dimer of cetono alkyl and 97-50 weight percent of the cyclic acid anhydride alkyl or alkenyl. Swedish Patent Application Number 893,906 discloses a packaging board for fluid sized with combinations of the alkyl ketene dimer and alkenyl succinic anhydride. The alkyl ketene dimers disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,407,537, U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 2,252,984 A, and Swedish Patent Application No. 893,906 are solid alkyl ketene dimers. There is a need for alkaline fine paper that provides improved handling performance in typical conversion and reprographic operations. At the same time, sizing development levels should be comparable to that obtained with the current 2-oxetanone or ASA supply levels for alkaline fine paper.

COMPENDIUM OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a process for using paper in high-speed converting or reprographic operations, comprising the steps of providing paper subjected to sizing under alkaline conditions with succinic alkenyl anhydride (ASA) and 2-oxetanone which is not a solid at 35 ° C, and use the paper in high-speed conversion or reprographic operations. Preferably, the 2-oxetanone sizing agent comprises at least one 2-oxetanone compound which is the reaction product of a reaction mixture comprising unsaturated monocarboxylic fatty acid, wherein the term "fatty acid" is used for reasons of convenience to imply a fatty acid or fatty acid halide.

In another embodiment, the invention relates to a process for making paper under alkaline conditions comprising the steps of providing the sizing agent comprising succinic alkenyl anhydride (ASA) and 2-oxetanone and which is not solid at 35 ° C, and sizing the paper with the sizing agent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figures 1 and 2 are graphs of the natural aged sizing level obtained at various levels of addition with (a) 2-oxetanone which is not solid at 35 ° C. (b) succinic alkenyl anhydride (ASA) and (c) mixtures of ASA and 2-oxetanone which is not solid at 35 ° C.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Next, the term "fatty acid" will be used for reasons of convenience to imply a fatty acid or fatty acid halide. The person skilled in the art will recognize that this term is used herein when referring to fatty acids for use in making sizing compositions, since the fatty acids are converted to acid halides, preferably chlorides, in the first step of the manufacture of the 2-oxetanone compounds, and that the invention can be carried into practice by starting with fatty acids or with fatty acids already converted to their acid halide. In addition, the person skilled in the art will readily recognize that "fatty acid" usually refers to either pure fatty acids or fatty acid halides, or to a mixture or dissolution of fatty acids or fatty acid halides since the fatty acids they are usually derived from natural sources and therefore are usually mixtures or combinations. The 2-oxetanones of this invention are disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,685,815 and 5,725,731. The 2-oxetanones, which can be a mixture of 2-oxetanones, are not solid at 35 ° C (they are not essentially crystalline, semicrystalline or paraffinous solids, that is, they flow during heating without heat of fusion). Preferably, the 2-oxetanones are not solids at 25 ° C, and most preferably they are not yet solid at 20 ° C. Still particularly preferably, the 2-oxetanones are liquid at 35 ° C, more preferably liquids at 25 ° C, and particularly preferably liquids at 20 ° C. The 2-oxetanones according to this invention are a mixture of compounds of the following general class: wherein n is preferably 0 to 6, more preferably 0 to 3, and especially preferably 0; R and R ", which may be the same or different, are straight or branched chain saturated or unsaturated alkyl groups having from 8 to 24 carbon atoms, R 'is a saturated or unsaturated straight-chain alkyl group or branched having from 2 to 40 carbon atoms, preferably from 4 to 32 carbon atoms, and wherein at least 25 percent of the groups of R and R "in the mixture of compounds is not saturated. The 2-oxetanones may comprise a mixture of 2-oxetanone compounds which are the reaction product of a reaction mixture comprising unsaturated monocarboxylic fatty acids. The reaction mixture may further comprise saturated monocarboxylic fatty acids and dicarboxylic acids. Preferably the reaction mixture for preparing the mixture of 2-oxetanone compounds comprises at least 25 weight percent unsaturated monocarboxylic fatty acids and more preferably at least 70 weight percent unsaturated monocarboxylic fatty acids . The unsaturated monocarboxylic fatty acids included in the reaction mixture for the preparation of the 2-oxetanone compound preferably have from 10 to 26 carbon atoms, more preferably from 14 to 22 carbon atoms, and especially preferably from 16 carbon atoms. to 18 carbon atoms. These acids include, for example, oleic, linoleic, dodecenoic, tetradecenoic (myristoleic), hexadecenoic (palmitoleic), octadecadienoic (linolelaidic), octadecatrienoic acids (linolenic), eicosenoic (gadoleic), eicosatetraenoic (arachidonic), cis-13-docosenoic (erucic), trans-13-docosenoic (brasidic) and docosapentaenoic (clupanodonic), and their acid halides, preferably chlorides. One or more of the monocarboxylic acids can be used. Preferred unsaturated monocarboxylic fatty acids are oleic acids, linoleic, linolenic and palmitoleic, and their acid halides. Especially preferred unsaturated monocarboxylic fatty acids are oleic and linoleic acids, and their acid halides. The saturated monocarboxylic fatty acids used to prepare the 2-oxetanone compounds used in this invention preferably have from 10 to 26 carbon atoms, more preferably from 14 to 22 carbon atoms, and especially preferably from 16 to 18 carbon atoms. of carbon. These acids include, for example, stearic, isostearic, myristic, palmitic, margaric, pentadecanoic, decanoic, undecanoic, dodecanoic, tridecanoic, nonadecanoic, arachidic and behenic acids, and their halides, preferably chlorides. One or more of the saturated monocarboxylic fatty acids can be used. Preferred acids are palmitic and stearic. The alkyl dicarboxylic acids used to prepare the 2-oxetanone compounds for use in this invention preferably have from 6 to 44 carbon atoms, and most preferably from 9 to 10, 22 or 36 carbon atoms. These dicarboxylic acids include, for example, sebacic, azelaic, 1,10-dodecanedioic, suberic, brazilic, docosanedioic, and C36 dimer acids, eg, EMPOL 1008 obtainable from Henkel-Emery, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, and its halides, preferably chlorides. One or more of these dicarboxylic acids can be used. Dicarboxylic acids with 9 to 10 carbon atoms are the most preferred. Especially preferred dicarboxylic acids are sebacic and azelaic acids. When dicarboxylic acids are used in the preparation of 2-oxetanones for use in this invention, the maximum molar ratio of dicarboxylic acid to monocarboxylic acid (the sum of both saturated and unsaturated) is preferably about 5. A most preferred maximum is about 4, and the especially preferred maximum is about 2. The mixture of 2-oxetanone compounds can be prepared using known methods for the preparation of normal ketene dimers. In the first step, the acid halides, preferably acid chlorides, are formed from a mixture of fatty acids, or a mixture of fatty acids and dicarboxylic acid, using PCI3 or another halogenating agent, preferably chlorination. The acid halides are then converted to cetenes in the presence of tertiary amines (including trialkylamines and cyclic alkyl amines), preferably triethylamine. The ketene residues are then dimerized to form the 2-oxetanones. The succinic alkenyl anhydrides (ASA) used to mix with the 2-oxetanones in this invention are described by CE. Farley and R.B. Wasser in "The Sizing of Paper, Second Edition", edited by W.F. Reynolds, Tappi Press, 1989, pages 51 to 62, which is incorporated herein by reference. ASAs are composed of unsaturated hydrocarbon chains containing suspended succinic anhydride groups. The liquid SAs, which are preferred in the processes of this invention, are usually made in a two step process starting with an alpha-olefin. The olefin is first isomerized by randomly moving the double bond from the alpha position. In the second step, the isomerized olefin is reacted with an excess of maleic anhydride to provide the final structure of ASA as indicated in the following reaction scheme.

Olefin Anhydride Anhydride Succinic Isomerized Male Alkenyl (ASA) If the isomerization step is omitted, ASAs that are solid at room temperature can be produced. The starting alpha olefin preferably is within the range of C-14 to C-22 and can be linear or branched. For the object of this invention, it is preferred; more than ASA are prepared by reaction of maleic anhydride with olefins containing from 14 to 18 carbon atoms. Typical structures found in ASA are: disclosed in US Patent Number 4,040,900, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. A variety of ASA is available commercially from Albemarle Corporation, of Baton Rouge, La. Representative starting olefins for reaction with maleic anhydride to prepare ASA for use in this invention include: octadecene, tetradecene, hexadecene, eichodecene, 2-n-hexyl-1-octene, 2-n-octyl-1-dodecene, 2-n-octyl-l-decene, 2-n-dodecyl-l-octene, 2-n-octyl-l-octene, 2-n-octyl-l-nonene, 2-n-hexyl-1-decene and 2-n-heptyl-l-octene. In mixtures of ASA and 2-oxetanone, the maximum weight ratio of 2-oxetanone to ASA is preferably about 9: 1. Preferably, the maximum is about 4: 1, and the especially preferred is about 2: 1. The minimum ratio of 2-oxetanone to ASA is preferably about 1: 9. Preferably the minimum is about 1: 4, and especially preferably about 1: 2. In general, the sizes of this invention are used in the form of dispersions or emulsions, which can be prepared by methods well known in the art. It is preferred that the sizes be used as internal sizing agents, that is, they are added to the slurry of pulp prior to the formation of the sheet. The sizing components ASA and 2-oxetanone can be premixed before addition, or added separately. The paper of this invention is preferably prepared to a total sizing addition rate (ie, ASA plus 2-oxetanone) of at least 0.2 kilogram, more preferably at least 0.8 kilogram, and especially preferably at least 1 kilogram / 0.9 metric ton or higher. For example, it may be in the form of "bond" paper of continuous forms, paper of continuous perforated forms, paper for manufacturing envelopes, as well as converted products, such as copy paper and envelopes. Preferably, the alkaline paper made according to the process of this invention contains a water-soluble inorganic salt of an alkali metal, preferably sodium chloride (NaCl). However, the paper of this invention will often be made also without NaCl. There are several advantages to the process of this invention for using paper in high-speed reprographic or conversion operations compared to the process where the paper is treated with either ASA alone or with 2-oxetanone that is not solid 35 ° C only. First, at moderate to low sizing addition levels, the paper of this invention has a higher level of natural aged sizing (sizing after being aged for 7 days at room temperature) than sizing treated paper with an equivalent amount of sizing. 2-oxetanone that is not solid at 35 ° C. Second, paper is produced with a lower level of papermaking machine deposits than paper produced at equal levels of sizing using ASA sizing. Third, a better machine sizing is obtained with ASA and 2-oxetanone which is not solid at 35 ° C than that which is obtained when 2-oxetanone is used which is not solid at 35 ° C alone. This is frequently important for the operating capacity in the papermaking machine. In addition, the process of this invention is also an improvement in relation to the process wherein the paper is subjected to sizing using ASA and solid alkyl ketene dimers. When the solid alkyl ketene dimer is used, special equipment must be used to melt the alkyl ketene dimer to prepare the aqueous dispersions. This fusion step is not necessary for the use of liquid 2-oxetanone. The paper of this invention finds no significant machine feeding problems in high speed conversion machines or in reprographic operations. In particular, the paper in accordance with this invention can be made into a roll of "bond" paper of continuous shapes having a basis weight of about 6.8 to 10.9 kilograms / 121 square meters and which is set at a rate of addition of less about 0.68 kilogram / 0.9 metric ton, and then capable of being operated on the IBM Model 3800 high speed continuous form laser printer, without significant problems for feeding into the machine. Furthermore, the preferred paper, according to the invention, which can be made in sheets of 21.6 centimeters by 28 centimeters of the reprographic paper having a basic weight of approximately 6.8 to 10.9 kilograms / 121 square meters, is capable of operating in a printer or high speed laser copier. When the paper is subjected to sizing treatment at a total sizing addition rate (ie, ASA plus 2-oxetanone) it is preferably at least about 0.68 kilogram / 0.9 metric ton, and most preferably at least of approximately 1 kilogram / 0.9 metric ton, it is capable of operating in the IBM 3825 high-speed copier without causing incorrect feeds or interlocks at a rate of more than 5 in 10,000 sheets, preferably a rate of no more than 1 in 10,000 leaves. In comparison, paper primed with normal AKD has a higher rate of double feeds in the IBM 3825 high-speed copier (14 double feeds in 14,250 sheets). In a conventional copy machine operation, 10 double feeds in 10,000 are unacceptable. A manufacturer of machines considers that a double feeding in 10,000 sheets is unacceptable. The paper of this invention in the form of a roll of "bond" paper of continuous shapes having a basis weight of about 6.8 to 10.9 kilograms / 121 square meters can be converted into a continuous perforated form normal in a press for continuous forms to a press speed of approximately 390 meters at 600 meters per minute or more. The preferred paper according to the invention, in the form of a roll of "bond" paper of continuous shapes having a basis weight of approximately 6.8 to 10.9 kilograms / 121 square meters, and which is treated with a rate of addition of at least about 1 kilogram per 0.9 metric ton can be converted into a continuous perforated normal form in the press for Halmiton-Stevens continuous forms at a press speed of at least about 541 meters per minute, preferably at least approximately 579 meters per minute - - The paper of this invention can also be made into an envelope paper roll having a basis weight of about 6.8 to 10.9 kilograms per 121 square meters which is subjected to sizing treatment at an addition rate of at least about 1 kilogram / 0.9 metric ton. The paper can be converted to at least about 900 envelopes per minute, preferably at least about 1000 per minute in a Winkler envelope doubler & Dunnebier CH. The paper of this invention can be operated at a speed of at least about 58 sheets per minute in a high speed sheet feed copier (IBM 3825) with less than 1 in 10,000 double feeds or latches. The paper of this invention is capable of operating in a laser printer of continuous forms at high speed with a ripple rate of at least about 10 percent less, preferably about 20 percent less, than that which occurs when it is made work on the same printer a roll of bond paper of continuous shapes that has the same basic weight and subjected to treatment with sizing at the same level with the AKD sizing made of a mixture of stearic and palmitic acids, after 10 minutes of time of operation.

The paper of this invention is capable of being operated in a high speed sheet feed copier (IBM 3825) at a rate of about 58 sheets per minute with at least about 50 percent less, preferably about 70 percent less , double feeds or interlocking that the number of double feeds or interlocking caused when operated in the same copier, sheets of paper that have the same basic weight and subjected to sizing treatment at the same level with the AKD sizing made of a mixture of stearic and palmitic acids. The paper of this invention is also capable of becoming a continuous perforated normal form in a press for continuous forms at a press speed of at least 3 percent higher, preferably at least 5 percent or higher, than the paper that has the same basic weight and is subjected to treatment with sizing at the same level with an AKD sizing made from a mixture of stearic and palmitic acids.

Experimental Procedures All parts, percentages, etc. of the present are by weight unless otherwise specified.

The paper for evaluation in the IBM 3800 was prepared in a pilot paper machine. To produce a typical bond-type papermaking material, the supply of pulp (three parts of Sudeña hardwood kraft pulp and one part of Sudeña softwood kraft pulp) was refined to a 425 milliliter Canadian Normal Refining (CSF) using a double disk refiner. Prior to the addition of the filler material to the pulp supply (10 percent precipitated calcium carbonate with medium particle size), the pH, alkalinity and hardness of the papermaking material was adjusted using the appropriate amounts of H2SO4, NaHC 3, NaOH and CaCl 2, at a pH of 7.8 to 8.0, alkalinity of 150 to 200 ppm, and hardness of 100 ppm. The 2-oxetanone compounds were prepared by methods conventionally used to prepare the commercial 2-oxetanone compounds, that is, acid chlorides of a mixture of fatty acids are formed using a conventional chlorinating agent, and then the acid chlorides are dehydrochloran in the presence of an appropriate base. The ASA was C 16 C 18 Alkenylsuccinic Anhydride, obtained from Albemarle Corp., of Baton Rouge, LA. Emulsions of mixtures of ASA / 2-oxetanone were prepared immediately before use by methods described by CE. Farley & R.B. Wasser, in "The Sizing of Paper (Second Edition)", edited by W.F. Reynolds, Tappi Press, 1989, pages 51 to 62 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The emulsions were prepared using Stalok 400 cationic starch (Obtainable from A.E. Staley Manufacturing Co., from Decatur IL) at a level of 3: 1 starch to the sizing agent. The conditions of the wet end of the sizing agent, the cationic starch substituted with quaternary amine (0.75 percent for Example 3, and 0.5 percent for Examples 1 and 2), alum (0.2 percent), and retention aid ( 0.025 percent) were carried out. The temperature of the material in the upper box and the white water tray were controlled at a temperature of 43.3 ° C. The wet presses were adjusted to 2.8 kilograms per square centimeter. A profile of the dryer that provided 1 to 2 percent moisture in the sizing press and 4 to 6 percent moisture in the reel was also used 23.4 meters per minute. Approximately 15.9 kilograms / 0.9 metric ton of an oxidized starch, Stayco C (AE Staley Manufacturing Co., Decatur IL), and 0.45 kilogram / 0.9 metric ton of NaCl were added to the sizing press (54.4 ° C, pH 8). ). The calender pressure and reel moisture were adjusted to obtain a Sheffield smoothness of 150 flow units on the reel (Column number 2, on the felt on the up side). A 35-minute roll of paper was collected and turned into a commercial form press into two boxes of normal shapes of 21.6 by 28 centimeters. Samples were also collected before and after each 35-minute roll to test natural aged sizing and basic weight 20.8 kilograms / 279 square meters, and smoothing test. The converted paper was allowed to equilibrate in the printer room for at least one day before evaluation. Each paper box allowed an evaluation of 10 to 14 minutes of evaluation of 66.7 meters per minute, in the IBM 3800. All samples were tested in duplicate. Normal acid fine paper was used for at least two minutes between each evaluation to re-establish the initial conditions of the machine. In order to establish whether a sizing agent contributed to the difficulties in conversion operations, the paper was made into a pilot paper machine, converted into shapes, and then printed on a IBM 3800 high-speed printer. Operating capacity in IBM 3800 was used as a measure of conversion performance. Specifically, the height in centimeters at which the paper rippled between two rolls defined in IBM 3800 and the rate at which the ripple occurred was used to quantify the conversion operation. The faster and higher the blade undulated, the worse was the conversion function. The Hercules Sizing Test (HST) is a standard test in the industry to measure the degree of sizing. This method employs an aqueous dye solution as the penetrating material to allow optical detection of the liquid front as it moves through the sheet. The apparatus determines the time required for the reflectance of the surface of the sheet not in contact with the penetrating material to drop to a predetermined percentage of its original reflectance. All the HST test data disclosed measures the seconds at a reflection of 80 percent with 1 percent formic acid ink mixed with green naphthol B dye unless otherwise mentioned. The use of formic acid ink is a more serious test than neutral ink and tends to provide faster test times. High HST values are better than low values.

Example 1 In this example, a 1: 1 mixture of 2-oxetanone and succinic alkenyl anhydride was evaluated for sizing efficiency at various levels of addition. For comparison purposes, samples of 2-oxetanone and ASA were only carried out under the same conditions. The 2-oxetanone was prepared by the usual procedures using Emersol-221 as the feedstock. The Emersol-221, obtainable from Henkel-Emery, of Cincinnati, OH, had the following composition: oleic acid 73 percent linoleic acid 8 palmitoleic acid 6 myristoleyolic acid 3 linolenic acid 1 saturated fatty acids 9. The ASA was C16C18 Alkenylsuccinic Anhydride, obtained from Albemarle Corp., of Baton Rouge, LA. The evaluation data are in Table 1 and are presented graphically in Figure 1. The data indicate that the naturally aged sizing for mixtures of ASA / 2-oxetanone is less than that of ASA alone but greater than that for 2- oxetanone alone at equivalent sizing addition levels.

TABLE 1 Sizing Agent Experiment Adding Level Apressed Sizing, Aged Pound / Natural Dry Paper Ton (HST) Seconds 1A 2-Oxetanone 1.5 (for comparison) IB 2-Oxetanone 2.25 82 (for comparison) 1C 2-Oxetanone 3.0 143 (for comparison) ID ASA 1.1 34 (for comparison) 1E ASA 1.4 153 (for comparison) 1F ASA 1.7 (for comparison) comparison) 1: 1 1G 2-oxetanone / ASA 1.4 41 1: 1 1H 2-oxetanone / ASA 116 1: 1 II 2-oxetanone / ASA 2.25 194 Example 2 In this example, 2-oxetanone mixtures of succinic alkenyl anhydride were evaluated at two ratios for sizing efficiency at various levels of addition. For comparison purposes, samples of the sizing agent of 2-oxetanone alone and ASA were only operated under the same conditions. The 2-oxetanone and ASA were the same as those used in Example 1. The results are in Table 2 and are presented graphically in Figure 2. The data show that at ratios of 2-oxetanone / ASA of 3: 1 and 65 : 35% of natural aged sizing is less than that of ASA alone but greater than with 2-oxetanone alone at less than about an addition level of 2.75 pounds per ton.

Table 2 Experiment Sizing Agent Addition Level Apresto Sizing, Aged Pound / Natural Dry Paper Ton (HST) Seconds 2A 2 - Oxetanone 1.5 (comparison) 2B 2 - Oxetanone 2.25 50 (for comparison) 2C 2 - Oxetanone 3.0 289 (for comparison) 2D ASA 1.1 34 (comparison) 2E ASA 1.4 178 (of comparison 2F ASA 1.7 226 (comparison 3: 1 2G 2 - oxetanone / ASA 1.5 14 3: 1 2H 2 - oxetanone / ASA 2.25 128 3: 1 21 2 - oxetanone / ASA 3.0 217 65:35 2J 2 - oxetanone / ASA 1.5 13 65:35 2K 2-oxetanone / ASA 2.25 165 65:35 2L 2-oxetanone / ASA 3.0 223 Example 3 In this example, mixtures of 2-oxetanone and ASA at 3 ratios were tested for their effects on the functionality of a quality difficult to convert from alkaline fine paper to IBM 3800. A comparison experiment, 3A, used the sizing agent Hercon® 70, a dispersion containing alkylketene dimer prepared from a mixture of palmitic and stearic acids, which can be obtained from Hercules Incorporated, of Wilmington, DE. The materials used in the rest of the experiments are as described in Example 1. The evaluation data are in Table 3. The data shows that the mixtures of 2-oxetanone / ASA to all 3 relationships tested produced paper that was It ran on the IBM 3800 with good to very good operating capability. Additionally, at the 3.0 pound-per-ton addition level, all three tested relationships produced paper that was operated on IBM 3800 with better performance than paper made with Hercon® 70.

Table 3 Experiment Sizing Agent Addition Level Works Sizing, Pounding / Toning Conversion of Dry Paper IBM 3800 3A Hercon®70 3.0 2.5 (for comparison) 1: 1 3B 2-oxetanone / ASA 3.0 2 1: 3 3C 2-oxetanone / ASA 3.0 1.5 3: 1 3D 2-oxetanone / ASA 3.0 1 Operating Capacity IBM 1 - Very Good (Ripple regime x 10 ^ < 2.1 inches / second) 2 - Good (rippling regime x 10 ^ = 2.1-6.2 inches / second) 3 - Deficient (ripple regime x 10 ^ = 6.2-16.7 inches / second) 4 - Very Deficient (Ripple regime x 10 ^> 16.7 inches / second) It is not intended that the examples provided herein be construed as limiting the invention, but rather are submitted to illustrate some of the specific embodiments of the invention. Various modifications and variations of the present invention may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims (30)

CLAIMS:

1. A process for using paper in high-speed conversion or reprographic operations, comprising the steps of providing paper prepared under alkaline conditions with alkenyl succinic anhydride (ASA) and 2-oxetanone which is not solid at 35 ° C, and using the paper in high-speed conversion or reprographic operations.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the 2-oxetanone comprises at least one 2-oxetanone compound which is the reaction product of a reaction mixture comprising unsaturated monocarboxylic fatty acid.

3. The process of claim 2, wherein the reaction mixture comprises at least 25 percent unsaturated monocarboxylic fatty acid by weight.

4. The process of claim 3, wherein the reaction mixture comprises at least 70 percent unsaturated monocarboxylic fatty acid by weight.

The process of claims 2 to 4, wherein the unsaturated monocarboxylic fatty acid comprises one or more fatty acids that are selected from the group consisting of oleic, linoleic, dodecenoic, tetradecenoic (myristoleic), hexadecenoic (palmitoleic) acids, octadecadienoic (linolelaidic), octadecatrienoic (linolenic), eicosenoic (gadoleic), eicosatetraenoic (arachidonic), cis-13-docosenoic (erucic), trans-13-docosenoic (brassidic), and docosapentaenoic acid (clupanodonic), and their acid halides .

The process of claim 5, wherein the unsaturated monocarboxylic fatty acid comprises one or more fatty acids that are selected from the group consisting of oleic, linoleic, linolenic, and palmitoleic acids, and their acid halides.

The process of claims 2 to 6, wherein the reaction mixture comprises at least 25 percent oleic acid, or its acid halide, by weight.

The process of claim 7, wherein the reaction mixture comprises at least 70 percent oleic acid, or its acid halide, by weight.

The process of claims 2 to 8, wherein the reaction mixture comprises at least 25 percent linoleic acid, or its acid halide, by weight.

The process of claim 9, wherein the reaction mixture comprises at least 70 percent linoleic acid, or its acid halide, by weight.

The process of claims 1 to 10, wherein the 2-oxetanone is not solid at 25 ° C

12. The process of claims 1 to 11, wherein the 2-oxetanone is liquid at 25 ° C.

13. The The process of claim 12, wherein the 2-oxetanone is liquid at 20 ° C.

The process of claims 2 to 13, wherein the reaction mixture further comprises saturated monocarboxylic fatty acid.

The process of claim 14, wherein the saturated monocarboxylic fatty acid comprises one or more fatty acids that are selected from the group consisting of stearic, isostearic, myristic, palmitic, margaric, pentadecanoic, decanoic, undecanoic, dodecanoic, tridecanoic acids , nonadecanoic, arachidic and behenic, and their acid halides.

16. The process of claim 14, wherein the saturated monocarboxylic fatty acid comprises palmitic or stearic acid or its acid halides.

The process of claims 2 to 16, wherein the reaction mixture further comprises dicarboxylic acid, or its acid halide.

18. The process of claim 5, wherein the dicarboxylic acid comprises dicarboxylic acids containing from 8 to 36 carbon atoms.

19. The process of claims 1 to 18, wherein ASA is the reaction product of maleic anhydride and an olefin having from 14 to 18 carbon atoms.

20. The process of claim 19, wherein ASA is the reaction product of maleic anhydride with olefins which are selected from the group consisting of octadecene, tetradecene, hexadecene, eichodecene, 2-n-hexyl-1-octene, 2-n- octyl-l-dodecene, 2-n-octyl-l-decene, 2-n-dodecyl-1-octene, 2-n-octyl-l-octene, 2-n-octyl-l-nonene, 2-n-hexyl-l-decene and 2-n-heptyl-l-octene.

The process of claims 1 to 20, wherein the ratio of 2-oxetanone to ASA is not greater than about 9: 1.

22. The process of claim 21, wherein the ratio of 2-oxetanone to ASA is not greater than about 4: 1.

23. The process of claim 21, wherein the ratio of 2-oxetanone to ASA is not greater than about 2: 1.

The process of claims 1 to 23, wherein the ratio of 2-oxetanone to ASA is not less than about 1: 9.

25. The process of claim 24, wherein the ratio of 2-oxetanone to ASA is not less than about 1: 4.

26. The process of claim 24, wherein the ratio of 2-oxetanone to ASA is not less than about 1: 2.

27. A process for making paper under alkaline conditions comprising the steps of providing a sizing agent comprising alkenylsuccinic anhydride (ASA) and 2-oxetanone which is not solid at 35 ° C, and sizing the paper with the sizing agent.

28. The process of claim 27, wherein the paper is internally sized with the sizing agent.

29. The paper made by the process of claims 27 or 28.

30. The process of using the paper of claim 29 in high-speed conversion or reprographic operations.