Classifications

• • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
  • D21—PAPER-MAKING; PRODUCTION OF CELLULOSE
  • D21H—PULP COMPOSITIONS; PREPARATION THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES D21C OR D21D; IMPREGNATING OR COATING OF PAPER; TREATMENT OF FINISHED PAPER NOT COVERED BY CLASS B31 OR SUBCLASS D21G; PAPER NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • D21H19/00—Coated paper; Coating material
  • D21H19/36—Coatings with pigments
  • D21H19/44—Coatings with pigments characterised by the other ingredients, e.g. the binder or dispersing agent
  • D21H19/56—Macromolecular organic compounds or oligomers thereof obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds

Definitions

• This invention relates to a paper coating composition, a process for preparing a paper coating composition and a method for coating a paper with a paper coating composition.
• This invention also relates to a paper recycling process in which a coated paper of the invention is employed as "broke” in a paper making process. "Broke” is the term used in the art for paper, cardboard, or the like which is to be recycled.
• Calcium carbonate is known as a paper coating pigment and, because it normally carries a positive charge, it is conventionally dispersed with an anionic dispersing agent.
• DE-A-3707221 and EP-A-0307795 disclose a cationic pigment dispersion.
• the pigment is first given a protective colloid cover using a cationised polymer and then, under certain circumstances, is dispersed with a cationic polymer.
• TAPPI, vol. 65, no. 4, April 1982, pages 123-125, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.; A.J. Sharpe, Jr. et al.: "Improved Cationic Conductive Polymer Displays Outstanding Filmability" describes a polysalt formed from the interaction of a strongly cationic polymer, such as a poly(diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride), and a weakly anionic polymer, such as polyacrylic acid.
• the thus-formed polysalt is added in substantial quantities (of the order of 50% by weight, based on the weight of the pigment) to a predispersed, low solids pigment slurry in order to provide a conductive coating colour which is used to prepare a paper having a conductive surface.
• an aqueous paper coating composition which comprises (i) at least 45% by weight of a particulate inorganic pigment dispersed with a dispersing agent and (ii) an adhesive; characterised in that said dispersing agent comprises an anionic polyelectrolyte and a cationic polyelectrolye, the cationic polyelectrolyte being present in an amount sufficient to render the pigment particles cationic; in that said adhesive is a cationic or non-ionic adhesive; and in that said particulate pigment is one which is not capable of being dispersed in water at high solids, and following vigorous mixing, in the sole presence of said cationic polyeletrolyte.
• a method of coating a sheet member comprising the step of coating the sheet member with a paper coating composition in accordance with the first aspect of this invention.
• the coated paper may advantageously be recycled in a paper making process.
• the particulate pigment used in the present invention is one which is not capable of being dispersed in water at high solids (such as greater than 60% by weight) and following vigorous mixing, (for example sufficient to dissipate at least 10kJ of energy per kg of dry pigment), in the sole presence of the cationic polyelectrolyte.
• the pigment surface should have a neutral, or overall positive, charge.
• inorganic pigments such as calcium carbonate, calcium sulphate, talc and calcined kaolin clay, for example.
• the pigment is calcium carbonate, in any form, natural or synthetic. Most preferred is ground or crushed marble, but chalk, or precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) may also be used.
• raw chalk is capable of being dispersed using a cationic polyelectrolyte in the absence of vigorous mixing
• the ground pigment has a particle size distribution such that at least 50% percent by weight has an equivalent spherical diameter smaller than two »m. More preferably, at least 60% percent by weight has an equivalent spherical diameter smaller than two »m.
• Ground marble for use in the present invention is preferably formed by crushing batches of marble in aqueous suspension in the absence of a chemical dispersing agent using a particulate grinding medium. Any agglomerates formed may be broken up by dewatering the suspension of ground marble, for example by filtration in the absence of a flocculating agent and then drying the pigment, and pulverising the dried product in a conventional mill.
• the particulate pigment is dispersed with the combination of an anionic polyelectrolyte and a cationic polyelectrolyte.
• the anionic polyeletrolyte is a water-soluble vinyl polymer, an alkali metal or ammonium salt thereof or an alkali metal or ammonium salt of polysilicic acid.
• the anionic polyeletrolyte is a poly(acrylic acid), a poly(methacrylic acid), a substituted poly(acrylic acid) or a substituted poly(methacrylic acid), or an alkali metal or ammonium salt of any of these acids.
• the substituted poly(acrylic acid) may be a partially sulphonated polymer.
• An especially effective anionic polyelectrolyte is an alkali metal or ammonium salt of a copolymer of acrylic acid and a sulphonic acid derivative of acrylic acid, in which the proportion of the sulphonic acid derivative monomer is preferably from 5% to 20% of the total number of monomer units.
• the number average molecular weight of the anionic polyelectrolyte is preferably at least 500, and preferably no greater than 100,000.
• the amount used is generally in the range of from about 0.01% to about 0.5% by weight based on the weight of dry pigment, preferably in the range of from about 0.1 to 0.2% by weight.
• the cationic polyelectrolyte may be a water-soluble substituted polyolefine containing quaternary ammonium groups.
• the quaternary ammonium groups may be in the linear polymer chain or may be in branches of the polymer chain.
• the number average molecular weight of the substituted polyolefine is preferably at least 1500 and preferably no greater than 1,000,000, and is more preferably in the range of from 50,000 to 500,000.
• the quantity required is generally in the range of from about 0.01% to about 1.5% by weight based on the weight of dry pigment.
• Advantageous results have been obtained when the substituted polyolefine is a poly (diallyl di(hydrogen or lower alkyl)ammonium salt).
• the lower alkyl groups which may be the same or different, may for example, have up to four carbon atoms and each is preferably methyl.
• the ammonium salt may be, for example, a chloride, bromide, iodide, HSO4 ⁇ , CH3SO4 ⁇ or nitrite.
• the salt is a chloride.
• the cationic polyelectrolyte is poly (diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride).
• the water-soluble substituted polyolefin may be the product of co-polymerising epichlorohydrin and an aliphatic secondary amine, said product having the formula in which R and R', which may be the same of different, are each hydrogen or a lower alkyl group having from one to four carbon atoms, preferably methyl or ethyl and X is Cl -, Br -, I -, HSO4 -, CH3SO4 ⁇ or nitrite.
• the preferred number average molecular weight of this epichlorohydrin product is in the range of from 50,000 to 300,000.
• the cationic polyelectrolyte may be a water-soluble organic compound having a plurality of basic groups and preferably having a number average molecular weight of at least 10,000 and preferably no greater than 1,000,000. Most preferably, the number average molecular weight is at least 50,000.
• These water-soluble organic compounds may be described as polyacidic organic bases, and are preferably compounds of carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen only and are free of other functional groups, such as hydroxy or carboxylic acid groups, which would increase their solubility in water and thus increase the likelihood of their being desorbed from the clay mineral in an aqueous suspension.
• the organic compound is polyethyleneimine (PEI) having a number average molecular weight in the range 50,000 to 1,000,000.
• PEI polyethyleneimine
• a further example of a water-soluble organic compound which may be employed is a polyethylene diamine which may be a copolymer of ethylene diamine with an ethylene dihalide or with formaldehyde.
• the cationic polyelectrolyte is employed in an amount sufficient to render the mineral particles cationic.
• the zeta potential of the particles will normally be at least +20mV after treatment, typically in the range of from +30 to +40 mV and usually no greater than +50 to +60mV. These potentials have been measured using a dilute (0.02 weight %) solids suspension using a supporting electrolyte of potassium chloride (10 ⁇ 4M) with a "Pen Kem Laser Z" meter.
• the ratio of the weight of cationic polyelectrolyte to the weight of anionic polyelectrolyte used is preferably in the range of from 2:1 to 20:1, in particular when the calcium carbonate is a ground marble.
• a process for preparing a paper coating composition comprising the steps of:
• the raw pigment is received as a filter cake having a relatively high solids content.
• the dispersing agent in order to provide a dispersed high solids slurry (45-80% by weight solids) which may then be subjected to vigorous mixing.
• This slurry is then "made down" into a paper coating composition by dilution and addition of the required quantity of the cationic or non-ionic adhesive and other conventional paper coating composition adjuvants.
• the pigment is mixed with the anionic polyeletrolyte before mixing with the cationic polyelectrolyte. This appears to enable a more fluid suspension to be obtained at a higher solids concentration.
• the aqueous dispersion of the pigment may also include other conventional paper coating composition adjuvants such as an insolubilising agent (e.g. a melamine formaldehyde resin), a lubricant such as calcium stearate and a catalyst to catalyze cross-linking of the cationic latex if present: a suitable such catalyst is sodium bicarbonate.
• an insolubilising agent e.g. a melamine formaldehyde resin
• a lubricant such as calcium stearate
• a suitable such catalyst is sodium bicarbonate.
• the adhesive used in the present invention should be a non-ionic or a cationic adhesive.
• Such adhesives contrast with the anionic adhesives which are normally used in paper coating compositions in which the pigment is anionic.
• cationic guar gum and cationic starch adhesives can be used as well as cationic or non-ionic latices.
• Such cationic and non-ionic adhesives are readily commercially available.
• the particular cationic or non-ionic adhesive used will depend, for example, on the printing process to be used, e.g. offset lithography requires the adhesive to be water-insoluble.
• the amount of adhesive should preferably be of the order of from 7 to 25% by weight, based on the weight of pigment whilst, for gravure printing paper, the adhesive should be used in an amount of 4-15% by weight, based on the weight of pigment.
• the precise quantity of adhesive required will depend upon the nature of the adhesive and the material being coated, but this can readily be determined by the person skilled in the art.
• the suspension of the pigment for incorporation into the paper coating composition of the present invention should preferably be subjected to vigorous mixing before or after dispersion.
• the vigorous mixing should be sufficient to impart at least 10kJ energy per kg of pigment, and preferably no more than about 50kJ per kg.
• the amount of energy input will be in the range of from 18-36kJ per kg of pigment.
• the coating composition may be coated on to a sheet member using normal paper coating machinery and under normal paper coating conditions. It has been found that the paper coated with a cationic composition in accordance with the present invention provides broadly similar results to that obtained with a conventional anionic system.
• the coated paper of the present invention is of advantage when it is employed as "broke” or recycled paper in a paper making process. Commonly, large quantities of paper are recycled at the point of manufacture for one reason or another, and the advantages of the paper of the present invention in recycling are most important to the paper manufacturer.
• a method for recycling paper including the step of reducing paper made in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention to a fibrous recyclable state and incorporating said fibre in a paper-making composition.
• Such a paper-making composition may include conventional paper-making pulp, such as a bleached sulphite pulp and, typically, the broke fibre and the pulp will be employed in a ratio of from 10:90 to 60:40.
• conventional paper-making pulp such as a bleached sulphite pulp and, typically, the broke fibre and the pulp will be employed in a ratio of from 10:90 to 60:40.
• a filler for instance a calcium carbonate filler and also a retention aid. Since the broke fibre will include a proportion of calcium carbonate from the coating, it is possible to reduce the amount of calcium carbonate filler employed to give a total quantity of filler in the range of from 5 to 20 percent by weight of the total paper-making composition.
• the weight of dried broke added (fibre and filler) should preferably be in the range of from about 5 to 30 percent by weight of fibre.
• the viscosity of the suspension was measured by means of a Brookfield Viscometer at a spindle speed of 100 rpm. and the percentage by weight of dry solids was determined by completely drying a known weight of the suspension and weighing the dried residue. The suspension was then diluted with a small quantity of water and further determinations of viscosity and percentage by weight of dry solids were made. A graph was plotted of viscosity against percentage by weight of dry solids and the solids concentration for a suspension having a viscosity of 500 mPa.s was determined by interpolation.
• fluid suspension can be obtained at a higher solids concentration by method (i) (mixing the powder firstly with the anionic polyelectrolyte and secondly with the cationic polyelectrolyte) than by method (ii) (mixing the powder with both dispersing agents together). This effect is more marked with finely ground marble powders than with a coarser product.
• a further batch of finely ground marble powder was prepared by the process described in Example 1, the particle size distribution of the ground product being such that 87% by weight consisted of particles having an equivalent spherical diameter smaller than 2 »m.
• compositions of type (b) were prepared containing the following three different cationic starches:-
• an aqueous suspension of the marble powder was first prepared using as the dispersing agents 0.16% by weight, based on the weight of dry marble, of anionic dispersing agent (E) and 0.65% by weight, based on the weight of dry marble, of cationic dispersing agent (F), by the method described under (i) in Example 1 above.
• compositions (a), (b), (c) and (d) were added to each of compositions (a), (b), (c) and (d) 0.8 part by weight of a melamine formaldehyde resin, as an insolubilising agent, and 0.5 part by weight of calcium stearate.
• a melamine formaldehyde resin as an insolubilising agent
• calcium stearate 0.5 part by weight of calcium stearate.
• cationic compositions (a) and (b) 0.2 part by weight of sodium bicarbonate to catalyse the cross linking reaction of the cationic latex.
• Each paper coating composition was diluted with water to give a high-shear viscosity as measured by a Ferranti-Shirley Viscometer at a shear rate of 12,800 s ⁇ 1 in the range 60-70 mPa.s if possible.
• the high-shear viscosities and the percentage by weight of solids in the diluted compositions are set forth in Table II below.
• composition was coated on to a lightweight offset base paper of substance weight 48 g.m ⁇ 2 by means of a laboratory paper coating machine of the type described in British Patent Specification No. 1032536.
• the coated paper samples were then supercalendered under a pressure of 1000 psi (6.89 MPa) and a temperature of 65°C with 10 passes through the nip of the calender rolls at a speed of 36m.min ⁇ 1.
• Bleached sulphite pulp was beaten in accordance with TAPPI Standard T200 to a degree of freeness of 45 SR or 270 Canadian Standard Freeness and paper making compositions were prepared consisting of suspensions in water of the following ingredients:- Ingredient Parts of weight Bleached sulphite pulp 70 Broke fibre 30 Calcium carbonate filler 50 Polyacrylamide retention aid 0.03
• the calcium carbonate filler had a particle size distribution such that 43% by weight consisted of particles having an equivalent spherical diameter smaller than 2 »m. Since the broke contained about 20% by weight of inorganic filler material the quantity of fresh calcium carbonate filler added was reduced to give a total quantity of filler of 50 parts by weight. Similarly the weight of dry broke added (fibre + filler) was such as to provide 30 parts by weight of fibre .
• a batch of raw crushed marble was ground by the method described in Example 1 above to give a ground product having a particle size distribution such that 60% by weight consisted of particles having an equivalent spherical diameter smaller then 2 »m.
• the suspension of ground marble was dewatered by means of a centrifuge and the centrifuge cake which contained 68% by weight of dry solids was used in the following experiments.
• Samples of the centrifuge cake of ground marble were mixed first with an anionic dispersing agent, and then, after thorough mixing, with a cationic dispersing agent.
• a predetermined quantity of the anionic dispersing agent was used, but, for the cationic dispersing agent, a small quantity of the dispersing agent was first added, the suspension was vigorously mixed for 1 minute, and the viscosity of the suspension was measured by means of a Brookfield Viscometer at a spindle speed of 100 rpm. The amount of dispersing agent and the viscosity were recorded and a further small quantity of the dispersing agent was added and the procedure repeated. Further small increments of the dispersing agent were added until the viscosity of the suspension reached a minimum, at which point the total amount of the cationic dispersing agent which had been added was regarded as the optimum.
• the dispersing agents were:-
• dispersing agent (J) When dispersing agent (J) was used it was also necessary to add sufficient sulphuric acid to adjust the pH to 7.8 since polyethyleneimines are sensitive to pH and do not act efficiently as dispersing agents at pH values greater than 8.
• a batch of marble flour having a particle size distribution such that substantially all of the particles passed through a No. 300 mesh British Standard sieve (nominal aperture 53 »m) was subjected to attrition grinding in a concentrated, deflocculated aqueous suspension, the quantities of marble flour, water and grinding sand being:- 615g marble flour 330g water + anionic and cationic dispersing agents 1500g sand
• the grain size of the sand was smaller than No. 18 mesh British Standard sieve (nominal aperture 0.850mm) and larger than No. 30 mesh British Standard sieve (nominal aperture 0.500mm).
• the anionic dispersing agent used was (E) and the cationic dispersing agent was (F), both as described in Example 1 above.
• Portions of marble flour were ground using different total quantities of (E) and (F) but in each case the weight ratio of (F):(E) was 4:1. In each case the grinding was continued for a time sufficient to dissipate in the suspension 396 kJ of energy per kg of dry marble and in each case the product had a particle size distribution such that about 50% by weight consisted of particles having an equivalent spherical diameter smaller than 2 »m.
• the suspension of ground marble was separated from the sand and the viscosity of the suspension was measured by means of a Brookfield Viscometer at a spindle speed of 100 rpm. The suspension was then diluted with a small quantity of water and the viscosity was measured again.
• the percentage by weight of dry marble in the suspension was also determined by drying a known small weight of the suspension and weighing the dried residue. The steps of diluting with water and measuring the viscosity and percentage by weight of dry marble were repeated several times. A graph was drawn of viscosity against percentage by weight of dry marble and the percentage by weight of dry marble in the suspension which had a viscosity of 500 mPa.s was found by interpolation. The results are set forth in Table V below:- TABLE V % by wt. of (E) % by wt. of (F) Total % by wt. of dispersing agents % by wt. of dry marble for a viscosity of 500 mPa.s 0.05 0.20 0.25 63.9 0.06 0.24 0.30 64.5 0.07 0.28 0.35 65.0
• Example 4 Further batches of the same marble flour as was used in Example 4 were ground by the method described in Example 4, there being used as the anionic dispersing agent 0.07% by weight, based on the weight of dry marble, of (E), and as the cationic dispersing agent 0.28% by weight, based on the weight of dry marble, of one of a selection of poly (diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) polyelectrolytes of different molecular weights.
• the percentage by weight of dry marble in a suspension having a viscosity of 500 mPa.s was measured as described in Example 4 above and the results are set forth in Table VI below:- TABLE VI Number average molecular weight of cationic dispersing agent % by wt. of dry marble for a viscosity of 500 mPa.s 9,500 58.4 26,000 61.8 50,000 65.0 71,500 64.9
• the poly (diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) should have a number average molecular weight of at least 50,000 if a marble suspension of acceptable fluidity is to be obtained.
• a batch of raw crushed marble was ground by the method described in Example 1 to give a ground product having a particle size distribution such that 60% by weight consisted of particles having an equivalent spherical diameter smaller than 2 »m.
• the suspension of ground marble was dewatered by means of centrifuge and the centrifuge cake which contained 73% by weight of dry solids was used in the following experiments: Samples of the ground marble centrifuge cake were first mixed with 0.1% by weight, based on the weight of dry marble, of anionic dispersing agent G as described in Example 3 (i.e. a sodium polyacrylate having a number average molecular weight of 70,000). After thorough mixing there was added to each sample of aqueous suspension of anionically dispersed ground marble a quantity of one of the four following cationic dispersing agents:-
• each cationic dispersing agent was that which was found by experiment to give the lowest viscosity for a suspension of given solids content.
• this quantity was found to be 0.45% by weight, based on the weight of dry marble, and for dispersing agents (J), (K) and (L) the quantity was found to be 0.40% by weight, based on the weight of dry marble.
• a batch of raw crushed marble was ground in an aqueous suspension containing 30% by weight of dry solids and in the absence of chemical dispersing agent, by means of a particulate grinding medium to yield a ground calcium carbonate product of paper coating grade having a particle size distribution such that 90% by weight of the particles had an equivalent spherical diameter smaller than 2 »m.
• the suspension of ground marble was dewatered by filtration in the absence of a flocculating agent and the filter cake was dried and pulverised in a laboratory hammer mill.
• Samples of the finely ground marble powder were mixed with water to form a suspension containing 60% by weight of dry solids and varying quantities of an anionic and of a cationic dispersing agent.
• the anionic dispersing agent was a sodium polyacrylate dispersing agent having a number average molecular weight of 4000 and the cationic dispersing agent was a poly (diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) having a number average molecular weight of about 50,000.
• a batch of raw crushed marble was ground in an aqueous suspension containing 30% of dry solids and in the absence of chemical dispersing agents by means of a particulate grinding medium to yield a ground product having a particle size distribution such that 78% by weight of the particles had an equivalent spherical diameter smaller than 2 »m.
• the suspension of ground marble was dewatered in the absence of a flocculating agent on a vacuum drum filter to a dry solids content of 64% by weight. Some of the filter cake thus formed was thermally dried and mixed back with the moist filter cake to give a mixture having a dry solids content of 70% by weight.
• This mixture was divided into three portions to be treated with cationic poly(diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride) dispersing agents having three different number average molecular weights. Each of the three portions were further subdivided into three smaller portions which were treated with different doses of anionic dispersing agent (E) as described in Example 1.
• the anionic dispersing agent was added first to the cake of ground marble and well mixed therewith, and the cationic dispersing agent was then added and mixed in.
• the dose of the cationic dispersing agent used was in each case about 3.5 times the dose of the anionic dispersing agent.
• the viscosity of the resultant suspension was measured by means of a Brookfield Viscometer at a spindle speed of 100 rpm and the percentage by weight of dry solids was determined by completely drying a known weight of the suspension and weighing the dried residue. The suspension was then diluted with a small quantity of water and further determinations of viscosity and percentage by weight of dry solids were made. A graph was plotted of viscosity against percentage by weight of dry solids and the solids content for a suspension having a viscosity of 300 mPa.s was determined by interpolation.

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• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
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• Non-Silver Salt Photosensitive Materials And Non-Silver Salt Photography (AREA)
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