THE EFFECT OF HYDROLYZED ALKYLKETENE DIMER ON SIZING DEVELOPMENT

Sizing development of AKD-sized paper by beta-ketoester formation has been debated until recent years because of absence of its obvious and direct spectroscopic evidence. In this study, reaction between AKD and cellulose was investigated to disclose the possibility of beta-ketoester formation between two components under no catalyzed neutral condition. In absence of water, AKD reacted with cellulose to form beta-ketoester linkage under no catalyzed neutral condition, while, in presence of water, most of AKD was hydrolyzed to a dialkyl ketone or beta-ketoacid. Therefore, the main mechanism of AKD sizing would not be the formation of beta-ketoester between AKD and cellulose in the papermaking process. It could be suggested that the sizing development of AKD-sized paper is obtained by next two mechanisms: 1) formation of a thin-layer of AKD on the fiber surface through melting and spreading of AKD emulsion particles by heat, and 2) the formation of ketone by the hydrolysis of AKD during drying and storage of AKD-sized papers.