• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.53-60
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• 2015

The effects of stirring speed during filler modification by dual polymers on flocculation and reflocculation of PCC (precipitated calcium carbonate) particles and its effect on handsheet properties were elucidated. PCC surface was modified by adsorbing A-PAM (anionic polyacrylamide) and C-starch (cationic starch) in series at various stirring speeds. It was found that increasing stirring speed during filler modification decreased the initial floc size of PCC. Continuous stirring with the same speed for filler modification resulted in the decrease of a floc size, eventually reached a steady state. The variations in a floc size was influenced by the stirring speed during filler modification: the lower the stirring speed during filler modification, the larger the floc size variations. Conclusively, the stability of PCC floc could be improved by increasing the stirring speed. In addition, the stirring speed influenced the handsheet properties. The smaller the PCC floc, the lower the strength of handseet. However, too much larger floc size also deteriorated paper strength. There exists an optimum floc size in term of paper strength which shall be controlled by stirring speed during filler modification.