2007 International Conference on
Nanotechnology for the Forest Products
Industry, June 13-15, 2007, Knoxville, TN
Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC)
for Papermaking and Surface sizing
Yong Zou, and Jeffery S. Hsieh
School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering,
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0100
Typical properties of the two
pulps
Sample
CS Freeness Brightness
(ml)
(%)
Bulk
(cm3/g)
pH
Bleached
Softwood
700
90.4
1.64
6.9
Bleached
Hardwoo
d
500
90.7
1.45
6.9
Process for Papermaking
• The MCC from FMC was dispersed into 5%
solution
• 5% the MCC vs. dry fiber was added, after
mixing, which makes into 1.2% consistency
pulp.
• Handsheets were produced by the stand TAPPI
process-TAPPI T205sp-95 as well
The effect of MCC on Paper
Properties
Sample
Tensile
(Kg)
Cobb (30 min.)
(g/m2)
MVTR
(g/M2.day)
Bleached softwood
Control
7.2
148.2
358.6
MCC
(5%)
9.1
179.8
378.5
Δ (%)
+26.4
+21.3
+5.5
Bleached hardwood
Control
5.5
159.5
335.2
MCC
(5%)
Δ (%)
5.7
+3.9
174.7
+9.5
373.4
+11.9
The effect of MCC surface
sizing
Sample
Tensile (Kg)
Cobb (30 min.) (g/m2)
Paper A
Blank
6
63.2
1.4% MCC
6.2
118.3
Δ (%)
3.3%
87.2
5% PGLR-25
7.1
54.8
Δ (%)
18.3
-13.3
The effect of MCC surface
sizing
Sample
Tensile (Kg)
Cobb (30 min.) (g/m2)
Paper B
Control
7.3
154.4
1.4% MCC
7.4
158.4
Δ (%)
1.4
2.5
5% PGLR-25
8.2
126.2
Δ (%)
12.3
-18.3
Surface sizing of MCC
• Two Paper: S-1311 from ULine. 24’’ 50LB paper A;
and S-8514 from ULine 24” 50LB paper B
• Two additives: MCC (1.4 and 2.8%) and Polyester
resin (5% and 10%)
• Experimental Method: Yates’ Algorithem:
• X1=MCC
1.4% (-) and 2.8% (+)
• X2=Polyester resin
5% (-) and 10% (+)
• X3=paper
Paper B (-) and paper A (+)
Tensile-The effect of MCC surface
sizing X1-MCC; X2-PGLR-25; X3-paper
Exp.
Design
Obs.
Column
Order
X1
X2
X3
Tensile (kg)
1
2
3
Estimated effects
1
-
-
-
8
15
33.4
65.1
grand Average Y=8.1375
2
+
-
-
7
18.4
31.7
0.9
X1 effect=0.225
3
-
+
-
8.5
14.3
0.4
6.5
X2 effect=1.625
4
+
+
-
9.9
17.4
0.5
1.9
X1X2 effect=0.475
5
-
-
+
6.9
-1
3.4
-1.7
X3 effect=-0.425
6
+
-
+
7.4
1.4
3.1
0.1
X1X3 effect=0.025
7
-
+
+
8.7
0.5
2.4
-0.3
X2X3 effect=-0.075
8
+
+
+
8.7
0
-0.5
-2.9
X1X2X3 effect=-0.725
Water Absorption -The effect of MCC surface
sizing X1-MCC; X2-PGLR-25; X3-paper
Exp.
Design
Obs.
Column
Order
X1
X2
X3
Cobb
1
2
3
Estimated effects
1
-
-
-
123.9
251.7
493
908.7
grand Average Y=113.6
2
+
-
-
127.8
241.3
415.7
41.7
X1 effect=10.4
3
-
+
-
122.1
213.8
1
-22.3
X2 effect= -5.6
4
+
+
-
119.2
201.9
40.7
12.3
X1X2 effect=3.1
5
-
-
+
101.5
3.9
-10.4
-77.3
X3 effect=-19.3
6
+
-
+
112.3
-2.9
-11.9
39.7
X1X3 effect=10
7
-
+
+
90
10.8
-6.8
-1.5
X2X3 effect=-0.4
8
+
+
+
111.9
29.9
19.1
25.9
X1X2X3 effect=6.5
Conclusions
• MCC can improve paper tensile strength and water
absorption capacity, particularly water absorption
capacity, based on three methods-papermaking, single
surface. sizing and combining Polyester resin; the
efficiency in papermaking is much better than surface
sizing, especially for softwood.
• Confirm environmental-friendly polyester can
increase paper strength, but decrease water absorption
capacity.