Cloud Point Release Agents for Papermaking Adhesion Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The papermaking process for tissue and towel products faces challenges in achieving the right balance between structural integrity and softness, with conventional creping adhesives and release agents lacking fine control over adhesion, tack, and rewetability, leading to issues like poor crepe quality and operational inefficiencies.
Innovation Solution
A new class of release compositions that change their phase structure upon contact with the adhesive, incorporating quaternary imidazoline compounds and polyether components like polypropylene glycol, allowing for improved control over adhesion and release properties by manipulating the ratio of components and operational parameters.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional creping adhesives and release agents are used, then the papermaking process can maintain structural integrity, but fine control over adhesion, tack, and rewetability is lacking leading to poor crepe quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the chemical composition parameters of the release agent system. Specifically, it introduces a multi-component system comprising a release agent, a cloud-point surfactant, and optionally a cosurfactant, where the surfactant components exhibit temperature-dependent solubility characteristics. This allows dynamic adjustment of release properties through temperature variations during the creping process, enabling fine control over adhesion, tack, and rewetability to achieve superior crepe quality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining multiple chemical components with complementary functions into a unified release system. The composite consists of a release agent (such as fatty acid amides or quaternary ammonium compounds), cloud-point surfactants (nonionic surfactants with specific HLB values), and optionally cosurfactants. This composite formulation synergistically enhances both adhesion during drying and release during creping, while providing tunable properties through component ratio adjustments
2Reliability
If the adhesion between paper web and Yankee dryer is increased to improve creping, then sheet quality improves, but excessive adhesion can cause the sheet to break and interfere with stable operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by introducing a time-dependent and temperature-dependent release mechanism. The cloud-point surfactant undergoes a phase transition as temperature increases during the drying process, dynamically shifting the system from a high-adhesion state (when wet and cool) to a low-adhesion state (when dry and hot). This dynamic behavior allows the paper web to maintain strong adhesion during web handling and drying, then automatically release during creping without causing sheet breakage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes periodic action through the cyclic temperature profile experienced by the paper web during the creping process. The web undergoes periodic heating and cooling cycles as it passes through the dryer and then during creping operations. The release agent system responds to these periodic temperature variations by reversibly adjusting its adhesion properties, ensuring stable operation during high-temperature drying while enabling controlled release during cooler creping phases
3Ease of operation
If release agents are used to control adhesion, then release properties improve, but the interaction with adhesive and paper fibers requires precise balancing of multiple factors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces cloud-point surfactants as intermediary substances that mediate between the paper web, adhesive, and Yankee dryer surface. These surfactants act as molecular mediators that can switch between water-soluble and water-insoluble states based on temperature. In the soluble state (at lower temperatures), they facilitate adhesion; in the insoluble state (at higher temperatures near the cloud point), they promote release. This intermediary mechanism simplifies the balancing act by providing a single system that automatically adjusts release properties in response to temperature changes
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enhances creping performance by providing better adhesion and release control, leading to improved softness, absorbency, and production efficiency in papermaking processes.
Implementation Method 1
A new class of release compositions that change their phase structure upon contact with the adhesive
Implementation Method 2
the release composition has a cloud point in water at standard pressure from about 1° C. to about 98° C.
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure relates to papermaking and the use of creping adhesive and release agent compositions used in papermaking. In one aspect, there is provided a new class of release agents and compositions comprising release agents, the release agent comprising: a) a release agent comprising a quaternary imidazoline compound, an imidazoline free base, an oil-based dispersion, or a combination thereof; and b) a polyether component selected from a polypropylene glycol (PPG), a co-polymer of propylene glycol and ethylene glycol (co-PPG-PEG), a blend of polypropylene glycol (PPG) and polyethylene glycol (PEG), and a combination thereof, wherein the release composition has a cloud point in water at standard pressure from about 1° C. to about 98° C. There are also provided creping compositions having a cloud point, comprising an adhesive composition and a release composition as described.