Paper Production Using Calcium Oxide and Acrylamide Copolymers

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Solution Overview

Problem

The use of waste paper in paper production leads to a decline in paper strength due to high recycling rates and the need for chemical additives, making it challenging to maintain mechanical properties and cost-effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

A method involving the use of calcium oxide/hydroxide and acrylamide copolymers in the paper production process to adjust pH levels and enhance mechanical properties without increasing raw material costs, by adding calcium oxide/hydroxide and acrylamide copolymers to the fiber suspension during the beating process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If waste paper is used as the main source of fiber, then cost-effectiveness is improved, but paper strength deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproportion of fillersVSAvoidpaper strength
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the pH parameter of the fiber suspension from neutral/acidic to alkaline (pH 9-12) by adding calcium oxide and/or calcium hydroxide. This parameter change activates the cationic acrylamide copolymer, enabling it to effectively bind fibers and fillers, thereby maintaining paper strength even with high filler content from waste paper recycling

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a composite approach by combining waste paper fibers with mineral fillers (chalk, kaolin, titanium dioxide) and a cationic acrylamide copolymer binder. This composite material system allows high filler content (improving cost-effectiveness) while the copolymer ensures adequate paper strength through effective fiber-filler bonding

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Strength

If chemical additives are used to improve paper properties, then mechanical properties are improved, but cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical propertiesVSAvoidraw material costs
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses calcium oxide and/or calcium hydroxide to adjust pH to alkaline conditions, which activates the cationic acrylamide copolymer. This parameter change enables the use of inexpensive waste paper and mineral fillers while achieving good mechanical properties, reducing the need for expensive chemical additives

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs inexpensive mineral fillers (chalk, kaolin, titanium dioxide) from waste paper recycling instead of expensive virgin fibers. The cationic acrylamide copolymer acts as an efficient binder that makes these cheap materials effective, achieving cost reduction while maintaining mechanical properties

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

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

This method significantly improves the mechanical strengths of paper, such as burst pressure and strip compression resistance, while increasing the filler content and reducing energy consumption in the papermaking process, leading to a more cost-effective and high-quality product.

Implementation Method 1

calcium oxide and/or calcium hydroxide is added to adjust a pH value between 9 and 12 in the fiber suspension

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectpH adjustment through chemical reaction: Chemical Bonding

Implementation Method 2

an acrylamide copolymer with an active ingredient content of between 0.1 kg per ton of dry fiber material and 5 kg per ton of fiber material is added to the fiber suspension as a polymer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPolymer-fiber bonding: Adhesive

Data Source

PatentEP3044364B1Method for producing paper
Publication Date: 2017.11.22 DEFOTEC ENTSCHAUMER VERTRIEBS
  • EP3044364B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2b
  • EP3044364B1 patent drawingFigure 2c~2d
  • EP3044364B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for producing paper with at least one fibrous material, a polymer, water and calcium oxide and/or calcium hydroxide, comprising the steps of disintegrating the fibrous material with water in a pulper for producing a fibrous material suspension and transferring the fibrous material suspension into a vat. The method is characterised in that in the disintegration of the fibrous material in the pulper calcium oxide and/or calcium hydroxide having a proportion of active substance between 0.1 kg per tonne of oven-dry fibrous material and 50 kg per tonne of fibrous material for setting of a pH value between 9 and 12 is added to the fibrous material suspension, and in the vat an acrylamide copolymer having a proportion of active substance between 0.1 kg per tonne of oven-dry fibrous material and 10 kg per tonne of fibrous material is added.