Starch-(Meth)acrylamide Papermaking Agent for Pulp Fixation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing papermaking agents using (meth)acrylamide polymers and starches face issues of high cost, low product concentration, increased transportation costs, and insufficient paper strength due to low molecular weight, leading to inefficient pulp aggregation and fiber fixation.
Innovation Solution
A papermaking agent comprising a specific combination of starches, (meth)acrylamide, polymerizable monomers with amino, carboxy, and sulfonate groups, with a weight average molecular weight of 1,500,000 to 7,000,000, achieving a concentration of 22 to 35 weight%, and a turbidity of 50 to 1,000 NTU, which enhances pulp aggregation and fiber fixation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the product concentration of the papermaking agent is increased, then the transportation cost and fuel consumption are reduced, but the viscosity increases making it difficult to dilute or pump
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the molecular weight parameter of the (meth)acrylamide polymer to a specific range (1,500,000 to 7,000,000) which allows the product to achieve high concentration (22 to 35 weight %) while maintaining manageable viscosity characteristics for industrial handling
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure by grafting (meth)acrylamide polymers onto starch backbones, combining the high fixability and paper strength effect of (meth)acrylamide with the cost-effectiveness and structural benefits of starch, achieving both high concentration and acceptable viscosity
2Ease of operation
If the weight average molecular weight of the (meth)acrylamide polymer is reduced to lower viscosity, then the ease of operation improves, but the polymer cannot sufficiently aggregate the pulp and fix to pulp fibers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the weight average molecular weight parameter to a specific range (1,500,000 to 7,000,000) that balances viscosity for handling while maintaining sufficient molecular weight for effective pulp aggregation and fixation, resolving the contradiction between operability and effectiveness
3Ease of manufacture
If starch is used instead of (meth)acrylamide polymer to reduce cost, then the manufacturing cost decreases, but the paper strength effect becomes insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent develops a composite material where (meth)acrylamide polymer is grafted onto starch, combining the low cost and biomass advantages of starch with the high paper strength effect and fixability of (meth)acrylamide polymer, achieving both cost-effectiveness and superior performance
4Strength
If a large amount of starch is added to achieve the same paper strength effect as (meth)acrylamide polymer, then the cost advantage is maintained, but the product concentration becomes low requiring frequent transportation
Solution Approach 1:
The composite structure concentrates the active paper-making components on starch backbones, achieving high paper strength effect per unit weight while maintaining high product concentration (22 to 35 weight %), eliminating the need for frequent transportation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the composition ratios and molecular characteristics to achieve both high concentration and high effectiveness simultaneously, rather than requiring large amounts of material
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
The agent provides a cost-effective, high-concentration solution that effectively aggregates pulp and fixes to fibers, resulting in improved paper strength and freeness, reducing environmental impact through biomass material usage.
Implementation Method 1
the polymer does not sufficiently aggregate the pulp, and it is unlikely to be fixed to pulp fibers
Implementation Method 2
the polymer does not sufficiently aggregate the pulp, and it is unlikely to be fixed to pulp fibers
Data Source
AI summary
A relatively inexpensive papermaking agent having a high concentration and a high molecular weight that exhibits an excellent freeness and paper strength effect obtained using starches which are biomass materials. A papermaking agent which is a (meth)acrylamide polymer containing starches (a1), a (meth)acrylamide (a2), a polymerizable monomer having an amino group (a3), a polymerizable monomer having a carboxy group (a4) and a polymerizable monomer having a sulfonate group (a5) as essential constituent components, wherein the ratio between the amount of the component (a1) used in terms of non-volatile content weight and a total amount of the components (a2) to (a5) used is [(a1)/{(a2)+(a3)+(a4)+(a5)}]=5/95 to 45/55, and wherein the (meth)acrylamide polymer has a non-volatile content concentration of 22 to 35 weight %, and a weight average molecular weight of 1,500,000 to 7,000,000.