Cationic polymer grafted cellulose: its beneficial effects on calcium carbonate retention and optical properties of thermomechanical pulps

摘要

A new preparation method is presented for cationic polymer grafted cellulose, and its effects on the retention of calcium carbonate when sheets are made with this compound, pure or blended with commercial bleached thermomeehanical fibres, are evaluated. The retention results correlate well with optical data of the sheets. This preparation method is promising because it is rapid, simple and well transferable to the industrial scale. It doesn't degrade the fibres and permits grafting of the polymer homogeneously on their surface so that the grafted cellulose has the same morphology as the non-grafted one. Consequently it can be well mixed with commercial fibres and the sheets made with these blends have a satisfactory formation. The grafted cellulose significantly improves the retention of calcium carbonate and consequently the optical properties. There are measurable effects on these properties even for blends containing only 25% of grafted cellulose.