Abstract
Composite sheets consisting of elongated and aggregated cationically charged precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) and native microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) were prepared with a wet laying method. The furnishes were prepared with and without an anionic flocculating agent (polyacrylamide) in order to adjust the structure of the sheet. The samples were compressed (densified) in order to determine the particle and microfibrillated cellulose-PCC structure coalescence and densification, as well as its subsequent influence on liquid absorption behavior. The densification affected both the vertical and lateral distribution of PCC, but the flocculating agent enhanced the compression stability and stabilized the sheets against PCC material flow. The differences between the sheets made with and without the flocculation aid affected the absorption of an anionic dye-based fluid ink, which was evident as a higher print density and less print bleeding. The absorption behavior was dependent on the sheet structure, especially on the PCC distribution within the sheets. Finally, the role of MFC on floc structure and floc formation is discussed.Graphic abstract
Highlights
Calcium carbonate, CaCO3, is an important industrial pigment and filler material in numerous applications, such as plastic-based composites, paints, food, ceramics and the paper industry
The conditions selected for the synthesis of the precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) yielded elongated ‘‘cigar-shaped’’ particles and aggregates
Composite sheets were prepared by synthesizing cationic PCC which was mixed in different ratios with microfibrillated cellulose providing sheets with mineral contents between 29 and 63 wt%
Summary
CaCO3, is an important industrial pigment and filler material in numerous applications, such as plastic-based composites, paints, food, ceramics and the paper industry. Micro and nanofibrillated celluloses (MNFCs) and CaCO3 have been of interest for paper coating (Lavoine et al 2014; Mielonen et al 2018; DimicMisic et al 2013). Surfaces of micro- or nano-fibrillated cellulose or composite material of a mineral and MNFC offer interesting possibilities, including greater surface smoothness and uniformity with a simultaneous increase in paper stiffness (Ridgway and Gane 2012), and greater barrier properties e.g. offering low air permeability (Brodin et al 2014)
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