Retention Performance of Nanocoated GCC with Positive Charge

Abstract

In this study, we investigated retention characteristics of nanocoated GCC that was positively modified by Layer-by-Layer (LbL) multilayering process. Three layers were formed onto GCC particles with poly-DADMAC/PSS/poly-DADMAC (PD3) and C-starch/A-PAM/C-starch (CS3) systems, respectively. Untreated GCC, PD3 GCC (strongly positive charge) and CS3 GCC (weekly positive charge) were retained on pulp fibers under single retention system or microparticle retention system conditions. In single retention system, PD3 particles were not affected by cationic retention aid due to their strong positive charge, whereas CS3 particles reacted with cationic retention aid due to anionic sites on the surface of the weekly positive particles. In a microparticle retention system, positively modified GCC (PD3 and CS3) showed higher retention level than untreated GCC at the same dosage of retention aid. The cationic surface of GCC particles were more reacted with bentonite so the deposition onto pulp fibers was improved. In addition, the retention level of nanocoated GCC was increased with maintaining good formation.