Using cationic polymers to improve alkenyl succinic anhydride (ASA) sizing efficiency in high-yield pulp containing furnish

High-yield pulp (HYP) such as bleached chemi-thermo-mechanical pulp (BCTMP) from aspen wood, is now being used in the production of high-quality fine papers, and this is particularly true in China. In this study, the effect of using cationic polymers such as poly-aluminum chloride (PAC), polyethylenimine (PEI), cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM), and poly-(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDADMAC) on Alkenyl Succinic Anhydride (ASA) sizing efficiency in HYP-containing pulp furnish was investigated. The results showed that the addition of only ASA emulsion to the HYP-containing furnish, without any cationic additives, did not yield an appreciable degree of sizing in the paper sheet. PAC (or alum) could improve the ASA sizing efficiency. PEI, PDADMAC, CPAM, and NaHCO3 all improved ASA sizing efficiency in the presence of PAC. The charge density of PEI was important for improving the ASA sizing performance. Also, the sequence of adding the cationic polymer affected the ASA sizing performance.