Effect of alkyl ketene dimers (AKD) sizing on the properties of pulp and paper made from recycled fibers

Nowadays, the barrier property against water take up of different packaging papers which mostly prepared from recycled fibers is of highly significance for paper manufacturers. In current study, the effect of AKD sizing agent has been examined on the properties of papers made from recycled fibers of Atrak pulp and paper industries. Sizing of pulp suspension using AKD was conducted at levels of 0, 0.5, 1 and 1.5 % based on oven dry (OD) pulp in neutral pH (7), according to the TAPPI standard methods. Then, by preparation of handsheets with basis weight of about 60±3 g/m2, their Cobb test (60 second) and different characteristics were evaluated. According to the statistical analysis of the results, up to 1 % AKD consumption amount based on OD pulp exhibited for optimum level in internal sizing of these recycled fibers. In such AKD level, water take up of size-free papers revealed 174±7.4 g/m2, decreased to the value of about 24±1.7 g/m2 in AKD-treated papers. Further, contact angle of water droplet with the paper surface increased from 35.2º to 109.1º. Applying 1 % of AKD, paper tensile index increased to 33.2±1.01 N.m/g by 2.4 unit compared to the base paper. Apparently, such phenomena can be attributed to the AKD potential in creating hydrogen bonds which concurrent to the development of paper water repellency, resulted in improving bonding-ability of paper network. Additionally, AKD treatment led to in meaningful increase of paper opacity. This can also be attributed to the increase in filler retention in fibers network, which influences the development of light scattering from the paper surface.