Kristian Salminen

Interfacial Stabilization of Fiber-Laden Foams with Carboxymethylated Lignin toward Strong Nonwoven Networks

Wet foams were produced via agitation and compressed air bubbling of aqueous solutions of carboxymethylated lignin (CML). Bubble size and distribution were assessed in situ via optical microscopy. Foamability, bubble collapse rate, and foam stability (half-life time) were analyzed as a function of CML concentration, temperature, pH, and air content. Dynamic changes of the CML liquid foam were monitored by light transmission and backscattering. Cellulosic fibers of different aspect ratios (long pine fibers and short birch fibers) were suspended under agitation by the liquid foams (0.6% CML in the aqueous phase) with an air (bubble) content as high as 75% in volume. Remarkably, the half-life time of fiber-laden CML foams was 10-fold higher than that of the corresponding fiber-free liquid foam. Such lignin-based foams were demonstrated, after dewatering, as a precursor for the synthesis of nonwoven, layered structures. The resulting fiber networks (paper), obtained here for the first time with lignin-based foams, were characterized for pore size distribution, lignin retention, morphology, and physical-mechanical properties (network formation quality, density, air permeability, surface roughness, and tensile and internal bond strengths). The results were compared against structures obtained from foams stabilized with an anionic surfactant (SDS) as well as those from foam-free, water-based web-laying. Remarkably, compared to SDS, the foam-formed materials produced with CML displayed better bonding and tensile strengths. Overall, CML-based foams were found to be suitable carriers of cellulosic fibers and have opened the possibility for integrating fully biobased systems in foam-forming. This is an emerging option to increase the effective solids content in the system without compromising the quality of formed nonwoven materials while achieving reductions in water and energy consumption.

The wet strength of water- and foam-laid cellulose sheets prepared with polyamideamine-epichlorohydrin (PAE) resin

Abstract Some paper and paperboard grades require strength also when rewetted. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of web forming method, different foaming agents, polyamideamine-epichlorohydrin (PAE) wet strength resin, and retention aids on the strength development of hand sheets. Only a slight, if any, improvement in dry tensile strength due to PAE resin was observed. PAE improved the wet strength of the water-laid sheets, and the retention systems had a minor but positive impact. Although wet strength was lower at given PAE addition levels, the trend was similar with the sheets foam-laid with an anionic foaming agent, except at high PAE levels. With the non-ionic surfactant the maximum level of wet strength was reached already at a low PAE addition level and use of retention aids decreased wet strength. Such differences between the water- and foam-laid sheets are most likely due to the chemical interactions between PAE, foaming agents, and other additives.

The effect of chemical additives on the strength, stiffness and elongation potential of paper - OPEN ACCESS

The effects of wet-end additions of cationic starches and/or carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) on paper properties was determined by papermaking trials. The aim of this study was to mitigate the distinctive decrease in strength and stiffness due to unrestrained drying by addition of wet-end additives, while maintaining the extraordinarily high stretch potential of papers after unrestrained drying. Addition of the different polysaccharides increased the tensile index and density of the paper. The largest incgtreases in tensile index and stiffness were seen when combining cationic starches with CMC. With certain combinations of cationic starch and CMC, it was possible to increase the tensile index and stiffness of the paper, while maintaining the high elongation at break after unrestrained drying. To complement the results from the papermaking trials, adsorption of cationic starches and CMC onto cellulose nanofibril model surfaces was studied by QCM-D and SPR techniques. The additives adsorbed onto cellulose surfaces as soft gels, containing a large amount of coupled water. Adsorption of soft and malleable polysaccharide layers in the fiber-fiber joints enhanced the paper properties significantly on a macroscopic level. The softest and most swollen polysaccharide layers resulted in the largest increases in tensile index and stiffness of paper ADDRESSES OF THE AUTHORS: Anders Strand (anders.strand@abo.fi), Anna Sundberg (anna.sundberg@abo.fi), The Laboratory of Wood and Paper Chemistry, Åbo Akademi University, Porthaninkatu 3, FI-20500, Turku, Finland. Elias Retulainen (elias.retulainen@vtt.fi), Kristian Salminen (kristian.salminen@vtt.fi), Antti Oksanen (antti.oksanen@vtt.fi), Jarmo Kouko (jarmo.kouko@ vtt.fi), Annika Ketola (Annika.ketola@vtt.fi), VTT, Koivurannantie 1, FI-40400 Jyväskylä, Finland. Alexey Khakalo (alexey.khakalo@aalto.fi), Orlando Rojas (orlando.rojas@aalto.fi), Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, School of Chemical Engineering, Aalto University, FI-00076, Espoo, Finland Corresponding author: Anders Strand