Imaging of Macromolecular Events Occurring During the Manufacture of Paper

Abstract

A novel transmission electron microscopy (TEM) technique, developed to observe the nano-scale interactions of polymeric additives and cellulosic fibrils under idealized laboratory conditions, was applied for the first time in a comprehensive study of the colloidal interactions within a mill producing light-weight coated publication paper. The technique allows the observation of incremental changes in the nano-scale appearance of the paper-making slurry as successive additives are introduced to the system. Such changes include the coagulation of colloidal and dissolved substances present in thermomechanical (TMP) pulp after the addition of a low molecular weight, high charge density polymer, and the subsequent flocculation of the coagulated matter, hydrophobic materials, and fines following the introduction of talc, aluminum sulfate, a high mass cationic polyelectrolyte, and silica nanoparticles. The new results demonstrate that the TEM technique can be applied even in systems as complex as commercial papermaking, leading to a more accurate understanding of what happens on a macromolecular level.