Retention and drainage in the manufacture of paper

Abstract

A method of improving retention and drainage in a papermaking process is disclosed. The method provides for the addition of an associative polymer, an inorganic particle and optionally a siliceous material to the papermaking slurry. Additionally, a composition comprising an associative polymer, and an inorganic particle and optionally further comprising cellulose fiber is disclosed.

1 . A method of improving retention and drainage in a papermaking process wherein the improvement comprising adding to a papermaking slurry, an associative polymer and at least one inorganic particle, wherein the associative polymer comprising the formula:  
         [—B-co-F—]  (I)  
       wherein B is a nonionic polymer segment comprising one or more ethylenically unsaturated nonionic monomers; F is an polymer segment comprising at least one ethylenically unsaturated anionic or cationic monomer; and the molar percent ratio of B:F is 99:1 to 1:99 and wherein the associative polymer has associative properties provided by an effective amount of at least emulsification surfactant chosen from diblock or triblock polymeric surfactants, and wherein the amount of the at least one diblock or triblock surfactant to monomer is at least about 3:10.  
     
     
         2 . The method in  claim 1  where the at least one inorganic particle is selected from the group consisting of clay, swellable clays, calcium carbonate, talc, titanium dioxide, aluminosilicates, diatomaceous silica, calcium sulfate, zinc oxide, zeolites and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the at least one inorganic particle is selected from the group consisting of aluminosilicates, diatomaceous silica, calcium sulfate, zinc oxide and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising a siliceous material.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the siliceous material is selected from the group consisting of silica based particles, silica microgels, amorphous silica, colloidal silica, anionic colloidal silica, silica sols, silica gels, polysilicates, polysilicic acid, and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the inorganic particle and associative polymer are added to the papermaking slurry as a blend, simultaneously or sequentially.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the associative polymer is anionic.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein non-ionic monomer comprises acrylamide and the anionic monomer comprises a free acid or salt of acrylic acid.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the associative polymer is cationic.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the associative polymer comprises both anionic and cationic monomers.  
     
     
         11 . A composition comprising an associative polymer and at least one inorganic particle wherein the associative polymer comprising the formula:  
         [—B-co-F—]  (I)  
       wherein B is a nonionic polymer segment comprising one or more ethylenically unsaturated nonionic monomers; F is an polymer segment comprising at least one ethylenically unsaturated anionic or cationic monomer; and the molar percent ratio of B:F is 99:1 to 1:99 and wherein the associative polymer has associative properties provided by an effective amount of at least emulsification surfactant chosen from diblock or triblock polymeric surfactants, and wherein the amount of the at least one diblock or triblock surfactant to monomer is at least about 3:10.  
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 11  further comprising cellulosic fiber.  
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 11  further comprising a siliceous material.  
     
     
         14 . The method in  claim 11  where the at least one inorganic particle is selected from the group consisting of clay, swellable clays, calcium carbonate, talc, titanium dioxide, aluminosilicates, diatomaceous silica, calcium sulfate, zinc oxide, zeolites and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the at least one inorganic particle is selected from the group consisting of aluminosilicates, diatomaceous silica, calcium sulfate, zinc oxide and combinations thereof.