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, starch or a starch derivative and optionally a siliceous material to the papermaking slurry. Additionally, a composition comprising an associative polymer and starch or starch derivative 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 starch or starch derivative, 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, wherein the at least one starch or starch derivative is selected from the groups consisting of derivatized starches containing a nitrogen content less than about 0.15% or a blend of cationic and anionic starches.  
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one starch or starch derivative comprises a least one of potato starch; corn starch; wheat starch; tapioca starch; rice starch; derivatives thereof and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one starch derivative comprises a least one of oxidized starches, crosslinked starch, esterified starches, alkylated starches, cationic starches, dialdehyde starches and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one starch derivative comprises a least one physically modified starch.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising adding a siliceous material.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  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.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the at least one starch or derivatized starch and associative polymer are added to the papermaking slurry as a blend, simultaneously or sequentially.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the associative polymer is anionic.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein associative polymer comprises acrylamide and the anionic monomer comprises a free acid or salt of acrylic acid.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the associative polymer is cationic.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the associative polymer comprises both anionic and cationic monomers.  
     
     
         12 . A composition comprising an associative polymer and at least one starch or starch derivative 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, wherein the at least one starch or starch derivative is selected from the groups consisting of derivatized starches containing a nitrogen content less than about 0.15% or a blend of cationic and anionic starches.  
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 12  further comprising cellulosic fiber.  
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 12  wherein the at least one starch or starch derivative comprises at least one potato starch; corn starch; wheat starch; tapioca starch; rice starch; derivative thereof or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         15 . The composition of  claim 12  wherein the at least one starch or starch derivative comprises a least one of oxidized starches, crosslinked starch, esterified starches, alkylated starches, catioinic starches, dialdehyde starches or combinations thereof.  
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 12  further comprising a siliceous material.