Internal sizing of paper and paperboard with ethylene copolymers

摘要

Internal sizing of paper under neutral to mildly alkaline conditions can now be achieved with ethylene copolymers. In princple, aqueous emulsions of polymers based on an ethylene backbone should be good candidates for paper sizing. This is due to the hydrophobicity associated with polyolefins and the potential for film formation on the surface of the paper fibers. Such emulsions are generally prepared using surfactants as stabilizers. Upon drying, the water is removed but the surfactants as stabilizers. Upon drying, the water is removed but hte surfactant is not and the dried film is no longer hydrophobic.