Study of the Preparation, Characterization, and Sizing Performance of Modified Collagen Surface Sizing Agent

Abstract

In this work, a surface sizing agent for paper was prepared by the emulsion polymerization method, in which the collagen extracted from leather shavings was modified. The product was characterized using Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Energy Dispersive X-ray detector (EDX), and atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Corrugated papers were used as models. The synergy between modified collagen sizing emulsion and two commercial synthetic sizing agents was studied. Finally, the morphology of the papers before and after being treated was observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The results indicated that the sizing agent could be prepared using collagen as a raw material, which not only can alleviate a pollution problem in the leather industry, but also provide a novel alternative sizing agent for the paper industry, providing considerable economic, social, and environmental benefits to both industries.