New diatomite filler for improvement of paper strength properties

Abstract

In this work, diatomite particles were modified to improve the bondability of diatomite particles with pulp fibers and filler retention via a complex of cationic starch-sodium hexametaphosphate coating method. The particle size, FTIR spectroscopy characteristic and morphology of the resulting modified diatomite were studied to confirm the successful modification. The SEM results illustrated that the surface of modified diatomite particles was covered by the complex coatings. The coating efficiency of the complex of cationic starch-sodium hexametaphosphate on diatomite surface was up to 98%. Compared with the handsheet filled unmodified diatomite, the handsheet filled with modified diatomite had higher strength properties and lower bulk. When cationic starch dosage was 7%, and filler dosage was 25%, the resulting tensile strength of filled modified diatomite handsheet was 22.1% higher than the handsheet filled unmodified diatomite. Furthermore, with the filler loading of 30%, compared with that of unmodified diatomite, filler retention of modified diatomite was increased by 20.4%. The larger particle size and higher zeta potential of modified diatomite were benefitial to increase retention of modified diatomite filler.