Method of treating papermaking fabric

Abstract

Pitch and sticky accumulation on papermaking fabric is reduced by applying a solution or dispersion of a cationic composition to the fabric. The cationic composition includes a cationic polymer, a nonionic surfactant and an anionic surfactant and retains a net cationic charge. Preferably, this is continuously applied during the papermaking process.

1 . A method of treating a papermaking fabric comprising applying: 
 a cationic composition directly onto said fabric said cationic composition comprising a cationic water soluble polymer, a non-ionic surfactant and an anionic surfactant wherein said composition has a ratio of cationic polymer to anionic surfactant effective to establish a positive charge for said composition.    
   
   
       2 . The method claimed in  claim 1  wherein 10 to 50,000 ppm on an actives basis is applied to said fabric.  
   
   
       3 . The method claimed in  claim 2  wherein said composition comprises 2% to 20% cationic polymer and 0.5% to 10% by weight of anionic surfactant.  
   
   
       4 . The method claimed in  claim 3  wherein said composition includes 2% to 40% by weight nonionic surfactant.  
   
   
       5 . The method claimed in  claim 4  wherein said cationic polymer is polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride.  
   
   
       6 . The method claimed in  claim 4  wherein said nonionic surfactant has an HLB of 7 to 18.  
   
   
       7 . The method claimed in  claim 6  wherein said nonionic surfactant has an HLB of 11 to 13.  
   
   
       8 . The method claimed in  claim 7  wherein said nonionic surfactant is an alkoxylated linear alcohol.  
   
   
       9 . The method claimed in  claim 3  wherein said anionic surfactant is selected from the group consisting of carboxylic acid capped ethoxylated alkyl alcohols, sulfated ethoxylated alcohols, sulfonated ethoxylated alcohols, and secondary alkane sulfonate salts.  
   
   
       10 . The method claimed in  claim 2  wherein said cationic polymer retains 10%-80% of its positive charge  
   
   
       11 . The method claimed in  claim 3  further comprising a base in an amount effective to establish a pH of 3 to 10.  
   
   
       12 . A method of preventing pitch and sticky accumulates on papermaking fabric in a papermaking apparatus compressor; continuously applying to said papermaking fabric, as said fabric moves transporting a fibrous web, a cationic composition comprising: 
 water; and    2-20% polydiallyidimethylammonium chloride; and    2-40% of an alkoxylated linear alcohol nonionic surfactant having an HLB of 7-18; and    0.5 to 10% carboxylic acid capped ethoxylate alcohol anionic surfactant    said cationic composition applied in an amount effective to reduce accumulation of pitch and stickies on said fabric.