Wire treatment for dust control

Abstract

Methods and compositions for improving a papermaking process are provided herein. The compositions include, for example, an oil, an emulsifying surfactant, and a formulation aid. The methods may include adding an effective amount of the composition to a foraminous surface and contacting the foraminous surface with a furnish. Water may be drained through the foraminous surface, thus forming a sheet on the foraminous surface, which may be transferred to a felt, a belt, a fabric, or elsewhere.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of improving a papermaking process, comprising:
 adding an effective amount of a composition to a foraminous surface, wherein the composition comprises an oil, an emulsifying surfactant, and a formulation aid;   contacting the foraminous surface with a furnish comprising water and pulp;   draining the water through the foraminous surface;   forming a sheet comprising the pulp on the foraminous surface; and   conveying the sheet.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising conveying the sheet to a fabric, a felt, a belt, a dryer, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adding the composition through a chemical shower. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adding the composition before the sheet is formed or conveyed. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adding the composition in a forming zone of a papermaking machine. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adding the composition to a side of the foraminous surface that contacts the sheet. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising adding the composition when the sheet has a moisture content from about 80 wt. % to about 99.9 wt. %. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising transferring the dried sheet to a creping process and/or a converting process, and further comprising reducing dust generation during the creping process and/or the converting process. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises from about 50 wt. % to about 95 wt. % of the oil. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the emulsifying surfactant is an ethoxylated alcohol. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the ethoxylated alcohol comprises a C 10 -C 16  ethoxylated alcohol. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises from about 1 wt. % to about 25 wt. % of the emulsifying surfactant. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the formulation aid is selected from the group consisting of a fatty acid, a fatty alcohol, a fatty ether, a fatty ester, a triglyceride, a lipophilic surfactant, and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the acid is tall oil fatty acid. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition comprises from about 1 wt. % to about 20 wt. % of the formulation aid. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the effective amount is between about 1 and about 60 mg/m 2 . 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the foraminous surface comprises a forming fabric. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sheet comprises a natural fiber, a synthetic fiber, a chemical pulp, a mechanical pulp, a vegetable fiber, a recycled fiber, a filler, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is not added after conveying the sheet. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the composition is not added after the sheet comprises about 20% consistency.