Sizing additive performance using a novel strength complex

Abstract

Compositions, components, and colloidal particles are provided that may be used to improve a papermaking process. The compositions and colloidal particles may include a polymer and an inorganic salt. A sizing agent may also be a component of a composition or added separately to papermaking process water. A papermaking process carried out using the presently disclosed compositions, components, and colloidal particles may produce a paper product that has increased sizing properties.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of improving a papermaking process, comprising:
 adding a colloidal particle to a papermaking process water of a papermaking machine, the colloidal particle comprising a polymer embedded within a colloidal aluminum hydroxide complex and/or a colloidal ferric hydroxide complex, and   adding a sizing agent to the papermaking process water,   wherein the papermaking process water comprises a recycled fiber and/or a virgin fiber.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein from about 0.1 to about 20 lb/ton of the colloidal particle, relative to solid fiber, is added to the papermaking process water. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein from about 0.1 to about 100 lb/ton of the sizing agent, relative to solid fiber, is added to the papermaking process water. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the colloidal particle and/or the sizing agent is added to a recycled furnish, a thin stock, a thick stock, a headbox, before the headbox, after the headbox, before a press section, in a size press, or any combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the colloidal particle is added before, after, and/or with the sizing agent. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the colloidal particle is formed in the absence of a fiber. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising forming an additional colloidal particle in the papermaking process water. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sizing agent is selected from the group consisting of an alkyl ketene dimer (AKD), rosin, an alkenyl succinic anhydride (ASA), and any combination thereof. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the colloidal particle comprises from about 0.01 wt. % to about 10 wt. % of the polymer. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer is cationic, anionic, zwitterionic, non-ionic, amphoteric with a net positive charge or amphoteric with a net negative charge. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises a carboxylic acid. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the polymer comprises from about 1 mol % to about 8 mol % of the carboxylic acid. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the colloidal particle is water-insoluble. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the sizing agent is emulsified before being added to the papermaking process water. 
     
     
         15 . A composition, comprising:
 a colloidal particle comprising a polymer embedded within a colloidal aluminum hydroxide complex and/or a colloidal ferric hydroxide complex,   a sizing agent, and   a papermaking process water comprising a recycled fiber.   
     
     
         16 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the polymer comprises a Huggins constant of about 0.0 to about 1. 
     
     
         17 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the polymer comprises a conformation plot slope of about 0.05 to about 1. 
     
     
         18 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the polymer comprises from about 0 mol % to about 99 mol % of a cationic monomer and/or from about 1 mol % to about 99 mol % of an anionic monomer. 
     
     
         19 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the polymer comprises from about 1 mol % to about 8 mol % of a carboxylic acid. 
     
     
         20 . The composition of  claim 15 , wherein the composition comprises or excludes a polysaccharide.