Starch-sodium stearate complex modified PCC filler and its application in papermaking

The use of fillers tends to reduce paper strength, which can limit their application. Therefore research on filler modification is of significant importance in order to overcome this limitation. In this paper, precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) was modified by starch, sodium stearate, and the starch cross-linking agent sodium hexametaphosphate. The purpose of this research is to provide useful references to the industrial application of modified precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC). Modified precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC) was characterized by particle size analyzer and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The analysis showed that the particle size of the modified PCC was significantly increased versus the control. The morphology of modified PCC also greatly changed. The influence of modified and unmodified PCC filled paper on paper physical performance was studied. The experimental results showed that at the same ash content, modified PCC filled paper compared with unmodified PCC filled paper had higher brightness, lower opacity, and higher physical strength. The impact of modified and unmodified PCC on stock retention and the comparison between modified and unmodified PCC were investigated. The experimental results showed that the stock filled with modified PCC had better retention compared to those filled with unmodified PCC.