EFFECT OF FIBER LOADING ON PAPER PROPERTIES

The authors examined the effect on paper properties of fiber-loaded ca lcium carbonate compared to conventional, direct-loaded calcium carbon ate. Research in this area has developed the basic technology for a pr ocess of precipitating and loading calcium carbonate within and on pap ermaking fibers. Scaleup from handsheet to semicommercial scale reveal ed some technical obstacles. This study focuses on changes in color an d brightness, dimensional stability, retention aid demand, and apparen t density. Fiber loading offers a practical processing method to decre ase the cost of calcium carbonate production and substitute more fille r for fiber in the production of printing and writing papers.