TEMPERATURE-DEPENDENT BEHAVIOR OF POLYETHYLENE OXIDE IN PAPERMAKING SUSPENSIONS

The adsorption of polyethylene oxide (PEG) on chemi-thermo-mechanical pulp (CTMP), clay, and chalk suspensions was investigated at 303 and 3 43 K. These conditions corresponded to points below and above the crit ical solution temperature (CST) of a 0.005 mass % polyethylene oxide s olution in the presence of 2 mol/L of KCI. The PEO adsorption on CTMP and clay particles was also studied at different initial PEO concentra tions up to 50 mg/L. PEG adsorbed onto papermaking furnish particles a t both temperatures, but the adsorbed amount was found to be larger ab ove the CST in all systems. At 303 K it increased with the increase in PEG added to the system until it reached a plateau, but at 343 K it i ncreased with the increase in PEO added in all the range of PEG concen trations up to 50 mg/L. The state of aggregation of PEO-clay and PEG-c halk suspensions was also studied by monitoring fluctuations in the in tensity of light transmitted through the suspension. These measurement s indicated a strongly temperature-dependent aggregation. It was concl uded that the entropically driven phase separation leads to enhanced a ggregation, which in film favors the retention of fiber fines and clay filler.