Current wet-end chemistry: Retention, drainage, and paper strength agents

The pulp and paper industry uses such a wide variety of chemicals that it is very difficult to precisely estimate their consumption. But the author dared to estimate that their value in Japan would be more than 8% of the value of shipped paper products. It is larger than the world mean value of ca. 6%, which is estimated by BASF. Although the author recognized those figures are not certain, he warned that it could be hazardous to Japan's paper industry's international competitiveness. He then mentions wetend measurement and control. He explained the general technical situation of these items, and revealed hot topics such as charge measurement and control technology development and effectiveness. Finally, he mentions retention, drainage, and paper strength agents. He argued the differences between Japan and the world (mainly Europe and the U.S.) concerning these agents usage. He also outlined some different functions of these chemicals, and showed some of their technical topics and important experimental results.