Debonding Performance of Various Cationic Surfactants on Networks Made of Bleached Kraft Fibers

Debonding agents are applied in the paper industry for various purposes, for example, to increase the softness of tissue paper. In this work, the debonding capacities of three cationic aliphatic ammonium surfactants and one alkoxylated amine surfactant on kraft fibers were determined. The results showed that the adsorption of the alkoxylated amine surfactant (AAS) was higher than that of others on the fibers, but a cationic cetyltrimethyl ammonium surfactant (cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide, CAB) was the most effective debonding agent, probably because of its relatively long hydrophobic chain. By applying CAB at levels of up to 20 mg/g, the tensile and burst indices were reduced by 37% and 41%, respectively. By applying AAS at levels of up to 20 mg/g, the tensile and burst indices of the networks were reduced by 18.6%, and 14.2%, respectively. The tear index of the fiber networks negligibly changed upon application of AAS, but increased by 19% upon application of CAB. The strain of the fiber networks prior to rupturing increased upon application of AAS, whereas it decreased upon application of CAB, which implies that the surfactants have different debonding mechanisms. The debonding efficiency of CAB was independent of both the refining revolutions and basis weights of the fiber networks.