Pilot Paper Machine Production of Newsprint Using High Filler Loads and Dry Strength Technologies

The introduction of filler in newsprint is a valuable cost alternative for fibre replacement and energy savings. The introduction of fillers is beneficial to many sheet properties such as brightness and opacity, but it is detrimental to strength, linting and dusting properties. In consequence, papermachine and printing press runnability can be adversely affected. In attempt to understand the impact of kaolin-filler introduction in newsprint in the North American context, pilot plant runs were conducted on the new CIPP pilot papermachine using different filler loads and a 45-gsm sheet. Selected dry strength additives were also added in order to minimize the loss or improve physical properties of the sheet. Our study reveals that some technologies can maintain the dry strength of papers while others will be more useful at maintaining parameters such as papermachine and pressroom runnability and printing quality which may all be affected by filler increases.