MODIFIED STARCH AS ADDITIVES TO IMPROVE TISSUE PAPER PROPERTIES

Our research tries to share solutions of the problems that faced who are working in the papermaking industries, especially the retention of the filler, fine fibers, drainage and machine run ability, besides paper strength, softness, smoothness and the increase in the absorption properties of the tissue paper. Starch, which is the most widely used as strengthening agent in papermaking, was modified in the current work with urea, caustic soda and were added to the pulp paste in ratios of 5 to 20 ml. On the other hand, the starch-caustic soda was further modified with trimethylamine hydrochloride in the presence of epichlorohydrin (ECH) as a cross-linker and was also added in the same above ratios to the pulp paste. Another modification was made to the starch which was polymerized with acrylic acid to give hydrogel which was added to the pulp paste in a tiny amount, i.e. 0.001g, and in the same manner, the bleached bagasse pulp was polymerized and added to the pulp paste. The results showed an improvement of the strength, softness, smoothness, stiffness, absorption and zeta potential compared to the blank, enabling them to be promising for making tissue paper or absorbing paper. The research also approaches the environmental address since the bagasse considered as a renewable and sustainable resource coming from agricultural residue (sugarcane) which lead to the decrease in both their environmental impact and economic cost.