Effect of thickener structure on paper-coating color properties

Physical and chemical properties of clay-based paper-coating colors have been characterized. The “surface potential” (zeta potential) of kaolin particles used in paper-coating formulations was determined as functions of pH and sodium polyacrylate (used as a dispersant) concentration. The optimal pH and dispersant concentration have been established. The effect of adsorption of two different thickeners on the kaolinite particle potential was also investigated. The rheological properties of coating colors, thickened with an associative polymer and a commonly used thickener, have been compared. The rheological behavior of all the coating colors studied was found to be similar, except for the magnitude of the elastic modulus, which was considerably larger for the more hydrophobic thickener. The water-retention properties of the colors could be qualitatively correlated with the molecular structure of the thickeners. An interaction mechanism (e.g. formation of hydrophobic micellar domains) between kaolinite particles and the associative polymer has been proposed. Received: 10 August 2000/Accepted: 2 January 2001