Abstract: The invention discloses a method to form a composition, which method includes fibrillating fibers to form MFC in the presence of an alkali-metal silicate whereby an MFC and silicate mixture is formed The presence of alkali-metal silicate during fibrillation of fibers to MFC, reduces the viscosity and increases the water release behavior, whereby the fibrillation can be accomplished at higher concentrations and a more uniform mixture of MFC-silicate is accomplished. The composition formed by the method of the invention may e.g. be used in paper or paperboard production, in cement production or as an additive in composites.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for improved surface sizing in the manufacture of paper or board products. According to the present invention, an aqueous dispersion of microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), starch and pigments or fillers is treated by jet cooking and then used for surface sizing in a process for manufacturing a paper or board product.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method of producing a filler composition to be used in paper or board production, said method comprising providing a suspension comprising calcium hydroxide and performing carbonation of the calcium hydroxide to form precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC). The invention is characterized in that starch and/or carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) is added to the suspension during said carbonation of calcium hydroxide. The method of the invention enables an increased filler content in paper or paperboard without substantially increasing the dusting tendency or decreasing the strength of the paper or board.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method to form a composition, which method includes fibrillating fibers to form MFC in the presence of an alkali-metal silicate whereby an MFC and silicate mixture is formed The presence of alkali-metal silicate during fibrillation of fibers to MFC, reduces the viscosity and increases the water release behavior, whereby the fibrillation can be accomplished at higher concentrations and a more uniform mixture of MFC-silicate is accomplished. The composition formed by the method of the invention may e.g. be used in paper or paperboard production, in cement production or as an additive in composites.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the production of a composite comprising microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) and precipitated calcium carbonate. The method is characterized in that MFC is added to a suspension of calcium hydroxide during carbonation, whereby calcium carbonate is precipitated onto fibers or fibrils of the MFC in a controlled manner. By adding microfibrillated cellulose to the calcium suspension during the carbonation, the brightness and the strength of the MFC/PCC-composite is enhanced. Moreover, the inventive method facilitates the distribution of calcium dioxide and MFC in the suspension and thus gives rise to a more homogenous product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for improved surface sizing in the manufacture of paper or board products. According to the present invention, an aqueous dispersion of microfibrillated cellulose (MFC), starch and pigments or fillers is treated by jet cooking and then used for surface sizing in a process for manufacturing a paper or board product.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for the production of a composite comprising microfibrillated cellulose (MFC) and precipitated calcium carbonate. The method is characterized in that MFC is added to a suspension of calcium hydroxide during carbonation, whereby calcium carbonate is precipitated onto fibers or fibrils of the MFC in a controlled manner. By adding microfibrillated cellulose to the calcium suspension during the carbonation, the brightness and the strength of the MFC/PCC-composite is enhanced. Moreover, the inventive method facilitates the distribution of calcium dioxide and MFC in the suspension and thus gives rise to a more homogenous product.

Abstract: The invention discloses a method of producing a filler composition to be used in paper or board production, said method comprising providing a suspension comprising calcium hydroxide and performing carbonation of the calcium hydroxide to form precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC). The invention is characterized in that starch and/or carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) is added to the suspension during said carbonation of calcium hydroxide. The method of the invention enables an increased filler content in paper or paperboard without substantially increasing the dusting tendency or decreasing the strength of the paper or board.

Abstract: A sizing composition in the form of a water-based composition comprising at least one hydrophobic cellulose reactive sizing agent and an anionic, cationic or amphoteric polymer comprising a high amylopectin barley-starch. The invention also contains a method for the production of sized paper or sized paperboard, wherein said sizing composition is being used, and sized paper or sized paperboard which is produced using said sizing composition.

Abstract: Coating composition comprising mineral pigment, for creating a matt or silk coated paper with decreased ink scuff tendency. The coating composition also comprises organic particles, which particles in an amount of 0.5-9.5 weight-% calculated on said mineral pigment, exhibit a particle size of more than 2 &mgr;m and at the most 50 &mgr;m. The invention also relates to a paper which is coated with said coating composition.

Abstract: Coating composition comprising mineral pigment, for creating a matt or silk coated paper with decreased ink scuff tendency. The coating composition also comprises organic particles, which particles in an amount of 0.5-9.5 weight-% calculated on said mineral pigment, exhibit a particle size of more than 2 &mgr;m and at the most 50 &mgr;m. The invention also relates to a paper which is coated with said coating composition.

Abstract: Size composition in the form of a water-based composition containing a hydrophobic, cellulose-reactive sizing agent and an anionic, cationic and/or amphoteric polymer comprising a cross-linked starch. The hydrophobic, cellulose-reactive sizing agent comprises an alkylketene dimer.

Abstract: Method for improving the formation of a web material in a wire machine, including dispersing existing flocks in stock which is transported along a transport direction from an inlet box onto a plurality of wire sections which are arranged after each other along the direction of travel, counteracting the reformation of flocks in the stock on the wire by furnishing ultrasound energy as ultrasound waves with frequencies between 15 and 75 kHz to the stock on the wire sections. The ultrasound has a higher frequency within at least one section which is closer to the inlet box than a subsequent section further away from the inlet box, within which subsequent section the ultrasound has as lower frequency.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrophobising system for paper or a similar fiber product, comprising (1) a ketene dimer, and (2) an alkenyl and/or alkyl succinic acid and/or a salt thereof. The invention additionally relates to a method for hydrophobising paper or a similar fiber product comprising adding a hydrophobising system defined above to fibers.

Abstract: A size composition in the form of an aqueous emulsion or dispersion comprises hydrophobic cellulose-reactive particles, which exist as a physical mixture of at least two hydrophobic, cellulose-reactive sizing agents, comprising alkyl keten dimer (AKD) and alkenyl succenic acid anhydride (ASA) as well as starch and/or synthetic polymer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a novel sizing composition in the form of an aqueous emulsion comprising a hydrophobic cellulose reactive sizing agent and a cationic polymer comprising a starch, the novel features of said composition being that the starch possesses a combination of (A) a branched, high molecular weight structure as reflected by an amylopectin content of at least 85% and (B) a degree of substitution of about 0.045 to 0.40.Such sizing compositions can be prepared by dissolving the aforementioned starch in water, adjusting the temperature to above the melting point of the sizing agent and adding the sizing agent to the solution so as to form a coarse emulsion, which is subsequently subjected to shear forces to reduce the particle size of the emulsion.The invention also relates to a method of preparing sized paper or paperboard by using the abovementioned sizing composition. Also, the invention relates to the sized paper for paperboard prepared by said method.