Abstract: A colloidal silica solution which includes two or more colloidal silica compositions or suspensions having differing particle sizes and specific surface areas, the compositions or suspensions resulting in a multimodal particle size distribution in which the solution or suspension can be bimodal in nature and composed of, but not limited to, particles with a mode of 4 nm and 20 nm or composed of particles 7 nm and 12 nm. The solution or suspension can also be trimodal and composed of, but not limited to, 4 nm, 7 nm and 15 nm or 3 nm, 5 nm, and 20 nm. The solution or suspension can also include other multimodal systems which would give superior water drainage and fiber and ash retention on paper machines. The colloidal silica solution is a drainage and retention aid in the making of paper.

Abstract: A colloidal silica solution which includes two or more colloidal silica compositions or suspensions having differing particle sizes and specific surface areas, the compositions or suspensions resulting in a multimodal particle size distribution in which the solution or suspension can be bimodal in nature and composed of, but not limited to, particles with a mode of 4 nm and 20 nm or composed of particles 7 nm and 12 nm. The solution or suspension can also be trimodal and composed of, but not limited to, 4 nm, 7 nm and 15 nm or 3 nm, 5 nm, and 20 nm. The solution or suspension can also include other multimodal systems which would give superior water drainage and fiber and ash retention on paper machines. The colloidal silica solution is a drainage and retention aid in the making of paper.