Abstract: A composite material of the invention is a mixture of cellulose microfibers having a carboxyl group content of 0.1 to 3 mmol/g and a moldable polymeric material selected from the group consisting of a biomass-derived polymer and a petroleum-derived polymer. The biomass-derived polymer is preferably polylactic acid or pulp. The cellulose microfibers are preferably present in an amount of 0.01% to 60% by mass. Another composite material of the invention is a mixture of cellulose composite microfibers and a moldable resin, the cellulose composite microfibers being obtained by adsorbing a surfactant onto cellulose microfibers having a carboxyl group content of 0.1 to 3 mmol/g.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for applying optical brightening agent (OBA) to a sheet of paper or paperboard substrate. The process comprises applying the composition comprising a cooked starch and a powdered optical brightener to at least one surface of a paper or paperboard substrate at the size press in a paper or paperboard manufacturing process to form a sized paper or paperboard substrate; and drying the sized paper or paperboard substrate to form a dried sized paper or paperboard substrate.

Abstract: Solid mixtures of a reactive size and starch, which are obtainable by mixing at least one reactive size with at least one starch in a melt in the presence of at least one destructuring agent for starch under the action of shear forces at from 65 to 250° C. and cooling the melt to room temperature, are used in the form of aqueous dispersions as process assistants in papermaking.