Method to produce composite-enhanced market pulp and paper

A paper product made from a composite-enhanced market pulp comprising:

• paper-making cellulose fibers having hydroxyl groups;
• and
• a composite material, the composite material comprising nanocellulose comprising nanofibrils having exposed surface hydroxyl groups and a high aspect ratio such that their lengths exceed their diameters by 100 fold or more, and having at least one dimension ranging from 1 nm to 200 nm, and being at least partially crosslinked together by a crosslinking compound capable of crosslinking surface hydroxyl groups to form a composite material with a three dimensional matrix structure;
• wherein the paper product has a Scott bond strength of at least 94 ft-lb/1000 in2;
• and
• wherein the paper product has improved strength compared to a comparable paper product having nanocellulose without the crosslinking compound, with less than a 15% loss of freeness compared to the composite-enhanced market pulp.

A method for making a paper product from an enhanced market pulp, the method comprising:

• preparing a composite material, the composite material comprising (a) a starch binder having exposed surface hydroxyl groups and comprising a blend of cationic starch and pearl corn starch;
• and (b) a crosslinking compound capable of crosslinking some of the exposed surface hydroxyl groups of the starch binder to form a composite material with a three dimensional matrix structure;
• adding the composite material to an aqueous pulp slurry to form a composite-enhanced market pulp;
• removing water from the composite-enhanced market pulp to form an enhanced market pulp;
• and
• using the enhanced market pulp to make a paper product;
• wherein the paper product has a bond strength of at least 113 ft-lb/1000 in2;
• and
• wherein the paper product has improved strength compared to a comparable paper product having nanocellulose without the crosslinking compound, with less than a 15% loss of freeness compared to the enhanced market pulp.