Method for the preparation of paper containing plastic particles

A method for the preparation of a composite that contains plastic particles which includes

• a. forming a first partially dewatered web of cellulose fibers by depositing the fibers from a pulp on a wire support,
• b. depositing on said first web a plurality of expandable plastic beads, said plastic being selected from the group consisting of copolymers of acrylonitrile and vinylidene chloride, polystyrene or copolymers thereof, or polymethylmethacrylate or copolymers thereof, in a quantity equal to between 0.05 and 60% by weight of said plastic particles based on dry cellulose fibers, said unexpanded beads having diameters within the range of 0.5 to 200 .mu.m,
• c. depositing over said beads a partially dewatered second web of cellulose fibers formed by depositing the fibers from a pulp on a wire support so that said beads are disposed between said first and second webs,
• d. pressing said first and second partially dewatered webs together,
• e. subjecting said pressed together webs to a temperature of at least about 75.degree.C so as to effect both a drying of said webs and an expansion of at least a portion of said expandable beads.