Papermaking compositions, process using same, and paper produced therefrom

Abstract

A chemical composition for use in the papermaking process to produce a paper having enhanced characteristics of brightness, opaqueness, and sizing is provided. The process using the composition to make the paper and the paper made therefrom are also provided by the present invention. The composition employs a cationic softener base, such as the mono- and distearamides of aminoethylethanolamine, to enhance sizing, opacity and brightness. A surfactant, such as an ethoxylated tallow amine or the reaction product of a saccharide and an acid, is used to ensure that the components of the composition remain dispersed therein and that the composition achieves uniform dispersibility on the paper. Another embodiment combines an amphoteric softener, such as a salt of an amphoteric stearic acid derivative, the cationic softener base, an acid, such as acetic acid, a surfactant, such as POE (15) tallow amine, carbamide, and water. To speed the production of the composition, a viscosity controlling agent, such as sodium chloride or sodium acetate, may be added thereto. The composition is added to pulp slurry during the papermaking process, and a paper made therefrom exhibits excellent qualities of brightness, opaqueness, water repellency and dispersibility.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.