Cross-Linking of Oxidized Hydroxypropyl Cellulose in Paper: Influence of Molecular Weight and Polymer Distribution on Paper Wet Strength Development
With the overarching aim for the development of sustainable, nontoxic wet strength agents for paper, a novel polymer gel system based on oxidized hydroxypropyl cellulose (keto-HPC) cross-linked with polyamines was investigated in detail to gain a deeper insight into the wet strength mechanism. When...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-03-01
|
| Series: | Gels |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/9/3/206 |
| _version_ | 1797611615999229952 |
|---|---|
| author | David Seelinger Markus Biesalski |
| author_facet | David Seelinger Markus Biesalski |
| author_sort | David Seelinger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | With the overarching aim for the development of sustainable, nontoxic wet strength agents for paper, a novel polymer gel system based on oxidized hydroxypropyl cellulose (keto-HPC) cross-linked with polyamines was investigated in detail to gain a deeper insight into the wet strength mechanism. When applied to paper, this wet strength system significantly increases the relative wet strength by using only low amounts of polymer, and it is therefore comparable with established wet strength agents based on fossil resources, such as polyamidoamine epichlorohydrin resins. With the help of ultrasonic treatment, keto-HPC was degraded with respect to its molecular weight and further cross-linked in paper using polymeric amine-reactive counterparts. The resulting polymer-cross-linked paper mechanical properties were analyzed with respect to the dry and wet tensile strength, respectively. In addition, we analyzed the polymer distribution using fluorescence confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). If high-molecular-weight samples are being used for cross-linking, we do find accumulation of the polymer mainly on the surface of the fibers and at fiber crossing points, accompanied with enhancing strong effects on paper’s wet tensile strength. In contrast, if low-molecular-weight (i.e., degraded) keto-HPC is being applied, the macromolecules are capable of entering the inner porous structure of the paper fibers, and almost no accumulation at the fiber crossing points is observed, which also results in a lowered wet paper tensile strength, respectively. This insight into wet strength mechanisms of the keto-HPC/polyamine system can thus lead to new opportunities for the development of alternative biobased wet strength agents where molecular weight dependence of the wet tensile properties allows for a fine tuning of mechanical properties in the wet state. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:30:13Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-97a32f78b3fc4e2689a624d842d27378 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2310-2861 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:30:13Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Gels |
| spelling | doaj.art-97a32f78b3fc4e2689a624d842d273782023-11-17T11:14:45ZengMDPI AGGels2310-28612023-03-019320610.3390/gels9030206Cross-Linking of Oxidized Hydroxypropyl Cellulose in Paper: Influence of Molecular Weight and Polymer Distribution on Paper Wet Strength DevelopmentDavid Seelinger0Markus Biesalski1Ernst-Berl-Institut Macromolecular and Paper Chemistry, Technical University Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Str. 8, 64287 Darmstadt, GermanyErnst-Berl-Institut Macromolecular and Paper Chemistry, Technical University Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Str. 8, 64287 Darmstadt, GermanyWith the overarching aim for the development of sustainable, nontoxic wet strength agents for paper, a novel polymer gel system based on oxidized hydroxypropyl cellulose (keto-HPC) cross-linked with polyamines was investigated in detail to gain a deeper insight into the wet strength mechanism. When applied to paper, this wet strength system significantly increases the relative wet strength by using only low amounts of polymer, and it is therefore comparable with established wet strength agents based on fossil resources, such as polyamidoamine epichlorohydrin resins. With the help of ultrasonic treatment, keto-HPC was degraded with respect to its molecular weight and further cross-linked in paper using polymeric amine-reactive counterparts. The resulting polymer-cross-linked paper mechanical properties were analyzed with respect to the dry and wet tensile strength, respectively. In addition, we analyzed the polymer distribution using fluorescence confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). If high-molecular-weight samples are being used for cross-linking, we do find accumulation of the polymer mainly on the surface of the fibers and at fiber crossing points, accompanied with enhancing strong effects on paper’s wet tensile strength. In contrast, if low-molecular-weight (i.e., degraded) keto-HPC is being applied, the macromolecules are capable of entering the inner porous structure of the paper fibers, and almost no accumulation at the fiber crossing points is observed, which also results in a lowered wet paper tensile strength, respectively. This insight into wet strength mechanisms of the keto-HPC/polyamine system can thus lead to new opportunities for the development of alternative biobased wet strength agents where molecular weight dependence of the wet tensile properties allows for a fine tuning of mechanical properties in the wet state.https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/9/3/206hydroxypropyl cellulosewet tensile strengthwet strength resinpolymer degradationpolymer distribution in paper |
| spellingShingle | David Seelinger Markus Biesalski Cross-Linking of Oxidized Hydroxypropyl Cellulose in Paper: Influence of Molecular Weight and Polymer Distribution on Paper Wet Strength Development Gels hydroxypropyl cellulose wet tensile strength wet strength resin polymer degradation polymer distribution in paper |
| title | Cross-Linking of Oxidized Hydroxypropyl Cellulose in Paper: Influence of Molecular Weight and Polymer Distribution on Paper Wet Strength Development |
| title_full | Cross-Linking of Oxidized Hydroxypropyl Cellulose in Paper: Influence of Molecular Weight and Polymer Distribution on Paper Wet Strength Development |
| title_fullStr | Cross-Linking of Oxidized Hydroxypropyl Cellulose in Paper: Influence of Molecular Weight and Polymer Distribution on Paper Wet Strength Development |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cross-Linking of Oxidized Hydroxypropyl Cellulose in Paper: Influence of Molecular Weight and Polymer Distribution on Paper Wet Strength Development |
| title_short | Cross-Linking of Oxidized Hydroxypropyl Cellulose in Paper: Influence of Molecular Weight and Polymer Distribution on Paper Wet Strength Development |
| title_sort | cross linking of oxidized hydroxypropyl cellulose in paper influence of molecular weight and polymer distribution on paper wet strength development |
| topic | hydroxypropyl cellulose wet tensile strength wet strength resin polymer degradation polymer distribution in paper |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2310-2861/9/3/206 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT davidseelinger crosslinkingofoxidizedhydroxypropylcelluloseinpaperinfluenceofmolecularweightandpolymerdistributiononpaperwetstrengthdevelopment AT markusbiesalski crosslinkingofoxidizedhydroxypropylcelluloseinpaperinfluenceofmolecularweightandpolymerdistributiononpaperwetstrengthdevelopment |