The global paper industry is constantly faced with the challenge of producing paper, packaging, and tissue/towel grades stronger yet at the same time more economically.  If the goal is new grade development, utilization of lower cost fibers, or perhaps process and profitability optimization, Hercules has the strength technologies to achieve these objectives.

These technologies are marketed by Hercules under the trade names of Hercobond® Dry Strength and Temporary Wet Strength Technologies and are available in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America.

Mode of Action

Hercobond® Dry Strength and Temporary Wet Technologies are available in many forms including cationic, ampotheric and anionic polyacrylamides as well as cationic glyoxylated resins.

Hercules polyacrylamide resins are designed to impart dry strength under both alkaline and acid papermaking conditions and can provide improvements in internal bond (ZDT, Scott Bond, and Plybond) dry tensile, burst and stiffness.

Hercules cationic glyoxylated resins provide both dry strength and temporary wet strength, and are designed to impart superior performance in a pH range of 4.5 to 7.5.  These products provide significant improvements in various strength properties in many paper and paperboard grades, and allow for the substitution of lower cost fibers.  As well, many programs exist in recycle linerboard systems for the reduction of basis weight to maximize machine profitability.  In addition to significant dry strength improvements, these products also give temporary wet strength benefits crucial to improve coater runnability or producing high quality tissue/towel grades.  Along with the benefits of dry and temporary wet strength, these cationic glyoxylated resins provide significant drainage and drying in paperboard systems.

Method of Application

Hercules strength technologies are available in easy to use, liquid forms.  All that is required is a simple pumping skid. Some of these products can actually be used at the incoming solids while dilution is preferred for other products.

The products are typically added in the wet end loop anywhere from the fan pump back to the thick stock loop of the paper machine. The cationic glyoxylated products seem to perform best when added to the thick stock for proper mixing with the long fibers but careful attention should be paid to minimize dwell time at elevated temperatures.

Recorded Benefits

The following benefits have been recorded from practical applications of Hercobond® Dry Strength and Temporary Wet Technologies.  Not all benefits are realized for all applications.

Increased strength
Increased drainage
Temporary wet strength in finished tissue or towel
Improved drying
Excellent formation
Increased wet web strength in converting if additional wet processes used
Reduced crepe doctor dusting
May increase first pass retention
Effective in very closed water recycled systems
No broke repulping problems
Reduces B.O.D. (compared to starch)