Ageing mechanisms of the papers with zeolite and PCC fillers

Abstract

This work has been conducted to investigate the effect of accelerated ageing on the filler-free (control) handsheets and the ones having Precipitated Calcium Carbonate (PCC) and Zeolite (Clinoptilolite) fillers. The diagnosis approach of this work has been based on the use of the techniques of attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The FT-IR technique has allowed identifying the changes in cellulose components of handsheets. Likewise, the XRD technique has provided to diagnose the changes in crystallinity of the handsheets and fillers. The results found out that PCC and Zeolite fillers could be easily added to the structure of the paper network by changing various experimental variables. The loss of C-O functional groups and the formation of carbonyl groups in handsheets has been analysed by accelerated ageing. The spectroscopy results confirmed that usage of zeolite filler has a retarding and structurally improving effect on the glycosidic linkages. Recent findings have been provided new insights into the role of the synergistic effect of the combination of PCC and zeolite fillers in the decelerating of certain ageing mechanism.