Surface characteristics and sizing response of paper sheets sized by anionic emulsion of fatty acids

The surface characteristics of paper sheets tub sized with anionic emulsion size consisting of fatty acids were investigated for the mechanism of sizing response by the combined use of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and pyrolysis gas chromatography. The atomic ratio of fatty acid-derived carbons to cellulosic ones, indicating the surface abundance of Hydrophobic size components on hydrophilic paper sheets, well reflected the sizing response that was not attributed to the size content of the paper sheets. The aluminum components on the fibre surfaces must behave as an inhibitor/or the undesirable aggregation of size components themselves and, as a result, contribute to the remarkable enhancement of sizing effects.