Cartaspers® PSM enables efficient processing of recycled paper

Muttenz, 16 May 2011 – Papermakers using recycled paper in their production process can wave goodbye to “stickies” and look forward to cost-efficient manufacturing with Clariant’s pioneering Cartaspers® PSM.

Cartaspers® PSM liquid from Clariant, a leading supplier of Optical Brighteners, Colorants and Chemicals for the paper market, prevents the clogging-up of machine clothing with “stickies”- the resin and adhesive particlesinherent in wastepaperand caused for example by address labels or envelope edges.

Downtime, due to “stickie” contamination, is practically eliminated and the amount of hydrocarbon cleaning solvent, for dissolving and removing the contaminants, is reduced by up to 90%.

Clariant’s patented Cartaspers® PSM liquid is available globally and is easy to use. It is added to the shower water during the paper production process and adsorbs on the machine clothing to provide a repellent protective layer. This allows the“stickies”to be rinsed away before they can build up and contaminate the fabrics.

These combined benefits bring significant performance and sustainability advantages to the capital intensive papermaking business, where machines need to run continuously to be profitable.

Cartaspers® PSM is a nonionic, readily biodegradable (OECD 301 A 97% - 28 days), hydrophilic polymer with high affinity for hydrophobic surfaces. The product is a water-based polyester dispersion, with the ability to modify the surface energy of non-polar substances. It can be combined easily with other papermaking additives and is suitable for use in hard and soft water.

It can be used in pulping and fiber preparation, wet-end applications and for the surface treatment of paper to increase inter-surface adhesion and improve printability.

From an environmental perspective, Cartaspers® PSM meets the requirements of Nordic Swan and EU Ecolabel schemes and complies with the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for food packaging materials. The reduction in the use of cleaning solvent also benefits mill staff, who are exposed to fewer solvent emissions.

“Cartaspers® PSM liquid is a powerful opponent in the control of stickies, keeping machinery free of such contamination. This cuts drastically both the amount of downtime and the need for large quantities of solvent, for a much more efficient production process,”comments John Cowman, Technical Manager of the process chemicals group, Clariant Production UK Ltd. “These are important factors for paper mills looking for cost reduction and efficiency improvements. Our customers tell us this is exactly the product they have been waiting for!”