A filtration membrane comprising cellulose fibres, the membrane having a pore size distribution such that the modal pore diameter is between 10 nm and 25 nm and/or wherein less than 5% of the pore volume comprises pores of greater than 40 nm and having a total porosity greater than 30%.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) exhibit high electrical and thermal conductivity and good mechanical properties, making them suitable fillers for composites. Their effectiveness as a filler is affected by their state of aggregation. Novel ordered helical wrapping of poly (methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) has been achieved on single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs). This carbon nanotube composite not only thwarts CNT aggregation, but also may be successfully leveraged for applications such as electrical energy storage and mechanical reinforcement.

Provided is a printing coated paper which is advantageous not only in that the coated paper has offset printability and causes no mottling in the printed area even in ink jet printing, but also in that the coated paper exhibits excellent rubbing resistance with respect to the printed area and excellent print density of a dye ink. The task of the present invention is achieved by a printing coated paper having a coating layer comprised mainly of a pigment and a binder formed on at least one side of a base paper, wherein the base paper is a treated base paper which has been subjected to size press using a treatment solution containing at least one member selected from a cationic resin and a water-soluble multivalent cation salt, wherein the total applied amount per each side of the at least one member selected from a cationic resin and a water-soluble multivalent cation salt, in terms of the solids content, is in the range of from 0.1 to 5.0 g/m.sup.2, and wherein the at least one pigment in the coating layer is ground calcium carbonate having an average particle diameter of 0.1 to 0.28 μm, wherein the amount of the ground calcium carbonate having an average particle diameter of 0.1 to 0.28 μm contained in the coating layer is in the range of 60 parts by mass or more, relative to 100 parts by mass of the total of the pigment(s) in the coating layer.

Provided is a printing coated paper which is advantageous not only in that the coated paper has offset printability and causes no mottling in the printed area even in ink jet printing, but also in that the coated paper exhibits excellent rubbing resistance with respect to the printed area and excellent print density of a dye ink. The task of the present invention is achieved by a printing coated paper having a coating layer comprised mainly of a pigment and a binder formed on at least one side of a base paper, wherein the base paper is a treated base paper which has been subjected to size press using a treatment solution containing at least one member selected from a cationic resin and a water-soluble multivalent cation salt, wherein the total applied amount per each side of the at least one member selected from a cationic resin and a water-soluble multivalent cation salt, in terms of the solids content, is in the range of from 0.1 to 5.0 g/m.sup.2, and wherein the at least one pigment in the coating layer is ground calcium carbonate having an average particle diameter of 0.1 to 0.28 μm, wherein the amount of the ground calcium carbonate having an average particle diameter of 0.1 to 0.28 μm contained in the coating layer is in the range of 60 parts by mass or more, relative to 100 parts by mass of the total of the pigment(s) in the coating layer.

A hydrophobic paper or cardboard that has self-assembled silicon-oxide nanoparticles with functional silane groups and fluorocarbonated compounds linked directly to cellulose fibers of at least one surfaces thereof, with a Cobb value of 8 to 25 g/m.sup.2 and water contact angles of 100° to 140°, which can be used for packing foodstuffs. The hydrophobic paper or cardboard may be printed, is recyclable and exhibits improved adhesion in areas requiring adhesive bonding of paper or cardboard.

A hydrophobic paper or cardboard that has self-assembled silicon-oxide nanoparticles with functional silane groups and fluorocarbonated compounds linked directly to cellulose fibers of at least one surfaces thereof, with a Cobb value of 8 to 25 g/m.sup.2 and water contact angles of 100° to 140°, which can be used for packing foodstuffs. The hydrophobic paper or cardboard may be printed, is recyclable and exhibits improved adhesion in areas requiring adhesive bonding of paper or cardboard.

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of an aqueous suspension comprising at least one calcium carbonate-comprising material, the calcium carbonate-comprising material having a ratio of particles having an average particle size d.sub.80 value to particles having an average particle size d.sub.20 value [d.sub.80/d.sub.20] in the range from 1.5 to 4 and the use of the calcium carbonate-comprising material in paper and board applications, in cosmetics, in caulks and sealants, in adhesives, in paints and coatings, in fibre applications, in plastics applications or for the replacement of PCC in general.

The present invention is directed to products, such as paper and paperboard products, comprising a substrate containing cellulose and top ply comprising microfibrillated cellulose and inorganic particulate, to methods of making such paper and paperboard products, and associated uses of such paper and paperboard products. The microfibrillated cellulose and inorganic particulate material are applied at the stage when the wet substrate is in the process of being formed on the wire of a papermaking machine, thereby avoiding the additional cost of more extensive equipment and machinery as well as in separate drying of a coating. The microfibrillated cellulose facilitates the application of inorganic particulate onto the surface of a wet paper or paperboard substrate when applied thusly, by trapping the inorganic particulate on the surface of the substrate and by giving the composite sufficient strength and a suitable pore structure to make it suitable for printing and other end-use demands.

A cigarette paper contains pulp fibers and filler particles, whereby at least 20% of the filler particles, by mass or by particle number, have a flaked shape. The flaked filler particles have a length l, a width b and a thickness d, which correspond to the respective maximum extension in three mutually orthogonal spatial directions, whereby the length l as well as the width b are at least twice as large as the thickness d. The mass-specific median value d.sub.50 of the particle size distribution measured according to ISO 13317-3 is between 0.2 μm and 4.0 μm, and the flaked particles are formed by calcium carbonate.

A cigarette paper contains pulp fibers and filler particles, whereby at least 20% of the filler particles, by mass or by particle number, have a flaked shape. The flaked filler particles have a length l, a width b and a thickness d, which correspond to the respective maximum extension in three mutually orthogonal spatial directions, whereby the length l as well as the width b are at least twice as large as the thickness d. The mass-specific median value d.sub.50 of the particle size distribution measured according to ISO 13317-3 is between 0.2 μm and 4.0 μm, and the flaked particles are formed by calcium carbonate.