Disclosed herein are processes for producing precipitated calcium carbonate. In one embodiment, the process comprises the steps of a) providing an aqueous slurry of calcium hydroxide; b) adding a polysaccharide to the slurry of calcium hydroxide; and c) carbonating the slurry of calcium hydroxide. The polysaccharide comprises poly alpha-1,3-glucan, a poly alpha-1,3-glucan ester compound as disclosed herein, or a poly alpha-1,3-glucan ether compound as disclosed herein. The precipitated calcium carbonate produced by the process can be useful in making paper.

A composition provides a high-bulk cellulose fiber-containing sheet, in which the water-retaining ability of the cellulose fibers is sufficiently high, and the water-absorbing rate is large. The composition contains cellulose fibers having phosphoric acid groups or phosphoric acid group-derived substituents. In at least a part of the cellulose fibers, the phosphoric acid groups or the phosphoric acid group-derived substituents are crosslinked. The number of crosslinking points in the cellulose fibers, which is calculated according to the following Equation (1), is 0.20 mmol/g or more, and the water content is 50% by mass or less, with respect to the total mass of the composition: Number of crosslinking points=(amount of strongly acidic groups contained in cellulose fibersamount of weakly acidic groups contained in cellulose fibers)/2 . . . Equation (1).

This disclosure provides high-efficiency and low-energy-consumption synthetic methods of a series of phosphorus-nitrogen-based intumescent flame retardants and the use thereof in paint flame retarding. 1 part by weight of a phosphorization agent and 0.5-4.0 parts by weight of a nitrogen-containing foaming agent are uniformly mixed and stirred at room temperature, and an amount of water is further added to emit heat and initiate reaction. 0.5-3.0 parts by weight of a charring agent and 0.5-4.0 parts by weight of a hydroxy-containing polyfuctional crosslinking agent are then added, and reacted with stirring. An amine compound is finally added for neutralization until pH value is 5-8, and solid liquid separation is performed. The solid portion is dried to obtain a main body portion of a phosphorus-nitrogen-based intumescent flame retardant. The resultant filtrate is diluted with - volume of water, and a flame retardant product is obtained. This flame retardant product is mainly used in the flame retarding of paper and cotton fabrics. The main body and different proportions of other nitrogen-containing foaming agents and charring agents are uniformly mixed and pulverized into nano- and micro-scale, and a phosphorus-nitrogen-based intumescent flame retardant is obtained. The nano- and micro-scale phosphorus-nitrogen intumescent flame retardant is mixed into a paint at a weight ratio of 15-30%, to obtain a flame-retardant paint which is capable of maintaining mechanical and physical properties of the paint. The phosphorus-nitrogen-based intumescent flame retardant of this disclosure is an intumescent flame retardant having a synergistic effect of phosphorus and nitrogen.

This disclosure provides high-efficiency and low-energy-consumption synthetic methods of a series of phosphorus-nitrogen-based intumescent flame retardants and the use thereof in paint flame retarding. 1 part by weight of a phosphorization agent and 0.5-4.0 parts by weight of a nitrogen-containing foaming agent are uniformly mixed and stirred at room temperature, and an amount of water is further added to emit heat and initiate reaction. 0.5-3.0 parts by weight of a charring agent and 0.5-4.0 parts by weight of a hydroxy-containing polyfuctional crosslinking agent are then added, and reacted with stirring. An amine compound is finally added for neutralization until pH value is 5-8, and solid liquid separation is performed. The solid portion is dried to obtain a main body portion of a phosphorus-nitrogen-based intumescent flame retardant. The resultant filtrate is diluted with - volume of water, and a flame retardant product is obtained. This flame retardant product is mainly used in the flame retarding of paper and cotton fabrics. The main body and different proportions of other nitrogen-containing foaming agents and charring agents are uniformly mixed and pulverized into nano- and micro-scale, and a phosphorus-nitrogen-based intumescent flame retardant is obtained. The nano- and micro-scale phosphorus-nitrogen intumescent flame retardant is mixed into a paint at a weight ratio of 15-30%, to obtain a flame-retardant paint which is capable of maintaining mechanical and physical properties of the paint. The phosphorus-nitrogen-based intumescent flame retardant of this disclosure is an intumescent flame retardant having a synergistic effect of phosphorus and nitrogen.

A fire-retarded cellulose fiber material composed of phosphoric acid and ammonium sulfate as fire-retardant chemical components, absorbed, adsorbed and/or adhered on the cellulose fibers, and optional non-fire retardant additives, and methods of producing the fire-retarded cellulose fiber material are disclosed.

An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrafine fiber-containing sheet, regarding which wrinkles and/or cracks generated upon sheet formation are suppressed, and a laminate thereof. According to the present invention, provided are: a sheet comprising ultrafine fibers having an ionic substituent and an organic ion that is a counterion of the ionic substituent, wherein the content of the organic ion is 0.40 mmol/g or less; and a laminate comprising the sheet and at least one of an inorganic layer and an organic layer formed on at least one side of the sheet.

An object of the present invention is to provide an ultrafine fiber-containing sheet, regarding which wrinkles and/or cracks generated upon sheet formation are suppressed, and a laminate thereof. According to the present invention, provided are: a sheet comprising ultrafine fibers having an ionic substituent and an organic ion that is a counterion of the ionic substituent, wherein the content of the organic ion is 0.40 mmol/g or less; and a laminate comprising the sheet and at least one of an inorganic layer and an organic layer formed on at least one side of the sheet.

The present invention provides a softener concentrate and a softener emulsion comprising imidazoline-based surfactant, lanolin-based softener, phospholipids and surfactant blend. The present invention further provides a process for producing a softener emulsion and controlling the viscosity of a softener emulsion. The present invention also provides a method for producing paper, tissue or paperboard, in which method a softener according to the present invention is used.

Compositions and methods that preserve and enhance the brightness of pulp, and also improve the color of pulp or paper, when applied during different stages of a papermaking process, are disclosed. The compositions and methods maintain or enhance brightness, prevent yellowing, and enhance the performance of paper products. The compositions can include a mixture of reducing agents and can also include optical brighteners, chelants, polycarboxylates, or other additives. The mixture of reducing agents can include a borohydride, such as sodium borohydride, and any other reducing agent, such as a sulfite or bisulfite.

Compositions and methods that preserve and enhance the brightness of pulp, and also improve the color of pulp or paper, when applied during different stages of a papermaking process, are disclosed. The compositions and methods maintain or enhance brightness, prevent yellowing, and enhance the performance of paper products. The compositions can include a mixture of reducing agents and can also include optical brighteners, chelants, polycarboxylates, or other additives. The mixture of reducing agents can include a borohydride, such as sodium borohydride, and any other reducing agent, such as a sulfite or bisulfite.