The present invention relates to compositions, such as filled and coated papers, comprising microfibrillated cellulose and inorganic particulate material.

The present invention relates to compositions, such as filled and coated papers, comprising microfibrillated cellulose and inorganic particulate material.

Provided are a bacterial nanocellulose transparent film, a manufacturing method thereof, and a packaging material including a food packaging material or an electronic product packaging material using the same capable of newly manufacturing a bacterial nanocellulose transparent film with an oxygen barrier property, a moisture barrier property, or a UV barrier property by performing electron beam irradiation and a film process on bacterial cellulose.

Processes disclosed are capable of converting biomass into high-crystallinity, hydrophobic cellulose. In some variations, the process includes fractionating biomass with an acid (such as sulfur dioxide), a solvent (such as ethanol), and water, to generate cellulose-rich solids and a liquid containing hemicellulose and lignin; and depositing lignin onto cellulose fibers to produce lignin-coated cellulose materials (such as dissolving pulp). The crystallinity of the cellulose material may be 80% or higher, translating into good reinforcing properties for composites. Optionally, sugars derived from amorphous cellulose and hemicellulose may be separately fermented, such as to monomers for various polymers. These polymers may be combined with the hydrophobic cellulose to form completely renewable composites.

The invention discloses a method of producing a filler composition to be used in paper or board production, said method comprising providing a suspension comprising calcium hydroxide and performing carbonation of the calcium hydroxide to form precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC). The invention is characterized in that starch and/or carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) is added to the suspension during said carbonation of calcium hydroxide. The method of the invention enables an increased filler content in paper or paperboard without substantially increasing the dusting tendency or decreasing the strength of the paper or board.

The invention discloses a method of producing a filler composition to be used in paper or board production, said method comprising providing a suspension comprising calcium hydroxide and performing carbonation of the calcium hydroxide to form precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC). The invention is characterized in that starch and/or carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC) is added to the suspension during said carbonation of calcium hydroxide. The method of the invention enables an increased filler content in paper or paperboard without substantially increasing the dusting tendency or decreasing the strength of the paper or board.

A composition and method for imparting paper and paperboard with resistance to aqueous penetrants using renewable biopolymers, and the resulting paper and paperboard, are disclosed. The renewable biopolymers when combined with water-soluble, hydroxylated polymers or water-soluble salts and applied to the surface of paper or paperboard, results in resistance to aqueous penetrants.

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.

Methods of re-dispersing and de-agglomerating dewatered, partially dried and dried compositions of microfibrillated cellulose and compositions of microfibrillated cellulose and inorganic particulate material, into liquid compositions comprising same, by applying ultrasonic energy to such liquid compositions of dewatered, partially dried and dried compositions of microfibrillated cellulose, or compositions of microfibrillated cellulose and inorganic particulate material. Methods for preparing an aqueous suspension comprising microfibrillated cellulose and, optionally, inorganic particulate material, with enhanced viscosity and tensile strength properties, suitable for use in methods of making paper or coating paper, and to filled and coated papers made from such aqueous suspensions.

Methods of re-dispersing and de-agglomerating dewatered, partially dried and dried compositions of microfibrillated cellulose and compositions of microfibrillated cellulose and inorganic particulate material, into liquid compositions comprising same, by applying ultrasonic energy to such liquid compositions of dewatered, partially dried and dried compositions of microfibrillated cellulose, or compositions of microfibrillated cellulose and inorganic particulate material. Methods for preparing an aqueous suspension comprising microfibrillated cellulose and, optionally, inorganic particulate material, with enhanced viscosity and tensile strength properties, suitable for use in methods of making paper or coating paper, and to filled and coated papers made from such aqueous suspensions.