A relatively inexpensive papermaking agent having a high concentration and a high molecular weight that exhibits an excellent freeness and paper strength effect obtained using starches which are biomass materials. A papermaking agent which is a (meth)acrylamide polymer containing starches (a1), a (meth)acrylamide (a2), a polymerizable monomer having an amino group (a3), a polymerizable monomer having a carboxy group (a4) and a polymerizable monomer having a sulfonate group (a5) as essential constituent components, wherein the ratio between the amount of the component (a1) used in terms of non-volatile content weight and a total amount of the components (a2) to (a5) used is [(a1)/{(a2)+(a3)+(a4)+(a5)}]=5/95 to 45/55, and wherein the (meth)acrylamide polymer has a non-volatile content concentration of 22 to 35 weight %, and a weight average molecular weight of 1,500,000 to 7,000,000.

A relatively inexpensive papermaking agent having a high concentration and a high molecular weight that exhibits an excellent freeness and paper strength effect obtained using starches which are biomass materials. A papermaking agent which is a (meth)acrylamide polymer containing starches (a1), a (meth)acrylamide (a2), a polymerizable monomer having an amino group (a3), a polymerizable monomer having a carboxy group (a4) and a polymerizable monomer having a sulfonate group (a5) as essential constituent components, wherein the ratio between the amount of the component (a1) used in terms of non-volatile content weight and a total amount of the components (a2) to (a5) used is [(a1)/{(a2)+(a3)+(a4)+(a5)}]=5/95 to 45/55, and wherein the (meth)acrylamide polymer has a non-volatile content concentration of 22 to 35 weight %, and a weight average molecular weight of 1,500,000 to 7,000,000.

Methods of making a paper product can comprise forming a substrate from a first furnish that comprises a plurality of pulp fibers, at least partially dewatering the substrate, treating a second furnish that comprises a plurality of surface enhanced pulp fibers (SEPF) at least by adding one or more enzymes to the second furnish, and sizing the dewatered substrate at least by depositing the treated second furnish onto at least one of opposing first and second surfaces of the dewatered substrate. The SEPF can have a length weighted average fiber length that is greater than or equal to 0.20 millimeters (mm) and an average hydrodynamic specific surface area that is greater than or equal to 10 square meters per gram (m.sup.2/g).

To provide a surface sizing agent for papermaking, which has good low foamability and mechanical stability and has an excellent sizing effect. The surface sizing agent for papermaking is a surface sizing agent for papermaking, comprising a composition obtained by polymerizing unsaturated monomers in the presence of a starch, wherein the amount of the starch is 25 to 40 mass % based on the total amount of the starch and the unsaturated monomers, the unsaturated monomers comprise at least a styrenic compound and a (meth)acrylic ester compound, and the amount of the styrenic compound is 10 mass % or more and less than 30 mass %, and the amount of the (meth)acrylic ester compound is 20 to 50 mass %, based on the total amount of the starch and the unsaturated monomers.

To provide a surface sizing agent for papermaking, which has good low foamability and mechanical stability and has an excellent sizing effect. The surface sizing agent for papermaking is a surface sizing agent for papermaking, comprising a composition obtained by polymerizing unsaturated monomers in the presence of a starch, wherein the amount of the starch is 25 to 40 mass % based on the total amount of the starch and the unsaturated monomers, the unsaturated monomers comprise at least a styrenic compound and a (meth)acrylic ester compound, and the amount of the styrenic compound is 10 mass % or more and less than 30 mass %, and the amount of the (meth)acrylic ester compound is 20 to 50 mass %, based on the total amount of the starch and the unsaturated monomers.

A paper product having improved printing characteristics and a method of making the paper product. This paper product has a fibrous substrate and top layer of surface enhanced pulp fibers that is integrally coupled to the top surface of the fibrous substrate. The paper product is produced by providing an aqueous slurry formed from a blend of cellulosic fibers and water and at least partially dewatering the aqueous slurry of cellulosic fibers and water to form the fibrous substrate. Subsequently, a surface treatment formed from an aqueous composition of water and surface enhanced pulp fibers is applied to the top surface of the fibrous substrate and thereafter the treated fibrous substrate is dried to form a paper product having enhanced printing characteristics.

A paper product having improved printing characteristics and a method of making the paper product. This paper product has a fibrous substrate and top layer of surface enhanced pulp fibers that is integrally coupled to the top surface of the fibrous substrate. The paper product is produced by providing an aqueous slurry formed from a blend of cellulosic fibers and water and at least partially dewatering the aqueous slurry of cellulosic fibers and water to form the fibrous substrate. Subsequently, a surface treatment formed from an aqueous composition of water and surface enhanced pulp fibers is applied to the top surface of the fibrous substrate and thereafter the treated fibrous substrate is dried to form a paper product having enhanced printing characteristics.

The invention relates to the use of a surface size composition comprising at least one cellulose derivative selected from cellulose ethers, excluding carboxyalkyl celluloses, for providing compression strength for a fibrous web, such as paper, board or the like, preferably comprising recycled cellulosic fibres. The invention relates also to a method for surface sizing of paper, board or the like.

The invention relates to the use of a surface size composition comprising at least one cellulose derivative selected from cellulose ethers, excluding carboxyalkyl celluloses, for providing compression strength for a fibrous web, such as paper, board or the like, preferably comprising recycled cellulosic fibres. The invention relates also to a method for surface sizing of paper, board or the like.

A composition for addition to a ceiling tile, flooring product, or other construction product may include microfibrillated cellulose and optionally an inorganic particulate material. The ceiling tile, flooring product, or other construction product may further include perlite, mineral wool, wood pulp, starch and other additives, where the wood pulp and other inorganic particulate materials are bonded to the microfibrillated cellulose. Methods of manufacturing the compound are also disclosed.