Application of Cationic Tapioca to Unmodified Pearl Corn Starch – A Papermaking Handsheet Study

An handsheet study was performed to compare the application of unmodified pearl corn starch and cationic tapioca starch on 100% recycled paperboard. To analyze the benefits tensile index, Canadian Standard Freeness, and starch retention was measured. The results found that cationic tapioca starch had the highest tensile index at 61.36 N*m/g for a dosage rate of 16 lbs./ton at a comparable dosage for unmodified pearl corn starch at 48 lbs./ton the tensile index was 56.11 N*m/g. Tests of the Canadian Standard Freeness showed that the unmodified pearl corn starch had the lowest freeness at 34.3 ml. The cationic tapioca starch had a freeness of 53.5 ml. For starch retention, more starch was retained in the sheet with cationic tapioca starch, with only 0.0065 grams ending up in the filtrate, compared to 0.015 grams of filtrate for the sheet containing unmodified pearl corn starch.