Starch and fiber mixture for papermaking and methods of making paper with the mixture

1. A paper making process comprising the steps of

a. forming a paper mat by sending pulp and process water to a head box and having the pulp and process water deposited from the head box onto a wire screen, and

b. providing a mixture in the form of a slurry comprising starch from about 0.1% to about 20% by weight of the slurry, and fiber from about 0.01% to about 2.0% by weight of the slurry, and applying the starch and fiber mixture to the paper mat, and

c. removing the paper mat from the wire screen, and

d. having the paper mat further processed to obtain paper

wherein the pulp and process water is filtered through the paper mat to form white water which is removed from the wire screen and moved into a pressure screen that obtains accepts and rejects and the starch and fiber mixture comprises the accepts.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the starch and fiber mixture is applied to the paper mat after the paper mat is removed from the wire screen but before the further processing.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the pressure screen is a 120° pressure screen.

4. The process of claim 1 wherein the accepts comprise fiber having a particle size, in length, greater than zero and up to about 0.08 inches.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein the paper mat is heated and the starch is cooked.

6. The process of claim 1 wherein the starch and fiber mixture is applied to the paper mat by means selected from the group consisting of spray bars, curtain coaters and size presses.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein the starch and fiber mixture is diluted prior to application of the starch and fiber mixture to the paper mat.