APPLICATION OF RETENTION, DRAINAGE, AND FORMATION (RDF) CHEMICAL AIDS AFTER A HEADBOX OF A PAPERMAKING PROCESS
A method for improving RDF aids efficacy, paper machine performance and sheet properties formed during a papermaking process is disclosed. The methodology includes the following steps: (a) applying one or more RDF aids to the papermaking process to a point between after the headbox and on or before the first drainage element of a papermaking process.
1 . A method of applying one or more retention, drainage, and/or formation aids to a papermaking process comprising: applying said aids between a headbox slice opening and a first drainage element of said papermaking process.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said aids are applied to a papermaking process location that is proximate to a headbox slice opening.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein said proximate refers to a distance from 0 cm to about 20 cm.
4 . The method of claim 2 , wherein said proximate refers to a distance from 0 cm to about 10 cm.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the aids are selected from the group consisting of: anionic particles, cationic particles, particles with anionic and cationic sites, flocculants, coagulants and a combination thereof.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said papermaking process contains a foudrinier paper machine.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said papermaking process contains a gap forming paper machine.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said aids are applied to said papermaking process by a spray bar, optionally wherein the spray bar is installed onto a headbox top slice cover.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said aids are applied to a papermaking process by using a slice blade, which is associated with the papermaking process.
10 . A method of improving sheet and/or web properties formed from a cellulosic suspension of a papermaking process: providing one or more retention, drainage, and/or formation aids; applying said aids between a headbox slice opening and a first drainage element of said papermaking process; optionally performing one or more measurements of the retention and/or drainage of a forming section of a papermaking process and/or formation properties of a sheet and/or web of said papermaking process; optionally wherein a plurality of said measurements provide a cross-directional profile of said web and/or said sheet properties in said papermaking process; and optionally controlling said web and/or sheet properties by adjusting the application of said aids to the papermaking process in response to said one or more measurements.
11 . A method to activate a papermaking process chemical program containing a plurality of chemical components that are applied to said papermaking process comprised of: applying a first chemical component before a headbox slice opening and wherein a second chemical component is applied between a headbox slice opening and a first drainage element of a papermaking process.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein said second chemical component is applied to a forming wire that contains a papermaking furnish and wherein said application is optionally applied across the whole forming wire width.