Starch Modification / Molecular Properties

Optimized starch products are used in many processing steps in paper manufacturing. In internal sizing (wet end), cationic starches act as retention aids and have a significant impact on paper strength. Closed water cycles in the paper industry, a reduction in freshwater intake and an increase in paper recycling require the cationic starches to have an optimized structure.
Around 60 percent of all of the starches used in the paper industry are used in surface sizing to give paper additional strength, stiffness and dimensional stability and to improve its printability. At Fraunhofer IAP we investigate the optimal composition of surface starches for the size press based on a paper mill’s specific requirements. Using offline-analysis we also evaluate and enhance industrial processing conditions.