The largest volume of starch is used for surface sizing application in paper manufacturing. Surface sizing is an operation in which paper runs through a sizing solution and then through sizing rolls. These rolls press the sizing into the paper and remove the excess from the surface of the paper.

The main purpose of surface sizing is to improve surface properties, to give a better writing and printing surface and to minimize linting. The concentration of starch in a sizing solution can be used up to 15% depending on the type of size press machine and product requirements. The main reason cooked unmodified starch is not used for the surface sizing because of its very high viscosity for most sizing operation. There are several types of modified starches may be obtained from the starch manufacturers which provide consistent results for surface sizing application. Oxidized starch is one of the most common modified starches for use in surface sizing because of its lower cost. However, when the paper is recycled, oxidized starch which contains negative charge can act as a dispersant and contribute to the loss of filler and the starch itself to the waste water causing pollution problem. Also, Paper Manufacturers would like to add more Calcium Carbonate (Ash) as the filler to reduce the overall cost of the paper. But, because of the negative charge of the oxidized starch, it prohibits the paper manufacturer to add more calcium carbonate and hence does not provide overall cost effective solution. That is way more and more paper manufacturers started using advanced modified starch such as hydroxyethylated starch (HES) to improve quality of the printing paper and reduce the overall cost of the paper. Beside their benefits of reduced retro-gradation, hydroxyethylated starch (HES) does not cause filler dispersion if the paper is re-pulped in the recycled process system. we carry several grades of HydroxyEthylated Starch (HES) for Surface Sizing solution.

If you are looking for specific grade of modified Paper Grade starch for your application, please visit our website iTradeIMEX – a Chicago based Import Export Trading company to get more information and product samples.