AMCOL Paper Technologies dedicated research and development laboratories in Birkenhead, UK is committed to producing the best products with a continuous evaluation and improvement program. Several new products have been introduced recently, AccoForm WT and AccoSorb WA for RDF and pitch control respectively providing superior technological solutions. The AMCOL Paper Technologies R&D group is currently developing a new generation of bentonite products which reduces material dusting while improving both the flow characteristics and on-machine performance. AMCOL Paper Technologies continues to work with customers to produce the best product recommendation for their application. AMCOL Paper Technologies can provide the products and expertise for nearly all retention, drainage and formation, pitch and stickies control, de-inking and wastewater applications with new innovative materials.

AMCOL Paper Technologies balances the performance needs of the paper makers with our abilities to develop new materials along with continuing improvement cycle of our current product offerings. Utilizing a wide array of testing procedures combined with testing equipment designed for paper bentonite evaluation, we have the capabilities to reproduce on-machine performance of our products in the lab to ensure successful application integration of our products in the field. During this process we evaluate a wide variety of both physical and performance parameters to develop the optimum combination of performance and value possible for each specific application.

Some of the equipment utilized during our testing:

• Schopper Riegler
• Particle charge analyzer
• Automatic retention & drainage analyzer

AMCOL Paper Technologies utilizes a series of screening tools to ensure that the material developed for the paper industry meets or exceeds current commercially available products. During product development and quality control monitoring we incorporate specific criteria to ensure our products deliver the optimum performance, below is a partial list of the performance attributes we review:

• Grit levels
• Settleable solids
• Abrasion
• Conductivity
• Cation exchange capacity
• Particle size
• Surface area
• Zeta potential

Combining the strength of the corporate technical center, AMCOL Paper Technologies taps into the expertise of resources available at our corporate technical center for additional clay characterization. A sampling of test equipment available to AMCOL Paper Technologies is reviewed below:

Clay and Other Solids Analysis

1. Atomic Absorption (AA): Used to measure the level of exchangeable or leachable elements in a sample. A solid, generally a clay, is digested, filtered, and analyzed on a flame spectrometer. Results are recorded in parts per million and 5 grams of solid are required for the test. This test is mainly used to determine the quality of a clay and its cation exchange capacity.

2. X-Ray Diffraction (XRD): Used to identify mineral components of a solid (i.e. bentonite, limestone, diatomaceous earth, etc.). This test does not quantify the amount of the mineral, just notes its presence and its concentration relative to other components. Two grams of material are required, but the test is non-destructive so the material can be returned or reused. This test is mainly used for the detection of impurities in a clay and identification of unknown materials.

3. X-Ray Florescence (XRF): Used to identify the percentage of an element present in a solid. Results are recorded in a percentage, and 2 grams of the solid are required for the test. The test procedure does not destroy the material, so the sample can be returned or reused. This test is mainly used for quality control testing and identification of unknown materials. The XRF will detect the following elements:

• sodium magnesium aluminum
• silicon potassium calcium
• titanium chromium manganese
• iron chlorine sulfur
• phosphorus zinc

AMCOL Paper Technologies is dedicated to producing the highest grades of products that deliver optimum performance for application within the paper mill and is continually striving to develop the next generation of materials that enhance the finished paper.