Abstract
Dimethylenebisacrylamide (MEBA) may be applicable as paper strength agent, especially wet-strength one because it has two active double bonds which can react with OH groups of cellulose by Michael reaction.
At first a simple and easy procedure of synthesis of MEBA and then its effect as additive on improvement of physical properties of paper were investigated.
MEBA was obtained easily in reasonable yield by condensation of N-methylolacrylamide in concentrated water solution in the presence of acid catalyzer.
Improvements by MEBA treatment for 10 min. at 135°C were obtained in wet breaking length of ten to twenty times and in dry tensile and bursting strength of up to 15% over the untreated controls.
About 26% of the reactive site underwent a chemical reaction during the curing, and these results suggested that the additive-cellulose crosslinking was the most important factor for increase of wet-strength properties of paper.
