ASA sizing agent

Alkenyl Succinic Anhydride (ASA) is basic or neutral type sizing agent. It is wax like chemicals. ASA is used as internal sizing chemicals for paper. Structurally, it is unsaturated linear chain having five-membered anhydride ring and it is synthesized from Alfa-olefins and maleic anhydride. The anhydride ring has no fixd position in the chain, so it is called that ASA is a mixture of isomers. Physically it is yellowish oily like emulsion chemicals. The waxy solid tiny particles (0.5–2 mm) are dispersed into water and the emulsifications are stabilized usually by the cationic starch or another cationic hydrophilic polyelectrolyte stabilizer. Sometimes some little amount of surfactant is used in emulsification.
The reactive anhydride rings of ASA can easily goes under chemical reaction. At first it is hydrolyzed with the water. Then, it is form covalent bond with the hydroxyl groups of cellulose and forming an ester bond (b-keto esters).

The availability and the reasonably priced of calcium carbonate makes it the popular filler material. But this filler material is unstable in acidic medium; hence the usage of neutral/alkaline sizing agent like ASA is increased.

Alkaline sizing agent improve paper machine runnability, preserve paper’s dimensional stability increase resistance to water penetration, surface conditions of paper and maintain a high frictional coefficient. The Neutral/Alkaline Sizing Agent (ASA) also reduces paper machine breakdown, reduce dusting, reduce picking of vessel segments during offset printing and water recycling difficulties compare to Acidic sizing agent.

It should be followed the manufacturers instruction during storage especially temperature, humidity, water and time since ASA is hydrolyzed.

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18 Responses to ASA sizing agent

  1. Excellent article. I am experiencing a few of these
    issues as well..

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  3. Graham Toft says:

    Be careful about using ASA at a pH of less than 7, if your system has moderate to high amounts of chalk filler. Can run into problems with sticky deposits.

  4. azharrell says:

    can ASA use as surface sizing?

  5. Ajit jena says:

    No it is only for internally sizing.

  6. Aleksey Grachev says:

    Who can advise any dependable manufacturers of the ASA for pulp&paper industry? Thank you in advance.

  7. dilip says:

    How Can we reduce alkalinity in Calcium Carbonate filler. ASA can be work or not and how to apply. Thanks

  8. Donna Adams says:

    How do you clean a roll in a dryer section with ASA and AKD sizing deposits. Acidic product, alkaline product, or solvent?

  9. chandan achari says:

    ASA best sizing agent in paper chemical. it is use in internal sizing ,ph maintain 7.3-7.5.good effect in paper .

  10. M.G.PANTH says:

    Dear Sir,
    I am associated with application of various sizing chemicals for the past 20 years.
    I am interested to know, whether ASA was tried in size press in any form
    At least for kraft paper manufacture.
    Regards
    M.G.Panth

  11. Jim says:

    Hi all , what type of cleaners should be used for the ASA emulsion mixing unit and for emulsion delivery tubes at the end of the production ?Is there a standard procedure ?Are there any standand products ?
    -Regading the mixing unit ,organic based cleaners like diesel is not compatibile with the plastic parts of the mahcine ,such as ASA pump’s stator .
    -Regarding the tubes, in our case we use soft water for emulsion preperation so acid even if it will be used will not help much.

  12. Kshudiram Bhowmick says:

    It’s a nice information.I used AKD instead of Rosin size in our paper making process.Now I am interested to ASA as sizing instead of AKD.Who can advise me for the successfull use of ASA sizing? Advance thanks to you.

  13. Jape Tejas says:

    Where we can get ASA internal sizing coated paper?

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