Elvanol™
in thepaper industry

Elvanol™

Elvanol™
in the paper industry
Surface properties
improved by Elvanol™

Applications with pigments
or optical brighteners

The use of Elvanol™ in size press and calender stackenhances drastically the strength and barrier properties of paper.

Pigmented Size Press

Surface Barrier
Elvanol™ polyvinyl alcohol is one of the strongest waterborne
film formers commercially available for the paper industry.
It is chemically resistant to oil, grease, wax, organic solvents,and shows high water resistance. The grade of Elvanol™ selected is governed by the end-use properties needed, application equipment, and post-dryer capabilities of the paper machine or off-machine coater. Elvanol™ is for example
an excellent carrier for fluorochemicals in oil and grease
barrier applications.
Elvanol™ 70-06, 90-50 and 71-30 are fully hydrolyzed gradesthat give superior water resistance. The water resistance ofElvanol™ grades can be further improved using conventionalcrosslinking agents like salts of multivalent ions, aminoplast
resins and aldehyde derivatives.

Surface StrengthFilms made of Elvanol™ are much stronger than those madeof starch alone. Elvanol™ based surface sizes with concentrations as low as 10 percent provide a surface that resists
surface abrasion and cracking and improves folding andbursting strength.
Surfaces sized with starch that need scuff resistance or surface pick resistance will benefit from incorporating Elvanol™.
The strong film with excellent binding properties ties the fibers and the surface debris to the paper or paperboard surface to reduce linting and dusting. This helps to keep offset
printing blankets cleaner and reduces press downtime. Thestrength and moisture resistance of Elvanol™ surface treatment can also improve curl control.
The binding strength of Elvanol™ allows costly fibre to beeconomically replaced with filler and still maintain thestrength of the paper. Similarly, the hardwood or recycled fraction of paper can be increased, while maintaining
strength and printability properties with Elvanol™ applied asa surface treatment.

Surface Printing
Elvanol™ gives paper and paperboard excellent printability,smoothness and print gloss. The oil and solvent resistantproperties keep ink from penetrating into the paper and allow
clear, glossy printing with outstanding print clarity.

Elvanol™ is an effective binder in coating formulations at thesize press. Because of its binding power, Elvanol™ can be used
to replace starch on a 1-to-3 basis.
With the incorporation of Elvanol™ and reduced level ofbinder in the pigmented size, the optical and surface properties are improved over a clearsize, uncoated sheet.
The following advantages have been demonstrated using
Elvanol™ in pigmented size applications:▪ Excellent way to optimize costs for fillers or fibres▪ Improved opacity and brightness▪ Improved drying and uniformity of moisture profile▪ Reduced calendar loading to achieve surface smoothness
Uniform ink receptivity, reduces two-sidedness▪ Reduced binder reduces mottle▪ Economical method to reduce sheet porosity▪ Holdout and smoothness to the topcoat▪ Coatings
Elvanol™ has stronger binding power than acrylic latex, styrene butadiene, soy protein, casein, and starches. It cantherefore be used in paper coating formulations to partiallyreplace the binder or to increase the pigment to binder ratio.

Optical Brighteners
Fluorescent whitening agents (FWAs) are commonly used incoated offset papers to increase the brighteness of Paper.
The use of 0.5 to 2.5 parts by weight of Elvanol™ polyvinyl
alcohol based on 100 parts of pigment, results in a whitening
effect that is significantly better than that with FWA alone.
Using Elvanol™ PVOH as carrier for optical brightening agent,
the dosage of the conventional carrier like starch and casein
can be reduced significantly.

Compatability
Solutions of Elvanol™ PVOH are compatible with most of thecommon materials used in paper-making and with size additives such as modified starches, alginates, sodium CMC, wax
emulsions and defoamers. Sizes made from Elvanol™ and modified starch are generally stable at room temperature with noagitation up to 24 hours before phase separation takes place.

Typicalproduct grades
used in thepaper industry

Elvanol™ 71-30

Elvanol™ 80-18

Elvanol™ 90-50

Uses include:▪ FWA and optical brightener
carrier▪ Surface sizing. Controls backside lint and surface debris▪ Controls dusting and picking onhigh filler content papers▪ Grease proofing reprographicpapers▪ High gloss ink printing surfaces▪ Compatible with starchand CMC▪ excellent film fomation

Uses include:▪ FWA and optical brightener
carrier▪ Superior barrier for grease-proof packaging▪ High solid coatings and sizings▪ Compatible with starch

Uses include:▪ FWA and optical brightener
carrier▪ Grease and water resistance▪ Excellent coating binder▪ Combines efficient binding withexcellent high shear rheology▪ Controls backside lint andsurface debris▪ Provides superior holdout andcoating appearance properties
for clay coated recycle board.
▪ Compatible with modified
starchesMedium viscosity,
fully hydrolyzed PVOH

Medium viscosity,
fully hydrolysed copolymer

Elvanol™ 85-82

Medium viscosity,
fully hydrolysed copolymer

Elvanol™ 75-15

Medium to low viscosity,
fully hydrolysed copolymer
Uses include:▪ Higher whiteness than with FWAalone▪ Excellent binding properties toreduce linting▪ Superior creping aids
▪ High solid coatings and sizings▪ Reinforcement of starch performance in paper and paperboard

Uses include:▪ Higher brightness than starchand sodium CMC as carrier▪ Increase folding and bursting
strength▪ High creping aid▪ Higher water resistance thanstarch▪ High dry strength additive

Medium-to-low viscosity,
fully hydrolyzed PVOH

Adding value toyour products –worldwide
Kuraray Poval™, Exceval™, Elvanol™ and Mowiflex™ are the trademarks for polyvinyl alcohols
made by Kuraray. Their key characteristics — outstanding film-forming properties and high binding strength — add real value to your products. Our polymers are water-soluble, highly reactive,
crosslinkable and foamable. They have high pigment binding capacity, protective colloid characteristics and thickening effects. The physical and chemical properties of Kuraray Poval™ makeit ideal for a wide variety of applications, ranging from adhesives through paper and ceramics
to packaging films. Many of our polymers are food contact-approved and thus suitable for foodapplications. Ecologically Kuraray Poval™ is advantageous due to its biodegradability and the factthat combustion does not generate residues. It is available in various particle sizes from granules
to fine powders.
Kuraray produces its wide range of Kuraray Poval™ grades in Japan, Singapore, Germany and theUSA. Kuraray’s global production and service network make us your partner of choice for innovative high-quality PVOH resins.
Kuraray – Here to Innovate.

Headquarters
Kuraray Co., Ltd.
Tokiwabashi Tower
2-6-4, Otemachi
Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo, Japan 100-0004
Phone: +81 3 67 01 1000
infopoval.jp@kuraray.com

Kuraray Poval™
product portfolio
Please contact your local
Kuraray office to discuss theright Kuraray product foryour needs.

Kuraray America, Inc.
2625 Bay Area Blvd.,
Suite 600 Houston, TX77058
United States of America
Phone: +1 800 423 9762

Kuraray Asia Pacific Pte., Ltd.
250 North Bridge Road
#10-01/02 Raffles City Tower
Singapore 179101
Phone: +65 6337 4123

info.kuraray-poval@kuraray.com

infopoval.sg@kuraray.com

Kuraray Europe GmbH
Philipp-Reis-Str. 465795 Hattersheim am Main,Germany
Phone: +49 69 305 85 351

Kuraray China Co., Ltd.
Unit 2207, 2 Grand Gateway
3 Hongqiao Road, Xuhui District,
Shanghai 200030, China
Phone: +86 21 6119 8111

info.eu-poval@kuraray.com

infopoval.cn@kuraray.com

12_2021