Water resistant alkaline corrugating adhesive composition

Abstract: An improved ketone-formaldehyde crosslinking additive having reduced free-formaldehyde content and which is useful in providing a starch-based alkaline corrugating adhesive composition with enhanced water resistance and viscosity properties is obtained by a process wherein the additive is treated with selected sulfite salts.

Description: This invention relates to a starch-based, alkaline corrugating adhesive composition containing an improved crosslinking additive which imparts good water resistance and has exceptional low levels of residual formaldehyde. The procedures employed in the production of corrugated paperboard usually involve a continuous process whereby a strip of paperboard is first corrugated by means of heated, fluted rolls. The protruding tips on one side of this fluted paperboard strip are then coated with an adhesive, and a flat sheet of paperboard, commonly known in the trade as a facing, is thereafter applied to these tips. By applying heat and pressure to the two paperboard strips thus brought together, an adhesive bond is formed therebetween. The above-described procedure produces what is known as a single-faced board in that the facing is applied to only one surface thereof. If a double-faced paperboard in which an inner fluted layer is sandwiched between two facings is desired, a second operation is performed wherein the adhesive is applied to the exposed tips of a single-faced board and the adhesive-coated tips are then pressed against a second facing in the combining section of the corrugator under the influence of pressure and heat. The typical corrugating process and the use and operation of corrugators in general are described in U.S. Patent Nos. 2,051,025 and 2,102,937 to Bauer. Starch-based adhesives are most commonly used in the corrugating process due to their desirable adhesive properties, low cost and ease of preparation. The most fundamental of starch corrugating adhesives is an alkaline adhesive which is comprised of raw, ungelatinized starch suspended in an aqueous dispersion of cooked starch. The adhesive is produced by gelatinizing starch in water with sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) to yield a primary mix of gelatinized or cooked carrier, which is then slowly added to a secondary mix of raw (ungelatinized) starch, borax and water to produce the full-formulation adhesive. In the corrugating process, the adhesive is applied (usually at between 25° and 55°C) to the tips of the fluted paper medium or single-faced board, whereupon the application of heat causes the raw starch to gelatinize, resulting in an instantaneous increase in viscosity and formation of the adhesive bond. Such adhesives are described in the above-noted patents to Bauer. Typical "no carrier" starch adhesives are described in U.S. Patent No. 3,487,033 to McElmury et al., and U.S. Patent No. 3,355,307 to Schoenberger et al. It is often desired or necessary in the manufacture of corrugated paperboard that the adhesive yield water-resistant bonds which can withstand extended exposure to high humidity, liquid water, melting ice and the like. A number of approaches have been devised to produce water-resistant corrugating adhesives. One method involves the preparation of an acidic, starch-based adhesive wherein urea-formaldehyde resin is added to the composition, together with an acidic catalyst such as aluminum sulfate, to produce water-resistant bonds in the corrugated board manufactured therewith. The adhesive composition itself, however, is deficient in other important properties such as corrugator bonding speeds, viscosity stability, and pot life and exhibits excessive formaldehyde odor. In addition, acidic corrugating adhesives tend to be corrosive. The many disadvantages associated with the acidic corrugating adhesives led to the development of water-resistant alkaline curing starch-based adhesives for use in the corrugating industry. In the preparation thereof, a thermosetting resin, such as, e.g., urea-formaldehyde, resorcinolformaldehyde, melamine-formaldehyde, phenol-formaldehyde, diacetone acrylamide-formaldehyde, ketone-aldehyde and urea-acetone-formaldehyde condensate, is added to the adhesive as a crosslinking additive for the amylaceous components to produce water-resistant bonds. Preferred among these resins for superior water-resistant properties are ketone-formaldehyde condensates as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 2,529,851, and particularly acetone-formaldehyde resins. Some adhesives made from such resins, however, suffer from poor pot life and viscosity instability, as well as considerable formaldehyde odor. In recent years, due to the toxicity of and increasing governmental regulations concerning formaldehyde, serious efforts have been made to reduce the levels of exposure to formaldehyde in the industrial workplace. Acetone-formaldehyde resins such as are employed as crosslinking additives in corrugating adhesives contain about 1.0 to 4.0% free (unreacted) formaldehyde by weight of condensate. Prior attempts to reduce formaldehyde levels in crosslinking additives as taught in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,019,120 and 3,294,716 have not reduced free-formaldehyde amounts to a significant extent and/or have resulted in diminution of the degree of water resistance achieved in the bonds formed. In U.S. Patent No. 4,366,275 to Silano et al., the crosslinking additive used with the starch-based alkaline corrugating composition comprises a mixture of acetone-formaldehyde condensate and dimethylol dihydroxy ethylene urea (DMDHEU) wherein at least a portion of the DMDHEU present is produced "in situ" by reaction of the free-formaldehyde contained in the acetone-formaldehyde condensate with dihydroxy ethylene urea. The patent discloses that the unreacted formaldehyde in the acetone-formaldehyde resin condensate is reduced to about 0.1 to 2% by weight. Experience has shown, however, that in most instances the free-formaldehyde is reduced only to a level of about 0.5 to 0.9% by weight of the condensate. Current industry requirements call for still lower levels of unreacted formaldehyde. A recent patent, U.S. 5,079,067 to Willging, discloses the reduction of free-formaldehyde in formaldehyde containing resins to a level of less than 0.3%, by weight (of aqueous resin composition), by reacting the free-formaldehyde with a nitrogen base and urea in the presence of an acid catalyst. Another recent patent, U.S. 5,247,066 to J. Schoenberg et al., discloses another method for reducing levels of free-formaldehyde in ketone-formaldehyde crosslinking additives by treating the unreacted formaldehyde with hydrogen peroxide. This method has resulted in significant reduction in free-formaldehyde content to levels of less than about 0.4% by weight of condensate (i.e., aqueous condensate or solution). While these methods generally provide lower free-formaldehyde levels than previously attained, they do not always provide the water resistance, viscosity characteristics and ease of process conditions that are desired. Furthermore, there is a need and desire to provide even further reduction in formaldehyde levels in corrugating adhesive compositions while also providing suitable water resistance, viscosity and other property attributes. It has also long been known to use sulfite salts to reduce formaldehyde content in different non-related technical applications such as textiles, plywood/particle board manufacture, cosmetics and paper production. However, it has heretofore not been known to produce ketone-formaldehyde additives for use in corrugating adhesives to impart low levels of free formaldehyde while also providing good water resistance and viscosity characteristics. It has now been found that a crosslinking additive comprised of a ketone-formaldehyde condensate which is treated with selected sulfite salts provides significantly reduced free-formaldehyde content of less than about 0.4% and preferably less than about 0.1% by weight, based on the weight of condensate (i.e., aqueous condensate or solution). Further, the use of this crosslinking additive in an alkaline corrugating adhesive composition imparts excellent water resistant properties as well as good viscosity properities. In the process described herein for preparing a low formaldehyde crosslinking additive, a ketone such as acetone and formaldehyde are reacted in a molar ratio of 1 mole of ketone to about 2 to 5 moles of formaldehyde under aqueous alkaline conditions at about 20 to 80°C to obtain a water-soluble ketone-formaldehyde condensate containing about 1 to 4% by weight of unreacted formaldehyde and wherein at least an effective amount of a water soluble alkali metal or alkaline earth metal sulfite is added to the condensate to react with the unreacted formaldehyde present therein and allowing the reaction to proceed at about 20 to 45°C at a pH of about 5 to 9 until the unreacted formaldehyde is reduced to less than about 0.4% preferably less than about 0.1% by weight, based on the weight of the condensate. The water resistant, alkaline curing, starch-based corrugating adhesive of this invention comprises: A. from about 10 to 40% by weight, based on the total weight of the adhesive, of starch, this including the ungelatinized as well as the gelatinized portions of the starch (or in the case of "no-carrier" adhesives, the total starch content); B. from about 0.3 to 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the starch, of an alkali; C. from about 0.3 to 12% by weight, dry basis, based on total weight of the starch, of low formaldehyde crosslinking additive as described hereinafter, and D. from about 54 to 89% by weight, based on the total weight of the adhesive of water. The crosslinking additive of this invention is initially formed by reacting a ketone and formaldehyde under aqueous alkaline conditions at about 20 to 80°C, preferably 40 to 60°C to produce a water-soluble ketone-formaldehyde condensate containing about 1 to 4% by weight of unreacted (free) formaldehyde. The proportion of reactants will ordinarily range from about 2 to 5 moles of formaldehyde to about 1 mole of ketone and preferably from 2.5 to 4.5 moles of formaldehyde to 1 mole of ketone. In preparing the condensate, the reaction may be conducted under a nitrogen atmosphere if desired. It will be recognized that the alkalinity and reaction temperature employed must be no greater than is necessary to produce a water-soluble condensate which has not cured into an infusible product. Typically, the pH of the reaction mixture is maintained at about 8 to 12, preferably 9 to 11, by incremental addition of a solution of an alkaline agent such as sodium hydroxide. The reaction is monitored for formaldehyde content and when it is below about 3%, the product is cooled to about 25° to 45°C and neutralized with acid such as acetic acid, glacial acetic acid, and formic acid to a pH level of 4.8 to 6.2. The reaction time depends mainly on the temperature, alkalinity and desired solids content of the reaction mixture but is ordinarily such as to obtain a water-soluble ketone-formaldehyde condensate containing about 1 to 4% by weight of free-formaldehyde. The condensate will typically have a solids content of 40 to 65% by weight. The formed ketone-formaldehyde condensate is then treated with an effective amount of selected sulfite salt to react with the unreacted or free-formaldehyde present. While a varying effective amount of sulfite can be used, in order to provide good water resistance as well as reduce formaldehyde content and provide viscosity stability, amounts of from about 2 to 8.5 and preferably from about 3 to 7 parts by weight of sulfite compound per part by weight of unreacted formaldehyde have been found especially useful. The condensate/sulfite mixture is then maintained at room temperature or at a temperature of about 20 to 45°C, preferably about 25 to 35°C, and at a pH of about 5 to 9, preferably about 6.5 to 8, until the unreacted formaldehyde is reduced to less than about 0.4% and preferably less than about 0.1% by weight based on the weight of the condensate. This usually takes a fairly short period of time, e.g., 0.5 to 2 hours or more. In making the crosslinking additive, the ketone may be any of the known monomers of the type including acetone, methylethyl ketone, acetophenone, benzophenone, cyclohexanone, etc. Acetone and its dimers, i.e., diacetone alcohol or mesityl oxide are especially useful with acetone being particularly preferred because of its cost, availability and reactivity. Sources of formaldehyde that can be used include gaseous formaldehyde, aqueous solutions of formaldehyde, trioxymethylene, hexamethylene tetraamine and paraformaldehyde. Reduction in free-formaldehyde for the ketone-formaldehyde condensate is provided by adding an effective amount of sulfite salt. The sulfite salts which can be used are alkali metal and alkaline earth metal salts of sulfurous acid. More particularly, alkali metal and alkaline earth metal sulfites may be used and the term sulfites includes: sulfites, bisulfites, metabisulfites and disulfites. Sulfites might also be generated by, for example, the use of compounds such as sulfur dioxide which are converted to sulfurous acid in the presence of water and then to a sulfite. Preferred sulfites are the sodium sulfites and more preferably sodium meta-bisulfite or sodium bisulfite. The amount of sulfite compound can be a varying effective amount to provide a low level of free-formaldehyde. However, to attain good water resistance and viscosity characteristics as well as significantly reduced free-formaldehyde levels, sulfite amounts of about 2 to 8.5 and preferably 3 to 7 parts by weight per part by weight of unreacted formaldehyde have been found especially useful. The corrugating adhesive composition of this invention is comprised of starch, water, alkali, the selected low formaldehyde crosslinking additive as described herein, and optionally borax. The starch component, which may be the ungelatinized starch and/or gelatinized carrier starch portion of the adhesive composition herein may be selected from any of the several starches, native or converted, heretofore employed in starch corrugating adhesive compositions. Suitable starches include, for example, those starches derived from corn, potato, waxy maize, tapioca, sorghum, wheat, as well as high-amylose starches, i.e., starches which contain 30% or more by weight of amylose, and the various derivatives of these starches. Hence, among the applicable starches are included the various starch derivatives such as ethers, esters, thinboiling types prepared by known processes such as mild acid treatments, oxidation, etc. and those derivatives of these starches which have high amylose contents. Preferred starches are those typically employed in corrugating adhesives of the alkaline type. The starch content of the adhesive can vary considerably depending on several factors such as the intended end-use application of the adhesive and the type of starch used. The total amount of starch employed, including gelatinized and ungelatinized portions of starch, ordinarily will be in the range of about 10 to 40% by total weight of the adhesive and preferably 18 to 35%. The remainder of the adhesive composition is composed of about 0.3 to 5% of an alkali such as sodium hydroxide, based on total weight of starch, about 0.3 to 12% on dry basis, preferably 1 to 5%, of the low formaldehyde crosslinking additive as described herein, based on total weight of starch, and about 54 to 89% of water, based on total weight of the adhesive. If desired, small amounts of borax or other boron containing salts, up to about 5% based on the total weight of starch, may be added to the adhesive to improve the tackifying properties thereof. The alkali (base) employed herein is preferably sodium hydroxide; however, other bases may be employed in partial or full replacement of the sodium hydroxide and include, for example, alkali metal hydroxides such as potassium hydroxide, alkaline earth hydroxides such as calcium hydroxide, alkaline earth oxides such as barium oxide, alkali metal carbonates such as sodium carbonate, and alkali metal silicates such as sodium silicate. The alkali may be employed in aqueous or solid form. In addition to the essential ingredients of the adhesive composition herein, any conventional non-chemically functional additives may be incorporated into the adhesive in minor amounts, if desired. Such additives include, for example, wetting agents, proteins, plasticizers, solubilizing agents, rheology modifiers, tackifiers such as borax, water conditioners, penetration control agents, peptizers such as urea, gelatinization temperature modifiers, inert fillers such as clay and finely ground polymers, thickeners such as inorganic colloidal clays, guar, hydroxyethyl cellulose, alginates, polyvinyl alcohol, polymers of ethylene oxide and the like, and emulsions such as polyvinyl acetate. Additionally urea compounds such as urea and dihydroxyethylene urea may be added to the crosslinking additive and the adhesive composition to provide further improved stability characteristics, particularly to maintain low free-formaldehyde levels over time. Such urea compounds may be added in an effective stabilizing amount or an amount of about 0.25 to 10, preferably about 2.5 to 7.5% by weight, based on the weight of the condensate. Further description regarding the acetone-formaldehyde crosslinking additive and the corrugating adhesive composition may be found in U.S. Patent No. 5,247,066 issued to J. Schoenberg, et al. on September 21, 1993 and which is incorporated by reference herein. In the preparation of the adhesive composition herein, a portion of the total starch required in the adhesive is gelatinized in water with caustic soda to form the carrier, which is then slowly added to a mixture of raw starch, water and optionally borax. The crosslinking additive may be added to the raw starch mixture or to the final adhesive mixture as desired. While this description of the corrugating adhesive composition is directed to a composition comprising a carrier starch and a raw starch, it may also include a no carrier composition having just a single starch component comprising an ungelatinized starch which upon subsequent treatment with alkali becomes partially swollen. The adhesive thus obtained can be used to bond single- or double-faced boards using any equipment which is presently employed for the preparation of corrugated board. The adhesive is maintained at a temperature preferably between 25° and 55°C before its application to the protruding tips of the fluted paper strip. The actual application may be accomplished by the use of glue rolls which are ordinarily employed in most corrugating machines, or one may, if desired, utilize other application methods which may be able to achieve a different distribution of adhesive. Following the application of the adhesive to the fluted paper strip, the latter is then brought into immediate contact with the facing board under the influence of heat and pressure, as is well known in the art. A double-faced board may be subsequently prepared by bringing a second facing in contact with the open fluted surface of the single-faced board by the usual procedures. The examples which follow illustrate specific embodiments of the invention. In the examples all parts and percentages are given by weight and all temperatures in degrees Celsius unless otherwise noted. In determining the amount of free-formaldehyde contained in the acetone-formaldehyde condensates herein, a titration method was employed whereby a 12 g sample cf the condensate is weighed into a 600 mL flask to which is added water and crushed ice. This is then titrated with 0.10N sodium hydroxide until a pH of 10-10.5 is attained. A scdium sulfite solution cf 127 g/L is added in an amount of 50 mL and the resulting solution is titrated with 0.10N hydrochloric acid until the pH noted above is attained. The formula to determine free-formaldehyde content of the sample is: % Free-Formaldehyde = (mL 0.10 N HCl) X 0.30 weight of sample (g) EXAMPLE I This example illustrates a representative preparation of an acetone-formaldehyde condensate and the reduction of the amount of formaldehyde in the condensate with sodium meta-bisulifte. In a reaction vessel equipped with a thermometer and means of heating and stirring, 58 g (1 mole) of acetone was combined with 253.3 g (4.2 moles) of 50% aqueous formaldehyde and the solution heated to 50° to 55°C. About 0.7 g of 6.25N sodium hydroxide was added and the mixture held at 55° to 60°C during the exothermic reaction. An additional 21.8 g of 6.25N sodium hydroxide was added over 2.5 to 3 hours while maintaining the reaction temperature between 57° to 58°C. The reaction was continued for an additional 0.25 hours and the mixture then analyzed for formaldehyde content. When the formaldehyde concentration was below 2.5%, heating was discontinued and the condensate product cooled to 40°C. The pH was adjusted to 5 to 6 with glacial acetic acid. The free-formaldehyde content was measured at 1.42%. To a small glass jar in a constant temperature water bath and fitted with an overhead stirrer, 300 g of the acetone-formaldehyde condensate (prepared as described above) which contained 1.42% formaldehyde (0.14 moles) and 13.48 g (0.07 moles) of sodium meta-bisulfite was brought up to a temperature of 25°C. The pH was adjusted with 6.25N sodium hydroxide to 6.5. The reaction was pH controlled with 0.1N sodium hydroxide or 10% acetic acid as necessary over 2 hours. The free-formaldehyde measured after 2 hours is shown in Table 1. Additional runs using different temperatures and pH were also carried out and the results shown below in Table 1. Run No. pH Temp. % Free HCHO after 2 hours 1 6.5 25 0.08 2 7.0 25 0.05 3 7.5 25 0.05 4 8.0 25 0.06 5 8.5 25 0.08 6 6.5 35 0.06 7 7.0 35 0.06 8 7.5 35 0.05 9 8.0 35 0.07 10 8.5 35 0.12 EXAMPLE II This example illustrates the lowering of formaldehyde in an acetone-formaldehyde condensate by using 3.18 parts by weight of sodium meta-bisulfite for every 1 part by weight of unreacted formaldehyde. In a glass beaker fitted with an overhead stirrer, 1000 g of an acetone-formaldehyde condensate (prepared by the method of Example I) which contained 1.63% formaldehyde (0.54 moles) was brought up to pH 7.85 by addition of 6.25N sodium hydroxide. To the reaction at 25°C was added 51.59 g (0.27 moles) of sodium meta-bisulfite over 19 minutes while maintaining the pH of the reaction at 7 to 8 by addition of glacial acetic acid or 6.25N sodium hydroxide as necessary. The pH was maintained at 7.5 for 2 hours by addition of 10% acetic acid or 0.1N sodium hydroxide as necessary. The solution, which contained 0.06% formaldehyde was neutralized to pH 5.36 by addition of glacial acetic acid. EXAMPLE III In this example, urea is post-added after the reaction of sodium meta-bisulfite with formaldehyde in the acetone-formaldehyde condensate. In a glass beaker fitted with an overhead stirrer, 1000 g of an acetone-formaldehyde condensate (prepared by the method of Example I) which contained 1.63% formaldehyde (0.54 moles) was brought up to pH 7.11 by addition of 6.25N sodium hydroxide. To the reaction at 25°C was added 51.59 g (0.27 moles) of sodium meta-bisulfite over 9 minutes while maintaining the pH of the reaction at 7 to 8 by addition of glacial acetic acid or 6.25N sodium hydroxide as necessary. The pH was maintained at 7.5 for 2 hours by addition of 10% acetic acid or 0.1N sodium hydroxide as necessary. The solution, which contained 0.06% formaldehyde was neutralized to pH 5.50 by addition of glacial acetic acid. To the reaction was added 58.0 g of urea. EXAMPLE IV This example illustrates the lowering of formaldehyde in an acetone-formaldehyde condensate by using 4.43 parts by weight of sodium meta-bisulfite for every 1 part by weight of unreacted formaldehyde. To a glass beaker fitted with an overhead stirrer, 800 g of an acetone-formaldehyde condensate (prepared by the method of Example I) which contained 1.42% formaldehyde (0.378 moles) and 50.34 g (0.265 moles) of sodium meta-bisulfite at 25°C was adjusted to pH 5.0 by addition of glacial acetic acid. After 2 hours the formaldehyde content was measured to be 0.02%. EXAMPLE V This example illustrates the lowering of formaldehyde in an acetone-formaldehyde condensate by using 6.36 parts by weight of sodium meta-bisulfite for every 1 part by weight of unreacted formaldehyde. In a glass beaker fitted with an overhead stirrer, 1000 g of an acetone-formaldehyde condensate (prepared by the method of Example I) which contained 1.63% formaldehyde (0.54 moles) was brought up to pH 7.26 by addition of 6.25N sodium hydroxide. To the reaction at 25°C was added 103.18 g (0.54 moles) of sodium-meta-bisulfite over 26 minutes while maintaining the pH of the reaction at 7 to 8 by addition of glacial acetic acid or 6.25N sodium hydroxide as necessary. The pH was maintained at 7.5 for 2 hours by addition of 10% acetic acid or 0.1N sodium hydroxide as necessary. The solution, which contained 0.005% formaldehyde was neutralized to pH 5.45 by addition of glacial acetic acid. EXAMPLE VI This example illustrates the lowering of formaldehyde in an acetone-formaldehyde condensate by using 9.54 parts by weight of sodium meta-bisulfite for every 1 part by weight of unreacted formaldehyde. In a glass beaker fitted with an overhead stirrer, 1000 g of an acetone-formaldehyde condensate (prepared by the method of Example I) which contained 1.63% formaldehyde (0.54 moles) was brought up to pH 7.1 by addition of 6.25N sodium hydroxide. To the reaction at 25°C was added 154.77g (0.81 moles) of sodium meta-bisulfite over 37 minutes while maintaining the pH of the reaction at 7 to 8 by addition of glacial acetic acid or 6.25N sodium hydroxide as necessary. The pH was maintained at 7.5 for 2 hours by addition of 10% acetic acid or 0.1N sodium hydroxide as necessary. The solution, which contained 0.005% formaldehyde was neutralized to pH 5.43 by addition of glacial acetic acid. EXAMPLE VII (Comparison) This example illustrates for comparison purposes, a lowering of free-formaldehyde of an acetone-formaldehyde condensate in accordance with the process disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,247,066 to Schoenberg et al. In a glass, round-bottom flask fitted with a thermometer, condenser and Teflon stirrer, a mixture of 1250 g of an acetone-formaldehyde condensate (prepared by the method of Example I) which contained 1.42% formaldehyde (0.59 moles), 0.0624 g Fe2(SO4)3 hexahydrate, and 132.0 g (1.16 moles) of 30% hydrogen peroxide was heated at 70°C for 8.5 hours. The solution, which contained 0.08% formaldehyde was cooled and neutralized to a pH of 5.47 using 40 mLs of 6.25N sodium hydroxide. EXAMPLE VIII (Comparision) This example illustrates for comparison purposes, a lowering of free-formaldehyde of an acetone-formaldehyde condensate in accordance with the process disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 5,079,067 to Willging et al. In a glass, round-bottom flask fitted with a thermometer, condenser and Teflon stirrer, a mixture of 1000 g of an acetone-formaldehyde condensate (prepared by the method of Example I) which contained 1.63% formaldehyde (0.54 moles), 5.0 g citric acid, and 30.0 g of 28% ammonium hydroxide was heated at 56°C. After 2.5 hours, 50.0 g of urea was added and the reaction was allowed to cool. After the urea had dissolved and the reaction temperature reached room temperature, the formaldehyde content was measured to be 0.27%. EXAMPLE IX The example illustrates the preparation of the corrugating adhesives representative of this invention. Preparation of the carrier starch To 2836 g of water was added 748 g of a regular corn starch/high amylose corn starch blend (about 35% amylose of weight) and the resulting slurry was heated to 57°C with stirring. About 284 g of water containing 122 g of sodium hydroxide was added to the slurry and heating was continued for about 15 minutes, after which about 2836 g of water was added to cool and dilute the resultant dispersion. Preparation of the Fully Formulated Adhesive The carrier starch dispersion prepared above was added over a 20 minute period to a slurry of 4760 g regular corn starch, 82 g borax (Na2B407 5H20) and 8507 g water. The mixture was then stirred for 60 minutes, after which one of the low formaldehyde condensates prepared in Examples II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII, were added to the entire adhesive or a portion of it to form Adhesives A-G. The addition amount of each of these condensates was 5.2% by weight of condensate on starch. Adhesive H served as a comparison (control) containing the condensate of Example I (no reaction with sodium meta-bisulfite), and Adhesive I served as a control containing no condensate. See Example X and Table II for results. EXAMPLE X It is well recognized that cooked starch dispersions (and starch dispersions containing a crosslinking agent of the prior art in particular) may tend to thicken with time, and this phenomenon is usually observed in all corrugating adhesives based on such starch dispersions. The corrugating adhesives of this invention exhibit a relatively stable viscosity over a given period of time and are comparable or superior to prior art adhesives. Table II below describes Adhesives A-I and summarizes the viscosity data of these adhesive compositions. All adhesives were held at 37° to 39°C with mild agitation and tested for viscosity by a Brookfield Viscometer (at 20 rpm setting) after 1 hour to measure the viscosity in centipoise. Each adhesive was applied at 3 mil thickness by a Bird applicator to a glass plate and transferred to sheets of single-face web (of 69 lb/thousand sq ft wet strength liner and 33 lb/thousand sq ft wet strength medium) by means of direct hand pressure. The single-face web samples were then placed on top of 69 lb/thousand sq ft wet strength liner and the resultant double-faced board was bonded at 0.25 psi on a hot plate at 177°C for 5 seconds. The bonded boards were then placed in a conditioning atmosphere of 22°C, 50% relative humidity for 24 hours, after which 2X5 inch samples of each of the boards were placed in water at 22°C for 24 hours. At the end of this period, the samples were evaluated by a wet pin adhesion test based on that of TAPPI Standard T 821 OM 87, using a conventional testing apparatus obtainable from Testing Machines Incorporated, Mineola, NY. The results were recorded in pounds (per 24 inches of glue line) required to separate completely the double-face liner from the single-face web. The results are indicated in Table II, with the highest results representing the best results. Adhesive Crosslinking Condensate Condensate (Parts Sulfite/Part of HCHO) % Free HCHO in Condensate 1 Hr. Viscosity (CPS) Wet Pin Adhesion (Lbs.) A Ex. VI 9.54 0.005 388 16.8 B Ex. V 6.36 0.005 386 18.4 C Ex. IV 4.43 0.02 530 19.8 D Ex. II 3.18 0.06 418 21.5 E Ex. III 3.18 0.06 444 20.2 F (Comparison) Ex. VII --- 0.08 560 21.1 G (Comparison) Ex. VIII --- 0.27 760 20.6 H (Control) Ex. I --- 1.63 1020 22.7 I (Control) None --- None 365 0

Claims: A process for preparing a low formaldehyde crosslinking additive wherein a ketone and formaldehyde are reacted in a molar ratio of 1 mole of ketone to 2 to 5 moles of formaldehyde under aqueous alkaline conditions at 20° to 80°C to obtain a water-soluble ketone-formaldehyde condensate containing 1 to 4% by weight of unreacted formaldehyde and wherein at least an effective amount of a water soluble alkali metal or alkaline earth metal sulfite is added to the condensate to react with the unreacted formaldehyde present therein and allowing the reaction to proceed at 20 to 45°C at a pH of about 5 to 9 until the unreacted formaldehyde is reduced to less than 0.4% by weight based on the weight of the condensate. The process of Claim 1 wherein the ketone is acetone. The process of Claim 1 wherein the unreacted formaldehyde in the condensate is reduced to less than 0.1% by weight based on the weight of the condensate. The process of Claim 3 wherein the ketone is acetone and from 2 to 8.5 parts by weight of sulfite per part by weight of unreacted formaldehyde is used. The process of Claim 4 wherein said sulfite is selected from the group consisting of alkali metal and alkaline earth metal sulfites, bisulfites, metabisulfites and disulfites. The process of Claim 2 wherein said sulfite is sodium meta-bisulfite or sodium bisulfite and from 3 to 7 parts by weight of sulfite per part by weight of unreacted formaldehyde is used. The process of Claim 4 wherein an effective stabilizing amount of urea or dihydroxyethylene urea is added to the reaction. The crosslinking additive prepared by the process of any of the preceding claims. A water-resistant alkaline curing starch-based corrugating adhesive composition comprising: a) from 10 to 40% by weight, based on the total weight of the adhesive, of starch; b) from 0.3 to 5% by weight, based on the total weight of starch, of an alkali; c) from 0.3 to 12% by weight, dry basis, based on the weight of starch, of the crosslinking additive prepared by the process of Claim 1; and d) from 54 to 89% by weight of water, based on the total weight of the adhesive. A process for preparing corrugated paperboard comprising the steps of: a) applying to the tips of the corrugations of a fluted paper strip the water-resistant alkaline curing, starch-based corrugating adhesive composition of Claim 9; and b) applying a facing to the adhesive coated tips of said fluted paper strip to form an adhesive bond.

Inventors: ALBRECHT NORMAN G, PHILBIN MICHAEL T, ALBRECHT, NORMAN G., PHILBIN, MICHAEL T.
Applicants: NAT STARCH CHEM INVEST, NATIONAL STARCH AND CHEMICAL INVESTMENT
Application year: 1997
Main classification: C08G6
IPC codes: C09J103, C08G6, C09J161