By the end of the 1980s, record pulp prices propelled alkaline production of freesheet grades ahead of acid systems. The recession slowed conversions as pulp prices plummeted and interest in cheap fillers waned. In 1990, AKD was used for 90 percent of the alkaline-produced paper, and Hercules held 90 percent of AKD sales to paper mills in North America. ASA holds the higher share of total market volume consumed. Acid rosin is used in mills where fiber is plentiful and chemistry requires simplicity.
Neutral rosin has a few applications.
The alkaline papermaking growth trend will now follow new machine production, increased filler use, and more demand for sizing among offset and desktop grades. There are significant growth opportunities for internal synthetic size applications at paperboard mills. High quality board grades for printing are in demand and production is growing, especially in mills using secondary fiber. High pulp and wastepaper costs are also driving interest. Sizing chemical use has grown about 8 percent per year, eclipsing overall production fourfold since 1987.