Patent ID: RE44519

Claim:
A papermaking process comprising the steps of: a) providing a starch component comprising a cationized crosslinked starch having a hot paste viscosity in the measured range of from about 10 cps to about 3000 cps when measured in a Brookfield viscometer at about 95° C. using a No. 21 spindle at 20 rpm with a solids level of 2 percent; b) cooking a first portion of the starch component to generate a cooked starch component, said cooking comprising cooking the starch component at first average cooking temperature below 330° F. for a first period of time; c) dewatering a paper furnish, the paper furnish including: (i) cellulosic fibers in an aqueous slurry, (ii) microparticles comprising at least 50 percent by weight particles having an average particle size of no greater than 1 micron, and (iii) the cooked starch component; and d) adjusting the dewatering rate by cooking a second portion of the starch component at a second average cooking temperature at least 10° F. different than the first average cooking temperature and adding the second portion of the starch to the paper furnish .