Application of infrared spectroscopy methods in studying compositions for paper sizing

The paper proposes a method of infrared spectroscopy for objective control of the adhesive composition in the production of paper. For sizing paper, in order to increase mechanical strength and reduce water absorption, water-repellent materials are used. One of the most effective and used water-repellent material is ordinary pine resin rosin which is in short supply for the Republic of Uzbekistan. The paper investigates the properties of a new adhesive based on rosin from cherry resin for use in mass sizing in order to expand the range of sizing agents and reduce the share of imported components in the structure of local paper production. Infrared spectroscopy was used to identify the rosin-based glue from the resin of the cherry tree. The built-in device with a diamond crystal of the universal and compact Thermo Scientific Nicolet iS50 IR Fourier spectrometer made it possible to register spectra in the mid and far IR ranges up to 100 cm–1. The efficiency of sizing paper samples was studied by standard methods and evaluated by the following properties: density, tensile strength at stretching on a tensile machine, surface absorbency with one-sided wetting. Infrared spectra revealed the identity of the sizing agent from the resin of the cherry tree to the glue from the pine resin, taken for comparison, because their chemical composition is the same. A comparative analysis of the mechanical and surface properties of paper samples confirmed the possibility of using the studied sizing agent, since the obtained values are close to each other, while it is advisable to add in the range from 1 to 1.5 g per 100 g of dry cellulose raw materials. The use of infrared spectroscopy for express analysis of the composition of the sizing agent is promising, since it becomes possible to control the technological process and create glued types of paper products with desired properties that ensure print quality without loss of fine image details.