A new PCC-based filler for use in papermaking was produced
by coating PCC with three alternating layers of alginate
and poly(diallyldimethylammonium). During the layer-bylayer
assembly, the zeta potential of the PCC particles changed
to highly negative and positive values when alginate and
poly(diallyldimethylammonium) were deposited, respectively,
confirming the presence of small amounts of the organic
modifiers at the mineral surface. The high-resolution X-ray
photoelectron spectra in the region of carbon binding energies
of the modified PCC showed an increase of the component due
to the core level of carbon atoms from C-O bonds of alginate.
The bulk of handsheets produced with the six-layer coated
PCC filler was inferior to that of handsheets with the reference
PCC, while the most relevant strength properties improved
(tensile, tear and burst indices, and internal bonding) and
the optical properties were not significantly affected. These
results can be explained in terms of a better bonding between
the cellulosic fibres and the poly(diallyldimethylammonium)
layer coating PCC than with the PCC alon