University of Washington

John P Carroll

G Graham Allan

There is disclosed a filled cellulosic fiber composition, as well as a method for filling dried cellulosic fibers with an inorganic filler by contacting the dried fibers with a first salt solution, followed by contact with a second salt solution. The first and second salt solutions combine to form a precipitate within the cell wall of the cellulosic fibers. The filled cellulosic fiber composition may be made into a variety of paper products, including paper, having a high filler content. The precipitates of the present invention include carbonates, phosphates, silicates and borates of aluminum, barium, calcium, magnesium and zinc. The first salts include carbonates, phosphates, silicates and borates of sodium, ammonium, potassium and lithium, and the second salts include chlorides, nitrates, and sulfates of aluminum, barium, calcium, magnesium and zinc. In a preferred embodiment, the first salt is sodium carbonate, the second salt is calcium nitrate or calcium chloride, and the precipitate is calcium carbonate.

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

John P Carroll