Fundamental aspects of adhesion between cellulosic
surfaces in contact – A review

Authors’ references:
1. Departamento de Madera, Celulosa y Papel Ing. Karl Augustin Grellman, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Apdo. Postal 45-120, Zapopan, México.
Phone: 52-(33)-3-682-0110; Fax: 52-(33)-3-682-0643 – E-mails: ezedelfor@gmail.com - hecont@gmail.com - torizgmo@gmail.com - jturrado@dmcyp.cucei.udg.mx
2. School of Forest Resources, College of the Environment, University of Washington, Seattle,WA 98195-2100 – E-mail: create@u.washington.edu
Corresponding author: Ezequiel Delgado Fornué – E-mail: ezedelfor@gmail.com

ABSTRACT
This paper presents a review on the adhesion between
cellulose fibers. The function of water in the assembly of paper
is examined. The contributions of friction, interfibrilar water
structure, hydrogen bonds, van der Waal forces, as well as
electrostatic linkages therein are discussed. The phenomena of
adhesion between wet cellulose fibers in the consolidation of
a fibrous web can be visualized as a sequence of events with
water playing a key role throughout. Initially, the drainage of
water brings the fibers together to form the wet web where the
water-structuring effects of the hydrophilic cellulose surfaces
can contribute to long-range interactions to form a virtual gel
between fibers. Subsequently, with the departure of more water,
the cellulose surfaces are drawn even closer so that chemical
interfiber bonds ranging from van der Waals forces through
hydrogen bonds, ionic to covalent, if appropriate functional
groups are present can become activated. Finally, the most
common additives utilized commercially for the enhancement
of interfiber adhesion are summarized in terms of the accepted
operating mechanisms.

References

O PAPEL vol. 72, num. 9, pp. 85 - 90 SEP 2011