+
9 CaCl2
Calcium
chloride.
{130}
From this it is seen that a large quantity of free sulphur is formed, which is precipitated as a fine yellowish powder in the fibre. This not only affects the colour of the pulp, but is objectionable on account of its liability, in contact with the hot cylinders of the paper machine, or by the action of moisture over a long period of time to become oxidised to sulphuric acid, which undoubtedly, even if present only in very small quantities, has an injurious effect upon the finished paper. (See hydracellulose.) This property of sulphur and its action upon cellulose may be shown by the following experiment. Take a piece of water-leaf paper, rub into it a mixture of flour of sulphur and water. If the paper thus treated be rapidly dried, it will be found to be weakened or even slightly charred in those portions which have been in contact with the sulphur. (See also Chem. Soc. Journ., p. 249, 1879.)
Whichever variety of “antichlor” is used an excess should be carefully avoided, as all act more or less upon the size and colouring matter added to the pulp subsequently. The proper method is to run in small quantities of a solution of the antichlor at a time, testing the pulps, after allowing a few minutes for complete admixture after each addition. The test is made by immersing a piece of iodide of potassium and starch paper, which will be turned blue so long as any calcium hypochlorite is present. These papers are made as follows:—
Three grms. of starch are ground up with a small quantity of water and poured into 700 cc. of boiling water, and to the solution 1 grm. of iodide of potassium and 0·5 grm. carbonate of soda are added. Sheets of white paper, water-leaf in preference, are now soaked in the solution and dried. In presence of calcium hypochlorite, iodine is liberated from the potassium iodide, and acting upon the starch forms with it a characteristic blue colour.
Loading.
China clay or kaolin is sold in the form of large lumps of a white or yellowish-white colour. It is formed by the gradual disintegration of felspar by means of the action of air and water, and consists essentially of a silicate of aluminium. Its quality depends upon its whiteness and its freedom from coarse micaceous particles. It is usually prepared for admixture with the pulp by making it into a fine cream with water in a vessel provided with stirrers; it is then passed through a fine sieve in order to remove any impurities it may contain, and is then run into the beater. The clay or other filling material is usually run into the beater as soon as the latter is charged with pulp, so that by the time the beating operation is concluded, a perfect admixture of pulp and clay is effected.
Sulphate of lime, or “pearl-hardening,” is usually sufficiently pure to put direct into the engine. It is made by decomposing a solution of calcium chloride, with sulphate of soda, and is precipitated as a fine brilliantly white powder, consisting of CaSO4 + 2 H2O.