Ask a kraft or duplex mill running on waste paper what their biggest headache is, and “stickies” comes up often. They are small, tacky particles that slip past cleaning and then land where they hurt most – on felts, wires, dryer cylinders and the sheet itself.
Where stickies come from
- Hot-melt glues and adhesives from cartons and books.
- Pressure-sensitive labels and tapes.
- Coatings, waxes and latex on recycled board.
- Ink binders from printed waste.
As recycled content rises and closed water loops get tighter, stickies build up in the system.
What they cost you
- Holes and spots in the sheet.
- Breaks on the machine and at the converter.
- Felts and wires that plug up and need frequent cleaning or replacement.
- Deposits on dryer cylinders and doctor blades.
A practical control plan
1. Remove what you can mechanically
Good pulping temperature, screening and cleaning remove the large stickies. Fix the mechanical side first – chemicals cannot compensate for worn screens.
2. Pacify the rest
- Stickies control chemicals coat the particles so they lose their tackiness.
- Soapstone (talc) powder adsorbs sticky material and carries it through in the sheet.
- Enzymes can break down some adhesive types.
3. Fix them into the sheet
A fixative or PAC attaches fine stickies to fibres so they leave with the paper rather than circulating.
4. Keep the system clean
Slime and stickies feed each other. An antislime agent and regular boil-outs help.
5. Protect the clothing
Good felt conditioning and showers keep press felts and dryer screens open longer.
Signs your programme is working
- Fewer felt changes and wash-ups.
- Fewer holes in reel inspection.
- Cleaner dryer cylinders.
- Lower break frequency.
Use cases
- Kraft paper and test liner mills.
- Duplex board mills using mixed waste.
- Tissue mills on recycled white grades.
Fighting stickies? Tell us your furnish and where deposits appear – we will suggest a control programme and trial. Ask our team →