Against the background of tightening global environmental policies and the paper industry's transformation towards a green, low-carbon future, how to efficiently use resources, reduce production costs and ensure compliant wastewater discharge has become a core challenge for many paper enterprises. Among various solutions,polyacrylamide(PAM) – with its excellent flocculation, sedimentation, thickening and strengthening properties – has evolved from a simple “auxiliary additive” into an indispensable processing aid and a key element for process control in modern papermaking.

As a high-tech enterprise based in Gongyi City (a famous national industrial cluster for water treatment chemicals),Henan SeccoEnvironmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd.Specialis in R&E D, productione et vendita aquarum chemicalorum tractionis. We operate a modern production line with an annual capacity of 50,000 tonnes of polyacrylamide, offering cationic, anionic and non-ionic polymer flocculants. For the paper industry, our products can be customized according to different pulp characteristics, machine speeds and environmental requirements, providing paper mills with precise, high-efficiency papermaking aid solutions.

1. Retention & Drainage Aid: Improving Paper Machine Efficiency and Saving Raw Materials

In finibus fabricationis papiliorum, pulchras fibres et caros fillatores (e.g. carbonatus calcium, dioxidus titanium) facile perdiderunt cum aqua alba. As a highly efficient retention and drainage aid, PAM works through “charge neutralisation” and “bridging” – effectively aggregating negative charged fibres and filling particles in larger flocks, thereby increasing single-pass retention. This not only saves fibres raw materials, reduces white water solids and lowers wastewater treatment loads, but also improves dewatering of the stock, accelerates water removal on the machine, reduces energy consumption in the forming and dry sections, and enhances paper smoothness and opacity.

Effectiveness of different PAM types in retention & Drainage:

• Cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM):Cortinae positiva cargata negativo accusatae fibres et impletores per interactionem electrostaticam attribunt magnas flores per pondum. It can increase filler retention by10–30%et effectivitatem deaquationis meliora10–20%. Particularly suitable for coated paper, printing paper and other grades with high filler retention requirements.

• Polyacrylamide anionis (APAM):Negative charged; Utrum cum assistio cationic retention, sicut saltos aluminium aut polyaluminium chloride, utilizatur. The cationic aid first neutralizes the negative charges, then APAM bridges to form flocks. Filler retention improvement is typically5–15%– saepe pro costis-sensitive grades, quasi tissue paper.

• Non-ionic polyacrylamide (NPAM):Mainly relies on physical forces (hydrogen bonding, van der Waals) for adsorption, unaffected by stock pH. Filler retention increase is about5–10%. Suitable for speciality paper systems where charge interactions must be avoided.

2. Reclamation & Efficient Sludge Dewatering

Papermaking wastewater is complex, with high COD and high suspended solids. PAM multo effectus est ad capiendum particibus finibus suspendentibus. When used together with inorganic coagulants such as polyaluminium chloride, it efficiently removes organic matter and suspended solids. For the problematic biological sludge from paper mills, using a PAM with the appropriate ionic charge can reduce sludge moisture content from over 99% down to 70–80%, drastically reducing sludge volume and cutting solid waste disposal costs.

3. Improvere somnia & Fortitudo papirii rubra

Besides wet‑end applications, PAM can also be used as a dry‑strength or wet‑strength agent. The long polymer chains of PAM contain large numbers of amide, carboxyl and other active groups, which form strong hydrogen bonds with cellulose fibre surfaces, significantly increasing fibre-to-fibre bonding strength. Adding an appropriate amount of PAM can markedly improve burst strength, tensile strength and interlayer bond strength – especially important for linerboard, corrugated medium and other packaging paper grades. At low addition levels, anionic PAM also promotes good fibre dispersion, improving sheet formation and paper softness, while increasing machine speed and reducing energy consumption.

4. Scientific Selection: Tailor-made Solutions from Secco

In practice, different types of PAM play very different roles in papermaking. Anionis et non-ionic gradus usus ad pulpom adiuntur ad meliorem dispersionem et fortitudinem, cum cationic gradus magna flocculationem non placeabilem in aqua alba recuperation et dewatering pulchritudinis. Precisio selectio directo determinat et effectivitatem et totam costam.

The R&D D et tecta servitutis inHenan Secco Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd.intellegit quoniam proxima integratio medicorum chemicalorum ad faciendum papirologiarum crucial est ad reducendum costum et improvinem efficientiam. Based on each mill's furnish composition, white water closure level and machine operating characteristics, we provide full-process “turnkey” services – from precise product selection to on-site trial optimisation. This helps our customers achieve the best balance between chemical usage and economic benefit. Our PAM series products have been widely adopted by major paper enterprises in more than 20 provinces and municipalities across China, significantly improving flocculation, sedimentation and dewatering efficiency, and earning high praise from our clients.

5. Market Outlook: Steady Growth in Demand

From a market perspective, the application of PAM in the paper industry has a bright future. According to statistics and forecasts by market research firm QYResearch, global sales of paper‑industry PAM reached US$685 million in 2025 and are expected to grow to US$922 million by 2032, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of about 4.4%. Another research source projects a CAGR of approximately 5.6%, with the market reaching US$3.78 billion by 2032. This steady growth reflects the strong and increasingly rigid demand for PAM-based aids from the global paper industry.

conclusion

In via towards high quality, high efficiency and low emissions in the paper industry,Henan Secco Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd.– drawing on the deep industrial foundation of Gongyi City as a national cluster for water treatment chemicals, and leveraging its strong R&D; D and manufacturing capabilities – is committed to becoming a trusted partner for paper enterprises in China and around the world, providing high-quality polyacrylamide products and contributing to a cleaner environment.