Polyacrylamide (PAM) for Papermaking

Polyacrylamide is a water-soluble polymer, available in cationic, anionic, non-ionic and amphoteric types. It is an important auxiliary agent in papermaking.Cationic PAM: Mainly used as retention and drainage aid to retain fine fibers and fillers and accelerate dewatering; also applied for sludge dewatering of papermaking wastewater.Anionic PAM: Acts as dry strength agent to improve paper strength. Low-molecular-weight grades can serve as fiber dispersants. It is widely used in waste paper papermaking to save wood pulp, reduce energy consumption and support white water recycling.

International NewsThe global PAM market for papermaking grows steadily. Asia-Pacific is the largest market, and cationic PAM has the highest consumption.International chemical giants such as Kemira and SNF develop bio-based low-carbon PAM to meet EU carbon policies.Chinese-made PAM has entered the Southeast Asian papermaking market. It delivers better dewatering performance at lower costs compared with foreign products.Prices of acrylamide raw materials fluctuate, so paper mills tend to adopt high-efficiency PAM to cut dosage. Starch-based eco-friendly additives cannot replace PAM on a large scale in the short term.