Cationic Starch - High Performance Wet-End Starch for Paper & Board Manufacturing
KAG-CAT | SEVAGRAM EXCIPIENTS
KAG-CAT is a specially modified cationic starch developed by Sevagram Excipients for use as a wet-end additive in paper and paperboard manufacturing. It is designed to enhance internal bonding strength, improve retention of fillers and fines, optimize drainage, and significantly reduce suspended solids in paper mill effluents.
As paper machines operate at higher speeds with increased recycled fiber content, conventional native starches often fail to deliver consistent performance. KAG-CAT addresses these challenges through controlled cationic modification, enabling efficient interaction with negatively charged cellulose fibers and mineral fillers at the wet end of the paper machine.
This product complements Sevagram Excipients’ broader paper and board starch portfolio, including spray starches and surface sizing starches, providing mills with a complete starch solution from wet-end strengthening to surface enhancement.
What is Cationic Starch and Why It Matters in Paper Making
In paper manufacturing, cellulose fibers, fillers, and fines carry a negative surface charge. Native starches are also neutral to slightly anionic, limiting their ability to bind effectively at the wet end.
Cationic starches like KAG-CAT contain positively charged functional groups, allowing them to:
- Attach directly to fiber surfaces
- Act as a molecular bridge between fibers and fillers
- Improve fiber-to-fiber and fiber-to-filler bonding
- Enhance retention efficiency under dynamic machine conditions
This electrostatic attraction improves sheet formation and strength while minimizing material losses into the white water system.
Role of KAG-CAT in Wet-End Chemistry
KAG-CAT functions as a primary wet-end strength and retention aid. Once added to the pulp slurry, it rapidly adsorbs onto fibers and fines, forming a uniform starch layer that improves bonding during sheet formation and drying.
Key wet-end benefits include:
- Higher filler and fines retention
- Reduced load on retention polymers
- Faster water drainage on the wire
- Lower solids in backwater and effluent streams
These improvements result in better runnability, cleaner machine circuits, and consistent paper quality.
Key Features and Performance Benefits
Improved Retention of Fillers and Fines
KAG-CAT significantly increases retention of calcium carbonate, clay, and recycled fiber fines, reducing raw material loss and improving sheet uniformity.
Enhanced Internal Paper Strength
By promoting stronger fiber-to-fiber bonding, KAG-CAT improves tensile strength, burst strength, and internal bonding without increasing basis weight.
Faster Drainage and Better Sheet Formation
Optimized drainage reduces wire section load and improves machine speed potential while maintaining formation quality.
Reduced Effluent Load
Improved retention lowers suspended solids, BOD, and COD in wastewater, helping mills meet environmental compliance targets and reduce treatment costs.
Improved Machine Runnability
Cleaner white water systems and reduced deposits contribute to stable machine operation and fewer breaks.
Cost-Effective Strength Development
KAG-CAT delivers strength improvements at relatively low dosage levels compared to native or unmodified starches.
Applications in Paper and Board Grades
KAG-CAT is suitable for a wide range of paper and board applications, including:
- Craft paper
- Duplex and triplex board
- Writing and printing paper
- Packaging paper
- Recycled fiber-based paper grades
- Linerboard and medium
It performs effectively in systems using virgin pulp, recycled pulp, or mixed furnish.
Synergy with Spray Starch and Surface Sizing Starches
KAG-CAT is designed to work in combination with Sevagram Excipients’ spray starch products used in the paper and board industry.
- Wet-end strengthening with KAG-CAT improves internal bonding and retention
- Spray starch application enhances ply bonding, stiffness, and surface strength
- Combined use delivers higher overall strength with optimized starch consumption
This integrated approach allows mills to balance wet-end chemistry and surface application for maximum efficiency and product quality.
Physical Characteristics
- Appearance: Cream to off-white, free-flowing powder
- Solubility: Dispersible in water after proper cooking
- Charge Type: Cationic
- Consistency: Uniform particle distribution for stable performance
Packaging and Supply
KAG-CAT is supplied in:
- 25 kg bags
- 50 kg bags
- Jumbo bags (on request)
Packaging materials:
- HDPE woven bags
- Paper bags with inner liners
Bags should be stored in a dry, covered area, away from moisture and strong odors, to maintain product integrity.
OUR OTHER PRODUCTS
Sevagram Excipients – Your Partner in Modified Starches
- Dedicated focus on paper and board starch solutions
- Consistent quality through controlled starch modification
- Products engineered for modern high-speed paper machines
- Strong compatibility with spray starch and surface sizing systems
- Technical support for dosage optimization and trials
Sevagram Excipients combines application understanding with manufacturing expertise to deliver starch solutions that improve performance, efficiency, and sustainability in paper mills.
Engineered for modern high-speed paper machines and recycled fiber systems, KAG-CAT delivers superior internal strength, improved filler and fines retention, faster drainage, and cleaner effluents. Backed by controlled cationic modification and seamless compatibility with Sevagram Excipients’ complete paper starch portfolio, KAG-CAT enables consistent quality, process efficiency, and sustainable paper manufacturing.
Contact Sevagram Excipients today to optimize your wet-end chemistry and achieve measurable performance gains.