| HS Code | 553145 |
| Product | Kuraray VPB107-1 PVA Binder Fiber for Paper Making |
| Material | Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) |
| Fiber Type | Water-soluble binder staple fiber |
| Primary Application | Paper making binder fiber |
| Dissolution Temperature | 70°C |
| Dissolution Behavior | Fiber completely dissolves in water at 70°C and acts as a binder upon drying |
| Fiber Form | Cut staple fiber for wet-laid papermaking |
| Typical Fineness | 1.7 dtex |
| Typical Cut Length | 4 mm to 6 mm |
| Specific Gravity | Approximately 1.26 to 1.30 |
| Moisture Regain | Approximately 4 to 5 percent at standard humidity |
| Tensile Strength | Suitable for papermaking binder application |
| Elongation At Break | Moderate elongation for water-soluble PVA binder fiber |
| Chemical Resistance | Resistant to organic solvents but soluble in hot water |
| Binding Mechanism | Hot-water surface dissolution and re-solidification during paper drying |
As an accredited Kuraray VPB107-1-PVA Binder Fiber for Paper Making (Dissolves at 70°C) factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Kuraray VPB107-1-PVA binder fiber is supplied in 20 kg multi-wall paper bags with an inner polyethylene liner, palletized and wrapped. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | 20′ FCL loading of Kuraray VPB107-1 PVA binder fiber, dissolvable at 70°C, used as a paper-making binding agent. |
| Shipping | Ship Kuraray VPB107-1-PVA Binder Fiber in dry, sealed packaging to prevent moisture contact. Protect from heat sources and storage above 70°C, as the fiber dissolves at that temperature. Use standard freight with proper labeling and avoid humid conditions to maintain integrity until arrival. |
| Storage | Store in a cool, dry, well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight, heat sources, and moisture. Keep packaging tightly sealed to prevent humidity exposure, which can cause clumping or premature dissolution. Avoid storage above 70°C. Separate from strong oxidizers and ignition sources. Maintain stable room temperature and low humidity for optimal performance. |
| Shelf Life | Shelf life is typically 24 months from production if stored cool, dry, and sealed, avoiding moisture and high temperatures. |
Where the wet-laid separator furnish exceeds 10 wt% VPB107-1, the process conflict is not dissolution temperature alone but the drying-rate threshold at which dissolved PVA migrates to the sheet surface before wet tensile develops. On a pilot inclined-wire line running 40 g/m² at 60 m/min, the first dryer section must hold the sheet core above 70°C for 8–15 s while the surface temperature remains below 95°C; if the surface temperature exceeds 110°C before the core reaches the dissolution point, a translucent PVA skin forms and air permeance measured by ISO 5636-3 can drop by 25–40%. The furnish typically comprises mercerized softwood pulp, synthetic fibrillated polyolefin, and 10–25 wt% VPB107-1, with the upper limit set by pore occlusion rather than dry tensile. At 25 wt%, the mean flow pore diameter as measured by capillary flow porometry using ASTM D6767 shifts downward because the dissolved PVA coalesces into film-like bridges across fiber intersections; at 8 wt%, the separator sheet survives slitting but fails alkaline cell assembly because the wet tensile after 30 min immersion in 40% KOH falls below the line release limit of 0.5 kN/m in ISO 1924-2. Production equipment for this grade is a low-consistency headbox operating at 0.3–0.5% consistency to prevent fiber flocculation, followed by vacuum dewatering boxes and a through-air dryer with a 70–80°C plateau zone. The papermaking line must be cleaned after each run because residual PVA deposits in the wire pit and shower screens re-dissolve in the next warm furnish batch, causing basis weight drift of ±1.5 g/m². Ambient relative humidity above 60% causes the cut fiber to pick up moisture and clump at the bale opener; pre-drying at 40°C for 2 h is required before feeding. Borate-containing dispersants or coating pigments are incompatible because borate complexes with PVA and shifts the dissolution point upward, leaving undissolved fiber at 70°C. A lot-to-lot shift of ±0.5 mol% in the PVA hydrolysis specification can change the dissolution cloud point by 2–4°C, which on a line running 100 m/min is enough to leave undissolved fiber bundles in the sheet and produce surface pilling at the calender. The terminal product is alkaline manganese dioxide cell separator base sheet, principally 12–40 g/m² grades, converted into bobbin and cup separator configurations. No single ISO standard governs PVA binder fiber in alkaline separators; converters require REACH confirmation under Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 and rely on cell-level verification under IEC 60086-4. Mill release testing includes ISO 1924-2, ISO 5636-3, and a KOH immersion tensile method derived from ISO 1924-2.
Addition is limited by the heat-seal window of the downstream converter rather than the PVA dissolution temperature. In heat-seal tea bag base paper at 12–16 g/m², VPB107-1 is introduced at 5–12 wt% of the furnish. The base sheet normally contains abaca, softwood kraft, and a heat-seal fiber such as polypropylene or polyester. If the PVA addition exceeds 12 wt%, the dissolved binder reduces air permeability and creates a continuous surface film that interferes with the heat-seal fiber melting at 160–190°C. At 5 wt%, the dry tensile improvement is measurable: production records on an inclined-wire machine with an 18 g/m² sheet show a 15–20% increase in dry tensile by ISO 1924-2 compared with a non-PVA control, but wet tensile after steeping remains below the target of 0.25 kN/m unless the machine uses a through-air dryer that brings the sheet core to 70–75°C before final can drying. The papermaking process is wet-laid on an inclined wire at 0.2–0.4% headbox consistency, dewatered by vacuum and wet press, then dried through a through-air unit with 110–130°C supply air to complete PVA film formation. The terminal products are heat-seal tea bag paper, coffee pod filter base stock, and herb pack overwrap paper, with basis weights from 12–25 g/m².
| Regulatory endpoint | Standard or regulation | Typical mill release method | Control limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paper and paperboard in contact with aqueous and fatty foods | FDA 21 CFR 176.170 | Extractives testing on finished sheet | Components comply with GMP and end-use conditions |
| EU framework food contact articles | Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 | Overall migration to simulant | 10 mg/dm² for food contact article |
| German paper and board food contact | BfR Recommendation XXXVI | Cold water and hot water extract | Complies with paper-specific migration limits |
| Wet tensile | ISO 1924-2 | Tensile after 15 min water soak | Converter-specific, typically ≥0.25 kN/m |
| Air permeance | ISO 5636-3 | Bendtsen method | ≥400 µm/(Pa·s) for tea bag grades |
In automotive engine oil filter base stock, VPB107-1 is added at 5–15 wt% to provide dry-strength integrity before phenolic resin saturation, not as the final structural binder. The wet-laid papermaking process uses a fourdrinier or inclined wire with a furnish of softwood kraft, hardwood kraft, and possibly cotton linters, with the PVA fiber introduced in the machine chest after refining. If the addition is below 5 wt%, the sheet tears at the wet press transfer on machines running above 90 m/min; if it exceeds 15 wt%, the densified PVA film reduces porosity after corrugating, increasing initial pressure drop by 10–20% in engine test rigs. The production process after papermaking includes phenolic resin saturation at 18–25 wt% resin pick-up, curing at 150–170°C, corrugating, and pleating into cylindrical elements. Terminal products are full-flow automotive oil filter elements tested to ISO 4548-12 for filtration efficiency and collapse resistance. Compliance for the media itself is driven by the filter manufacturer’s material specification, which typically requires ISO 1924-2 dry tensile, ISO 536 grammage, and ISO 534 thickness, while the final element must satisfy ISO 4548-12 without media failure.
Replacement of starch or latex internal size with VPB107-1 in abrasive backing paper requires addition of 3–8 wt% because higher levels reduce Sheffield smoothness after calendering. The base sheet is produced on a cylinder mould machine or fourdrinier at 80–120 g/m², using softwood kraft and eucalyptus with the PVA fiber added at the blending chest. The wet web is pressed to 40–45% solids before drying at 100–120°C; a separate surface size of starch or PVA is then applied, followed by calendering at 80–100 kN/m line load. The dissolved PVA contributes internal bond, measured by ISO 16260:2016, which is critical when the backing is coated with urea-formaldehyde or phenolic resin-based abrasive grain adhesive. At 8 wt%, internal bond improves by roughly 15–25% against a no-binder control, but Sheffield smoothness degrades because PVA film increases fiber-surface stiffness before calendering. The terminal products are coated abrasive backing paper for belts, discs, and sheets, where dimensional stability under coating tension is a release criterion. Compliance is through ISO 1924-2 tensile, ISO 16260:2016 internal bond, and ISO 5626 folding endurance; the coated abrasive manufacturer validates final products under its own FEPA-based or ISO coated-abrasive procedures, and REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 applies to the PVA substance.
For nonwoven wallpaper base stock, VPB107-1 is used at 2–7 wt% to maintain wet web runnability without producing a closed surface that rejects aqueous adhesive paste. The wet-laid process on an inclined wire forms a 50–80 g/m² sheet from softwood, cellulose, and synthetic fibers; the PVA binder dissolves at 70°C in the through-air dryer and imparts enough dry tensile for embossing and coating. Terminal products are paintable nonwoven wallpaper, duplex base for vinyl-coated wallpaper, and paintable wall covering. Compliance is under EN 15102:2007+A1:2011 for wallcoverings, with REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 and ISO 1924-2 tensile used in mill release.
Glass fiber filter media use VPB107-1 at 10–30 wt% because glass fiber furnishes generate almost no hydrogen-bonded wet strength and the PVA must function both as a processing aid and as a pre-saturation binder. The papermaking line is an inclined wire with a low-consistency headbox; dispersants such as polyacrylamide are added to the stock, and the sheet is dewatered gently to avoid glass fiber embrittlement at high vacuum. Dissolution is carried out in a through-air dryer where the sheet core must reach 70–75°C for 5–15 s; if the core temperature remains below 70°C, undissolved PVA fiber segments appear as non-fused bundles in the finished sheet and create pinholes after the downstream resin saturation. At 30 wt%, the dry sheet becomes stiff and the pressure drop rises; at 10 wt%, the sheet tends to split at the wet press on lines producing 40–80 g/m² HEPA media. The paper is then impregnated with a silicone or phenolic resin and cured to provide wet strength and high-temperature dimensional stability. The terminal products are glass fiber HEPA/ULPA filter media, analytical filter paper, and backing media for membrane supports. Compliance is anchored to EN 1822-1:2019 for the final filter element or media performance, while the paper mill release uses ISO 536, ISO 1924-2, and ISO 5636-3. REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 applies to the PVA substance and the finished media.
Competitive Kuraray VPB107-1-PVA Binder Fiber for Paper Making (Dissolves at 70°C) prices that fit your budget—flexible terms and customized quotes for every order.
For samples, pricing, or more information, please contact us at +8615380400285 or mail to sales2@liwei-chem.com.
We will respond to you as soon as possible.
Tel: +8615380400285
Email: sales2@liwei-chem.com
Flexible payment, competitive price, premium service - Inquire now!
Kuraray VPB107-1 is a polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) binder fiber manufactured for papermaking furnishes. The grade is specified with a nominal water dissolution temperature of 70°C. In dry-staple form, the fiber contributes discrete fibrous reinforcement during stock preparation, wet-web formation, and pressing. When the moist web reaches the dissolution temperature in the dryer section, the fiber softens, releases PVA into the aqueous phase, and forms adhesive films at cellulose fiber crossings. After final drying, those films consolidate into inter-fiber bonds. The alphanumeric designation VPB107-1 distinguishes this grade from lower- and higher-dissolution-temperature PVA binder fibers within the supplier portfolio. The following nominal data are taken from the manufacturer’s technical data sheet; mill receiving inspection should confirm cut length and fineness against the supplier certificate of analysis.
| Parameter | Nominal value/description | Test method/instrument |
|---|---|---|
| Polymer identity | Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) homopolymer staple fiber | FTIR, supplier certificate |
| Water dissolution temperature | 70°C | Supplier hot-water immersion test with optical microscopy |
| Nominal cut length | 3 mm | Image analysis; confirm on COA |
| Nominal fineness | 1.0 dtex | ISO 1973:2021 |
| Density, PVA class | 1.26–1.30 g/cm³ | ISO 1183-1:2019 |
| Supplied form | Dry staple fiber, no surface size | Visual and moisture analysis |
The dissolution onset at 70°C creates a process window that must be maintained across the approach system and dryer section. In the stock preparation and headbox circuit, the fiber remains intact as long as stock temperature is held below approximately 60°C. This margin prevents premature dissolution, tacky deposition on forming fabrics, and uncontrolled PVA build-up in white water. On a Fourdrinier or gap-former machine running headbox consistency between 0.5 wt% and 1.2 wt%, the 3 mm cut length is retained within the forming fabric drainage window. Wet pressing does not normally raise web temperature to the dissolution onset, but press-section felt showers should remain below 50°C to avoid localized thermal spikes in closed-press configurations. The critical transition begins when the web enters the multi-cylinder dryer section. Cylinder surface temperatures of 100–130°C elevate sheet temperature above 70°C in the first dryer groups, at which point the PVA fiber dissolves and begins to form a binder film. The resulting ply bond and tensile strength increases are evaluated on handsheets and machine samples according to ISO 1924-2:2016 for tensile properties, ISO 2758:2014 for burst strength, and ISO 5636-3 for air permeance.
Dissolution of the PVA fiber is diffusion-limited. The fiber requires sufficient surrounding water to swell, soften, and disperse. If the sheet has been dried below approximately 30% moisture before the web reaches 70°C, incomplete dissolution may leave transparent fiber ghosts or undissolved filaments on the sheet surface. Therefore, dryer-section humidity management and early dryer temperature profiling are more important with VPB107-1 than with latex or starch binders that do not require a solid-to-solution phase transition. In production-scale runs, the first two dryer groups are often operated with moderate steam pressure to allow enough residence time for dissolution while the sheet still retains free water.
The stock preparation procedure influences dispersion and retention. In a standard disintegrator operated at 3,000 rpm following ISO 5263-1:2004, the dry staple fiber separates into individual filaments within 1–3 min without dissolving, provided the stock temperature remains below 60°C. Direct addition to the pulper or machine chest is acceptable for long-fiber furnishes, but the fiber should not be recirculated for extended periods through high-shear refiners. Mechanical refining can cut the staple fiber and reduce the reinforcing contribution during the pre-dissolution stage. Typical addition levels reported in papermaking applications for PVA binder fibers range from 2 wt% to 8 wt% on oven-dry furnish; the optimum depends on furnish composition, basis weight, and target delamination resistance. Published data for this specific configuration are limited, and mill trials should establish the response curve using a minimum of three addition levels with handsheet and machine-sheet testing.
VPB107-1 differs from synthetic latex binders in its physical form and film-formation mechanism. Synthetic latex enters the furnish as an aqueous dispersion and may require pH control, retention aid adjustment, and coalescence before final drying. VPB107-1 is a dry solid fiber that remains inert until thermal activation, eliminating dispersant chemistry and reducing foaming in the wet end. Unlike cooked starch binders, VPB107-1 does not require a batch cooking step and does not contribute to biological spoilage in the size press or storage system. However, dissolved PVA in white water increases chemical oxygen demand and can elevate closed-loop water viscosity. White water COD should be monitored with a standard method such as ISO 6060 when closed water circulation is used.
Among PVA binder fiber grades, the 70°C dissolution point positions VPB107-1 between low-temperature grades that dissolve at approximately 60°C and higher-temperature grades that require 80–90°C. A 60°C grade can be advantageous for low-temperature dryers but may create premature dissolution when closed white water temperatures fluctuate above 55°C. A 80–90°C grade retains fibrous reinforcement deeper into the dryer but demands higher drying energy and may delay bond development until later cylinder groups. VPB107-1 is therefore suited to multi-cylinder machines with moderate steam pressure and to furnishes where some wet-web strength must be preserved through the press section but early dryer-section bonding is still required.
The following comparison summarizes operational distinctions relevant to binder selection.
| Binder system | Film-formation trigger | Headbox stability at 55°C stock | White water COD tendency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kuraray VPB107-1 | Hot-water dissolution at 70°C | Stable if stock is held below 60°C | Moderate after dissolution |
| 60°C-class PVA binder fiber | Hot-water dissolution at approximately 60°C | Risk of premature dissolution | Moderate to high if dissolved in wet end |
| 80–90°C-class PVA binder fiber | Hot-water dissolution above 80°C | Negligible risk | Lower in wet end; COD appears after dryer activation |
| Synthetic latex binder | Coalescence during drying | Stable if charge balance is maintained | Low to moderate but may contain residual emulsifiers |
| Cooked starch binder | Gelatinization or retrogradation | Stable but biologically active in storage | Moderate to high BOD/COD |
In wet-end application, VPB107-1 is nonionic in character. It does not strongly compete with cationic retention aids in the same manner as some anionic latexes or anionic starches. This can reduce the need for charge-demand titration adjustments on high-speed machines. Nevertheless, excessive dissolved PVA in white water can create a tacky film on doctor blades, forming fabrics, and dryer cans. At addition levels above approximately 10 wt% on oven-dry furnish, the volume fraction of soluble PVA may exceed the capacity of cellulose inter-fiber void space, increasing the risk of dryer can fouling and sheet delamination. This boundary should be confirmed with a scale-up trial because furnish fines content and press-section moisture carry-over alter the critical limit.
Storage conditions influence handling. The fiber should be stored below 60% relative humidity and below 40°C. High-humidity storage can cause fiber-to-fiber adhesion and poor bale opening. If the product is to be used in food-contact paper, the user must verify the specific grade against 21 CFR 176.170 or 21 CFR 176.180 and any applicable regional positive list. Compliance with REACH and RoHS should be confirmed through the supplier declaration because downstream converting and end-use conditions may change the regulatory status.
Dissolution incompleteness is most commonly observed on lightweight sheets that dry rapidly in the first two dryer cylinders. If the web reaches 70°C after its moisture content has fallen below approximately 30%, PVA fibers may remain partially swollen but not fully dispersed. The defect appears as semi-transparent linear streaks or undissolved fiber bundles bonded unevenly to the sheet surface. The corrective action is to increase early dryer-section humidity or reduce first-group steam pressure so that the web remains above the critical moisture range during thermal activation. Increasing web entering moisture after the press section also improves dissolution, but this raises drying energy demand. On production-scale machines with shoe presses, the higher solids after pressing can exacerbate the problem if the first dryer group is operated too aggressively.
The solubility behavior of VPB107-1 also affects repulping. Once the fiber has dissolved and dried into a PVA film, repulping requires hot water above the activation temperature. Cold-water repulping under 50°C will not rapidly remove the binder film. This limitation must be considered in broke handling systems. Mill trials should measure repulping time and rejects content under the actual broke chest temperature. If low-temperature repulping is mandatory, a lower-dissolution-temperature PVA grade may be required, but that substitution would reduce the wet-end safety margin.
