Short for precipitated calcium carbonate, it is grown by bubbling carbon dioxide through lime slurry, frequently in a satellite plant next to the paper machine using the mill's own flue gas. Crystal shape can be tuned, and scalenohedral PCC gives especially high light scattering and bulk. It requires neutral or alkaline papermaking, because acid dissolves carbonate.
PCC satellite was down overnight, so we ran GCC and lost almost a point of opacity.
Also heard as
- precipitated calcium carbonate
Related terms
Filler
Fine mineral powder added to papermaking stock to raise opacity, brightness and smoothness and to cut cost.
Ash content
Mineral residue left after burning a paper sample, used to estimate filler and coating pigment content.
Opacity
A sheet's ability to hide what lies behind it, expressed as a percentage from readings over black and white backings.
Light-scattering coefficient
Per-grammage measure of how strongly a paper redirects light, written s and given in square meters per kilogram.