Clariant gives papermakers the unique opportunity to use up to 30% less optical brightening agent (OBA), reduce tinting colorant levels, and reach a truer, more neutral white, with the launch of its breakthrough whitening system Leucophor® XL.

The globally-available Leucophor® XL range offers a new approach to controlling and optimizing whiteness. Its innovative technology improves whiteness build-up without destroying brightness for coated and uncoated papers and board. This provides a step-change in the whiteness and brightness of paper compared to conventional whitening methods where the colorant can make paper appear duller and grayer.

Papermakers can achieve significant improvements in their manufacturing efficiency with Leucophor® XL. By replacing traditional brighteners with an OBA from the Leucophor® XL range, significantly less OBA is required in order to achieve equal whiteness levels. At the same time, lower levels of shading colorants are required in the wet-end, leading to higher brightness at less cost. By moving away from the OBA saturation limit, previously unattainable whiteness levels are made possible.

The Leucophor® XL range comprises products to cover all variations in application and potential end-use requirements.

“We see our new Leucophor® XL range as a toolkit which helps papermakers to reduce their consumption of optical brighteners and tinting colorants while continuing to produce papers to the same or even higher whiteness standards as before,” comments Andrew Jackson, Head of Global Product Management Optical Brightening Agents. “As well as bringing cost savings, this innovative approach to whiteness also reduces the carbon footprint of printing and writing papers, a move very much in line with Clariant’s sustainability concept."