Silicone collectors represent a new group of collectors and are used as a direct alternative to fatty acids and soaps.
Their effect as an ink collector is comparable to that of fatty acids or soaps. Silicone derivatives have both a hydrophobic and hydrophilic molecular component; they coat and collect the detached ink, fix it onto the air bubble and thus ensure optimal ink removal.
Silicone collectors are handled at room temperature and without pre-treatments, such as saponification. Dosage rates are from 15 to 20 times lower than to ordinary fatty acid/soap systems. In total, silicone collectors provide a huge cost benefit for the user without any compromise regarding brightness and runnibility of the deinking unit and paper machine.