Mini-Encyclopedia of Papermaking Wet-End Chemistry
Part Two: Definitions and Concepts

Cationic

A cationic material has a net positive charge. Positive ions such as the sodium ion are cationic. A polyelectrolyte is called cationic if its chain has a positive charge after dissociation of monomeric counter-ions such as chloride or acetate. Likewise, a suspended particle is cationic if it has a net positive charge at its surface. A cationic particle is always surrounded by a cloud of excess counter-ions so that the total number of charges add up to zero.

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This page is maintained by Martin hubbe, Associate Professor of Wood and Paper Science, NC State University, m_hubbe@ncsu.edu .