What is akd?

AKD stands for 'Alaska Daylight Time'. It's the daylight saving time zone observed in most of Alaska during the warmer months. Essentially, it's one hour ahead of their standard time, which is Alaska Standard Time (AKST). They switch to AKD from the second Sunday in March until the first Sunday in November. This practice aligns waking hours with more daylight in the evenings. It's similar to how other places, like parts of Australia, observe daylight saving.

AKD is a long name. It is Alkyl Ketene Dimer. But it is easier to think what it does.

It is a chemical. For making paper. It helps paper not get wet. It makes paper resist water.

Think of a paper coffee cup. Or a milk carton. Water does not go through, right? AKD is a big reason why. It is a very important chemical for the paper industry.

It is like a special wax for paper. When they make paper, it is all wet pulp. Like a paper soup. They mix the AKD into this soup.

The AKD sticks to all the small paper fibers. It covers them. So when the paper is dry, water cannot get inside the fibers so easy. This process is called 'sizing' in the paper world. It is a modern way to do it.

So you find it in many papers. Like office paper for your printer. So the ink does not spread everywhere. Also food boxes, books, and paper bags. It is a very common stuff to make paper better and stronger against liquids. It is used in so many things we use every day.