NANOFIBRILLATED CELLULOSE APPLIED AS REINFORCEMENT FOR SHORT-FIBER PAPER

Daniele Cristina Potulski,Umberto Klock,Mayara Elita Carneiro,Lívia Cassia Viana,Ana Namikata Da Fonte,Graciela Ines Bolzon De Muniz

doi:10.5380/rf.v50i3.59251

Daniele Cristina Potulski, Umberto Klock + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5380/rf.v50i3.59251

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Abstract

In this work we studied the influence on the mechanical and physical properties of paper made from short-fiber pulp by adding different percentages of nanofibrillated cellulose. Bleached Eucalyptus sp. Kraft pulp was submitted to three different grinding regimes to obtain the nanofibrillated cellulose of 2, 10 and 20 passes through the grinder. Paper was produced by incorporating nanofibrillated cellulose in the proportions of 3, 6 and 9 wt%. The results showed that the addition of nanofibrillated cellulose increased the following mechanical properties: tensile index, tear index, and burst index. The porosity and the apparent density decreased. The addition of 9% of nanofibrillated cellulose obtained from 2 grinding passes provided the best results with improvements in tensile, burst and tear resistance of 111, 114 and 70 %, respectively, in comparison to normal paper. The improvement in the mechanical properties of paper is related to the very dense network of hydrogen bonds, resulting in greater surface area obtained after defibrillation. Nanofibrillated cellulose can be applied to improve paper quality and for reinforcing composites.

Highlights

Wood is chemically composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, extractives and ash
Nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) was obtained from Eucalyptus sp. cellulose pulp, which was first dispersed in water and disintegrated for five minutes to obtain a homogeneous suspension of fibers with water concentration of 1% by dry mass
The Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigations show that the nanofibrils present average diameter after the defibrillation varying between approximately 20 and 45nm with 2, 10 and 20 passes

Summary

Introduction

Wood is chemically composed of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, extractives and ash. Are the most used species for long- and short-fiber pulping in Brazil, respectively. These species grow rapidly in addition to having good technological properties for pulp and paper production (such as mechanical and physical properties). Brazil’s planted forests have the highest productivity and shortest rotation in the world. These high rates are the result of the climate and soil conditions, as well as continuous investments by companies in the country (IBA, 2017). Eucalyptus species are mainly used to produce bleached pulp for writing, printing and tissue paper, accounting for about 87% of pulp production in Brazil (IBA, 2017)

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