Use of New Fibers for the Development of Security Paper

Abstract

Use of security papers for monetary papers, gift certificates, and lottery tickets increases every year. As the use of security papers increase, there are more possibility of counterfeits. In this study, we used unique fibers from the sea to increase the difficulties against counterfeiting. The red algae fibers give opacity as much as calcium carbonates, and have unique shape in length (<TEX>$500{\sim}900\;{\mu}m$</TEX>) and width (<TEX>$1{\sim}4\;{\mu}m$</TEX>) to be discerned from other natural fibers such as wood and cotton fibers. We mixed red algae fibers to wood fibers in a series of fixed ratios to make single and multiply papers for making security papers. Paper with dyed red algae fibers were also used. Paper made without fillers gave enough opacity for printing when red algae fibers were used more than 20% of the fiber furnish. Those properties may allow red algae fibers to be a potential candidate for fiber raw materials of security paper.