Comparison between non-wood fiber paper and Finnish traditional wood-fiber paper by mechanical properties

Abstract

With the warning of reducing resource of tree, paper industries are looking for materials to replace or supply traditional tree material. Non-wood fibers are paid more interesting for manufacturing paper nowadays. The main purpose of this thesis was to find out non-wood paper that has been researched and then pick some of them for further evaluation. The number of non-wood materials and numbers of wood based materials were utilized in this project. Literature review gives a comprehensiveness of non-wood fibers paper, and provided a guidance of further evaluation. Mechanical properties including tensile strength, tear strength and bending stiffness were compared between non-wood fiber paper and wood fiber paper. Air permeability was measured and die cutting experiments were performed as well to help the comparison. As a result, Hesperaloe funifera paper based non-wood fiber had a good performance in each test. Another non-wood fiber paper that made from sugarcane bagasse had better tensile strength and tear strength than Creamy Hi-Bulk paper based on wood. Creamy Hi-Bulk paper, Hesperaloe funifera paper and Trayforma paper have potential in applying to fruit paper bag. These results indicate that non-wood fibers can serve as replacement of wood fiber paper and gives a reminder for paper industries in Finland that non-wood fiber materials can be utilized in future production.