Effect of coupling agent and binder in kenaf paper on the mechanical and morphological properties

Abstract

Insufficient supply of fiber for papermaking has necessitated the paper industry to search for alternative fiber. Kenaf has been identified as one of the potential sources for pulp and paper production. This paper investigated the effect of coupling agent in kenaf paper with respect to mechanical and morphological properties of kenaf bast paper. Facial method is applied to graft starch on kenaf bast fiber surface via the hydrogen bonding formation among the cellulose, tapioca starch, and ammonium zirconium carbonate (AZC). The optimization method was utilized to study the amount of coupling agent (ammonium zirconium carbonate) and binder (tapioca starch), which ranges between 0.5 %, 1%, 1.5%, 2 % for AZC and 2 %, 3 %, 4 %, 5 % for tapioca starch. The mechanical properties of paper sheet have been studied by performing tensile test and determined Young’s modulus and Elongation at break, and tearing resistance test. The morphological properties were observed with respect to the mechanical strength by using the microscope at 100x magnification. The paper sheet produced from pulping with 3% starch and 1 % AZC concentration shows the best properties. Higher concentration of starch and AZC reduced the mechanical and morphological properties of paper due to decreasing the grafting efficiency. It is concluded that this method can be used for papermaking due to increasing the properties of paper but the ratio of binder and coupling agent are important from the low cost point of view.