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Polymers
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Improvement in Physical Properties of Paper and Natural Fibers
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Improvement in Physical Properties of Paper and Natural Fibers

A special issue of Polymers (ISSN 2073-4360). This special issue belongs to the section "Polymer Processing and Engineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 August 2023) | Viewed by 17750

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Ana Paula Costa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Fiber Materials and Environmental Technologies Unit (FibEnTech-UBI), Universidade da Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
Interests: modification of cellulosic surfaces by cold plasma treatment; biotechnology applied to the pulp and paper industry; bioproducts from forest residues; tissue paper; composites
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

From natural fibers to paper, to tissue, to package, or to other products. The science stands in effective methods that preserve the raw materials while creating the required product. Enter in a new era of technology and application of science, all scientists are called to develop paper-based products and composites for applications in packaging; smart packaging; high-strength and light-weight novel materials; and novel materials for water and grease repellence. The future innovations and technologies in these scientific fields are sure to encounter everyday aspect of life across the world.

This Special Issue, “Improvement in Physical Properties of Paper and Natural Fibers”, aims to be a collection of high-quality original/review papers focusing on recent progress in:

  • Paper, Tissue Paper, and Cardboard: improvement in physical properties of products and processes impact
  • Novel Cellulosic based materials
  • Non wood plants as raw material for papers/cardboards
  • Additives and modifications: products characterization and nanotechnologies to improve physical properties
  • Natural Fibres based Materials: composites, sustainable and other novel fibre-based materials

Dr. Ana Paula Costa
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Polymers is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • natural fibers
  • physical properties
  • paper
  • tissue paper
  • cardboard
  • composites
  • properties improvement
  • cellulosic based materials
  • non wood plants

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 8711 KiB  
Article
Preparation and Characterization of Dopamine-Modified Carbon Fiber Paper Composites for Gas Diffusion Layers
by Jiahua Ma, Xiangyu Chen, Xiaoshuai Sun and Chuanshan Zhao
Polymers 2023, 15(16), 3428; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15163428 - 16 Aug 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1717
Abstract
Carbon fibers (CFs) cannot be directly used for the preparation of CF paper because of their chemically inert nature. Herein, the surface of CFs was modified using the spontaneous oxidative self-polymerization of dopamine. By taking full advantage of the spontaneous oxidation and self-polymerization [...] Read more.
Carbon fibers (CFs) cannot be directly used for the preparation of CF paper because of their chemically inert nature. Herein, the surface of CFs was modified using the spontaneous oxidative self-polymerization of dopamine. By taking full advantage of the spontaneous oxidation and self-polymerization properties of PD to maintain the maximum strength of CFs, a polydopamine-modified CF paper (PDA-CFP) with excellent performance was prepared using PD-modified CFs (PDA-CFs). This increased the proportion of hydrophilic functional groups on the surface of carbon fibers, increased the O/C ratio on the CF surface by 6 times, and improved the bond strength between the modified CF and the adhesive by making full use of the interaction force between polydopamine and PVA fibers. In this way, the primary properties of the CF paper were improved. Overall, the results showed that the dispersion of CF was considerably improved with dopamine modification. In addition, the primary physical properties of PDA-CFP were better than those of virgin CF paper (CFP-0). PDA-CFP exhibited a maximum tensile strength of 2.04 kN·m−1, a minimum resistivity of 0.06055 Ω·cm−1, and a minimum porosity of 72.4%. The tightness was increased by up to 12.1%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Improvement in Physical Properties of Paper and Natural Fibers)
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14 pages, 1887 KiB  
Article
Experimental Study on the Manufacturing of Functional Paper with Modified by N-Methylmorpholine-N-oxide Surfaces
by Nikolay V. Khomutinnikov, Igor O. Govyazin, Gennady E. Ivanov, Elena M. Fedorova, Igor S. Makarov, Markel I. Vinogradov and Valery G. Kulichikhin
Polymers 2023, 15(3), 692; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym15030692 - 30 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2307
Abstract
The manufacturing of paper with new functional properties is a current problem today. A method of modifying the surface layer of paper by the partial dissolution of cellulose on its surface is proposed. N-Methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO) is proposed for use as a solvent, the [...] Read more.
The manufacturing of paper with new functional properties is a current problem today. A method of modifying the surface layer of paper by the partial dissolution of cellulose on its surface is proposed. N-Methylmorpholine-N-oxide (NMMO) is proposed for use as a solvent, the regeneration of which provides an environmentally friendly process. It was shown that among the possible hydrate forms of the solvent, the monohydrate and higher-melting forms are optimal for modifying the paper surface. The temperature–time modes of processing were revealed and the weight gain and density increase in the course of modification were estimated. The structural and morphological features of the original and modified paper were studied by X-ray imaging and scanning microscopy. The NMMO surface treatment makes it possible to vary the air permeability of the paper, making it practically non-permeable. The capillary and pore system were radically transformed after the partial dissolution of cellulose and its coagulation, as the formed cellulose film isolates them, which leads to a decrease in surface absorbency. The processing conditions allowing for the optimization of the optical and strength properties of the modified paper samples are revealed. The resulting paper with a modified N-methylmorpholine-N-oxide surface layer can be used for printing valuable documents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Improvement in Physical Properties of Paper and Natural Fibers)
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18 pages, 2765 KiB  
Article
Valorisation of Underutilized Grass Fibre (Stem) as a Potential Material for Paper Production
by Chuan Li Lee, Kit Ling Chin, Paik San H’ng, Mohd Sahfani Hafizuddin and Pui San Khoo
Polymers 2022, 14(23), 5203; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14235203 - 29 Nov 2022
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 5574
Abstract
An integrated and feasible approach was proposed using the underutilized grass fibre (stem) derived from Napier grass and sugarcane for paper production in this study. To enhance paper strength, pre-hydrolysis and beating techniques have been used to improve the chemical pulps and mechanical [...] Read more.
An integrated and feasible approach was proposed using the underutilized grass fibre (stem) derived from Napier grass and sugarcane for paper production in this study. To enhance paper strength, pre-hydrolysis and beating techniques have been used to improve the chemical pulps and mechanical pulping process, respectively. Napier grass and sugarcane are promising non-wood sources for pulp production, owing to their high cellulose and low lignin and extractive content. With the additional mild alkaline pre-treatment to the mechanical pulping process, the lignin content was greatly reduced. The results reveal that the mechanical pulping with alkaline pre-treatment may indeed potentially replace the most prevalent pulping process (chemical pulping). As evidenced by the paper strength properties, mechanical pulping is far more suitable for grass-type biomass, particularly Napier grass, which had a folding endurance capability five times greater than chemical pulping. Furthermore, the remaining high hemicellulose content from mechanical pulping contributed to a high pulp yield, while also facilitating the fibrillation on the sugarcane’s laboratory paper handsheet. The findings also demonstrated that the additional beating process from chemical pulping causes the fibres to be drawn toward each other, resulting in a more robust fibre network that contributes to good paper strength. Consequently, this work sheds new light on the development of advanced paper derived from grass fibre. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Improvement in Physical Properties of Paper and Natural Fibers)
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18 pages, 13228 KiB  
Article
Embossing Lines and Dots Geometry Effect on the Key Tissue Paper Properties with Finite Element Method Analysis
by Joana Costa Vieira, António de O. Mendes, Marcelo Leite Ribeiro, André Costa Vieira, Ana Margarida Carta, Paulo Torrão Fiadeiro and Ana Paula Costa
Polymers 2022, 14(17), 3448; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14173448 - 24 Aug 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2813
Abstract
Embossing is a functional and strategic process for creating high-quality multi-sensory tissue-paper products. Embossing modifies the sheet surface by generating hill and/or valley designs, changing the third-dimension z with a compressive die. This research work specifically concerns the impact study of the engraving [...] Read more.
Embossing is a functional and strategic process for creating high-quality multi-sensory tissue-paper products. Embossing modifies the sheet surface by generating hill and/or valley designs, changing the third-dimension z with a compressive die. This research work specifically concerns the impact study of the engraving finishing geometry on the final properties of tissue paper. This work led us to conclude that, even though the sheets individually present a higher hand-feel (HF) value for the straight finishing geometry, the highest softness was obtained in the two-ply prototype for the round finishing geometry. Moreover, this study confirmed that the HF value reduces with the increase of the bulk, being more accentuated for the micropattern. Relevant differences could not be seen in the spreading kinetics of the liquid droplets over time. Thus, the finishing geometry of the 3D plates did not impact the absorption kinetics on these samples. The finite element model allows us to understand the effect of the plate pattern and its finishing geometry on the paper, and the simulation results were in accordance with the experimental results, showing the same trend where patterns with a round finishing geometry marked the tissue-paper sheet more than patterns with a straight finishing did. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Improvement in Physical Properties of Paper and Natural Fibers)
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18 pages, 3965 KiB  
Article
Assessment of the Performance of Cationic Cellulose Derivatives as Calcium Carbonate Flocculant for Papermaking
by Jorge F. S. Pedrosa, Luís Alves, Carlos P. Neto, Maria G. Rasteiro and Paulo J. T. Ferreira
Polymers 2022, 14(16), 3309; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14163309 - 14 Aug 2022
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2422
Abstract
Cationic polyacrylamides (CPAMs) are usually used as filler retention agents in papermaking formulations. However, increasing environmental restrictions and their non-renewable origin have driven research into bio-based alternatives. In this context, cationic lignocellulosic derivatives have been attracting considerable research interest as a potential substitute. [...] Read more.
Cationic polyacrylamides (CPAMs) are usually used as filler retention agents in papermaking formulations. However, increasing environmental restrictions and their non-renewable origin have driven research into bio-based alternatives. In this context, cationic lignocellulosic derivatives have been attracting considerable research interest as a potential substitute. In this work, distinct cationic celluloses with degrees of substitution of between 0.02 and 1.06 and with distinct morphological properties were synthesized via the cationization of bleached eucalyptus kraft pulp, using a direct cationization with (3-chloro-2-hydroxypropyl) trimethylammonium chloride (CHPTAC) or a two-step cationization, where the cellulose was first oxidized to form dialdehyde cellulose and was then made to react with Girard’s reagent T (GT). Fibrillated samples were produced by subjecting some samples to a high-pressure homogenization treatment. The obtained samples were evaluated regarding their potential to flocculate and retain precipitated calcium carbonate (PCC), and their performance was compared to that of a commercial CPAM. The cationic fibrillated celluloses, with a degree of substitution of ca. 0.13–0.16, exhibited the highest flocculation performance of all the cationic celluloses and were able to increase the filler retention from 43% (with no retention agent) to ca. 61–62% (with the addition of 20 mg/g of PCC). Although it was not possible to achieve the performance of CPAM (filler retention of 73% with an addition of 1 mg/g of PCC), the results demonstrated the potential of cationic cellulose derivatives for use as bio-based retention agents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Improvement in Physical Properties of Paper and Natural Fibers)
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22 pages, 15558 KiB  
Article
FEM Analysis Validation of Rubber Hardness Impact on Mechanical and Softness Properties of Embossed Industrial Base Tissue Papers
by Joana Costa Vieira, António de O. Mendes, Marcelo Leite Ribeiro, André Costa Vieira, Ana Margarida Carta, Paulo Torrão Fiadeiro and Ana Paula Costa
Polymers 2022, 14(12), 2485; https://doi.org/10.3390/polym14122485 - 18 Jun 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2087
Abstract
The embossing operation is one of the processes of tissue paper converting. The embossing parameters influence the final properties of tissue products, such as mechanical, softness, and bulk. In this study, the influence of the rubber hardness used against the embossing steel rolls [...] Read more.
The embossing operation is one of the processes of tissue paper converting. The embossing parameters influence the final properties of tissue products, such as mechanical, softness, and bulk. In this study, the influence of the rubber hardness used against the embossing steel rolls with a pattern created by intaglio engraving was studied. Three different configurations of rubber plates stacking, each plate with different hardness, were studied. After embossing, mechanical properties, softness, and bulk were evaluated to analyze the effect of rubbers hardness on these properties. Furthermore, a Finite Element Model of the embossing operation was used that considered the same rubber plates stacking configurations used in experiments, and it was able to replicate the experimental results. This work led us to conclude that the configuration where two rubber plates with different hardness, where the rubber plate with higher hardness is in contact with the tissue paper sheet, has shown to be the best solution to obtain higher softness. These findings support the use of embossing operations rubber rolls with a low hardness internal layer and a high hardness external layer in industry. Thus, finite element models were also shown to be reliable tools to virtually test other configurations, such as, for example, three or more rubber plates with different hardness. Since embossing is one of the tissue paper transformation operations with the greatest impact on the key properties of the final product, this study allows the producer to optimize them by varying the hardness of the rubber roll, as well as its configuration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Improvement in Physical Properties of Paper and Natural Fibers)
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