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

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

Synthesis and characterization of supramolecular elastomers from polyacids composed of vegetable oils

Supramolecular elastomers were synthesized using vegetable oil materials namely palm acid oil (PAO) and sunflower oil (SFO). The oils were first epoxidized using formic acid and hydrogen peroxide. The epoxidized oils and adipic acid were then reacted to make polyacids, mainly triacid. Finally, diethylenetriamine (DETA) was added to polyacid to yield fatty amide and a polycondensation with urea performed to achieve the desired elastomers. The synthesized materials were characterized by using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Thermogravimetric Analyzer (TGA) in order to determine structure, type of bonding and thermal stability. The spectrums revealed that the synthesized fatty amides are contained amide groups that correctly formed from reaction of amine groups of DETA and acid functionality of polyacids. Moreover, the resulted structures showed the formation of multiple hydrogen-bonding in the elastomers. TGA thermograms clearly indicated good thermal stability of the elastomers to 500 °C

Preparation and characterization of kenaf papers reinforced with tapioca starch: Physicomechanical and morphological properties

The present study reports the preparation and characterization of kenaf papers that reinforced with tapioca starch by using the ammonium zirconium (IV) carbonate as coupling agent. The examination shows the tearing resistance, tensile strength, and Young’s modulus of the kenaf papers are enhanced with the addition of starch and coupling agent, up to 3% and 1%, respectively. Under the optimum formulation, the degree of coupling reaction is 87%. The Fourier transform infrared and morphological analyses confirm the performance enhancement of kenaf papers is achieved via the formation of chemical bonding between the kenaf fiber and tapioca starch