Q.1036: What makes cellulose fiber suitable for papermaking?
Ans. The following techno-economical reason make cellulose fiber suitable for
paper making.
Economical
Cellulose fiber is main constituent of all plant material. Plants are
renewable source and available abundantly in nature.
Papermaker don't need prime parts of tree/plant to make paper. Wood
scrap, saw mill waste, agricultural residue, straw, grasses and/or rag
are acceptable source of virgin fiber.
Cellulose fiber is reusable/ recyclable to any extent.
Cellulose fiber is bio-degradable.
Technical
Lignin, which cement/ glue individual fibers in plant is physically and
chemically weaker than cellulose fiber, making separation of fiber possible
by mechanical and or chemical means.
Cellulose fiber is made of multilayer of very small thread like
structure called fibrils. These fibrils can be exposed by beating/ refining
of fibers and provide very large area for bonding.
The most important characteristic of fiber which make it suitable for
papermaking is that cellulose fiber develop physical and chemical bonding
with other fibers when it change from wet to dry condition.