Study of the Luffa Cylindrica, Part II: Pulp Elaboration and Paper Characterization

Abstract

This study was devoted to the development of pulp Luffa Cclindrica and its characterization paper (annual plant fiber of the family Cucurbitaceae). Baking at soda helps to achieve a high level of delignification (Kappa ≤ 10) and high yield (≈ 67%).The beatability stack Valley is comparable to refined wood fibers, the fibers develop a normally time with good hydrophilic properties without excessive morphological variations. The Comparing to the same level of physical properties of refining pulp Luffa cylindrica with different pulps annual plants (straw, bagasse or kenaf), obtained by different processes, shows good mechanical properties of the fibers, in addition its behavior would tend to approach more the hardwood pulps. The measured thermal conductivity on the handsheets Luffa Cylindrica was found equal to 0.112 W / m K, value being also in the rather broad range of the data of the literature on different types of pulp, between 0.1 and 0.2 W / m K.

Keywords

• luffa cylindrica
• soda pulping
• mechanical properties
• optical properties
• thermal conductivity