Production of handicraft paper from cotton rags

Abstract

The main objective of this research project was to develop processes of making handicraft paper from cotton rags as alternative raw materials instead of mulberry; as the cost of mulberry increases steady and it has to be imported from neighboring countries, whereas cotton rags are abundant in Thailand because of ever-growing fashion industries. Replacing mulberry with cotton as raw material could help reducing cost of handicraft paper production and creating new pattern on handicraft paper to further use in producing other handcraft products. It was found from this study that the optimum condition of stock preparation in order to produce handicraft paper from cotton rags was using Valley Beater with 6 kilogram of weight plate for 20 minute. It was discovered that cotton fiber had good distribution without adding dispersing agents with freeness of 252 ml. At this condition, stock could be formed into plain paper sheet with ease and suitable to be used in producing pattern paper sheet with water pressure technique. The properties of laboratory paper sample were as follows Apparent density 5.90 g/cm³, Tensile index 0.027 Nm/g, Tear index 8.74 mNm²/g and Burst index 1.60 kPam²/g. These properties indicated that pulp and handicraft paper made from cotton rags had good physical properties as the Entrepreneurs are satisfied and the paper can improve their properties according to the standards of the Industrial Standards Institute. Cotton rags could be used as alternative raw materials in handicraft paper making industry.