Abstract
Microcrystalline cellulose was dissolved in aqueous NaOH by the freezing-defrosting-diluting procedure, and its never-dried regenerated cellulose gel was prepared from the aqueous NaOH solution. Handsheets were then prepared from mixtures of bleached kraft pulp and the regenerated cellulose gel. Mechanical, optical and sizing properties of the handsheets thus prepared were studied in terms of the regenerated cellulose content. Young's modulus and tensile and tearing indices of the handsheets increased with the regenerated cellulose content from 0 to 10%. Especially, folding endurance drastically increased by the addition of the regenerated cellulose. On the other hand, opacity and sizing degrees decreased with the regenerated cellulose content.
