Development and Properties of Pulp / PLAHigh Performance Paper for Heat Molding

Abstract

A new type of paper, which composition is mixed of PLA and cellulose, was developed through heat molding process in this study. After folding of paper, this high performance paper contained thermoplastic PLA can be molded by heating and produced to the crafts. The properties of paper before and after the heating were examined and the results demonstrated their characteristics with high performance. In particular, the folding test showed that the developed paper was folded easily by hand. From the results of heat shrinkage test, it was also shown that the heat shrinkage ratio of the paper was suppressed by mixing cellulose. When PLA fiber content is lower than 60 wt%, heat shrinkage of the paper does not occur after heating. The results of tensile tests showed that heating increases the tensile strength of the paper and the tensile strength reaches the maximum value at 20 wt% PLA content.