Physcial and Fiber Properties of TMP and CTMP from Kenaf Cultivated at Reclaimed Land of Korea

Fiber characteristics and fiber distribution of thermomechanical pulp(TMP), bisulfite chemithermomechanical pulp(bisulfite CTMP), neutral sulfite chemithermomechanical pulp(neutral sulfite CTMP) from kenaf(Hibiscus cannabinus L., Malvaceae) cultivar Tainug-2 cultivated in the reclaimed land of Korea were examined to use effectively nonwood fibers as an alternative raw material sources for papermaking. Yields of TMP and CTMP from kenaf were lower than those of TMP from hardwoods and CTMP from softwoods and hardwoods. Bark fibers of kenaf cultivar Tainung-2 ranged 2.04 to 2.30 mm long and $18.7{\sim}19.7{\mu}m$ width. Core fibers averaged 0.63 to 0.80 mm long and $29.5{\sim}31.4{\mu}m$ wide. Coarseness of bark fiber was higher than that of core fiber, and fiber from TMP were higher than those from both bisulfite CTMP and neutral sulfite CTMP. Curl indexes of bark fibers were higher than those of core fibers. However curl indexes were not significantly affected by the pulping conditions. Short fiber distributions were higher in core fibers from TMP and CTMP and long fiber distributions were higher in bark fibers. There was no significant difference in fiber distribution of whole and core fibers obtained from TMP and CTMP, Fibers from neutral sulfite CTMP, however, exhibited a little higher long fiber distribution. Distinct difference in anatomical characteristics was found between core and bast fibers of kenaf plant. Parenchyma cell, pith parenchyma cell and vessel were observed in core fibers and bast fiber in bast sections.