• Journal of Korea Technical Association of The Pulp and Paper Industry
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.61-66
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• 2010

Corn stalk, one of the most abundant agricultural residue in the world, was examined in this study to use it as an alternative fiber source of wood fiber. In order to find the proper way to utilize corn stalk more efficiently, the morphological properties and the papermaking properties of the, bast fibers and the corn pith, were evaluated respectively. Although the bast fiber fraction showed comparable properties to those for hardwoods in the fiber properties and the papermaking properties, the pith resulted in low brightness and low drainage rate. But the short and flexible fibers in pith fraction led to dense and compact handsheet structure, correspondingly the higher sheet strength. There big differences in properties between bast fiber and pith should be considered for the fully utilization of corn stalk.