The influences on paper properties by adding Sesbania Grandiflora pulp in old newspaper recycled pulp

Use of secondary fibre, also known as recycled fibre can help to conserve the nature resources and reduces the demand and burden to our environment as production of virgin pulp required deforestation. However, there is an obstacle which secondary fibres might deteriorate each time recycling. Thus, the effect on paper properties by adding Sesbania grandiflora pulp in old newspaper recycled pulp (ONRP) and the paper properties from the paper production of Sesbania grandiflora pulp and ONRP were studied in this research. Sesbania grandiflora virgin pulp was pulped by kraft pulping process. Hand sheet was made by blending with ONRP with unbleached Sesbania grandiflora pulp at ratio of 80:20, 60:40, 40:60 and 20:80. The physical properties such as thickness and mechanical properties such as tensile strength, burst strength, tearing strength and fold endurance of the hand sheet was analyzed in this research according to TAPPI standard. The composition of the ONRP and Sesbania grandiflora pulp significantly affects the properties of the mixed pulp. For the physical properties of hand sheet, the lowest thickness of hand sheet was retained by pulp ratio 40:60. However, this hand sheet illustrated the good formation of paper as addition of 60% of Sesbania grandiflora pulp had increases all the mechanical strength. The mechanical strength relatively decreased upon continuous addition especially during the addition of 80% of Sesbania grandiflora pulp. Based on the overall result, this study can be concluded that the addition of Sesbania grandiflora pulp able to enhance the properties of hand sheet.