Characteristics of microfibrillated cellulosic fibers and paper sheets from Korean white pine

Microfibrillated cellulosic fibrous product was successfully obtained from Korean white pine (Pinus koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc.) by using two alternative pretreatments (steam and ozone treatments) followed by disk milling (DM). The steam and ozone treatments were effective in extracting some of the hemicelluloses and degrading lignin, respectively, with both types of treatment resulting in the improvement of mechanical fibrillation as a result of loosening of the cell wall structure. The obtained products showed nanoscopic fibrous morphology even though hemicelluloses and lignin components remained. The specific surface area and filtration time were increased using the DM treatment after both treatments, and the values increased further with longer periods of DM. The paper sheets of the fibrillated products after both the alternative treatments had higher tensile properties at the same DM time scale than the sheets of the products obtained without treatment. Tensile strength was further increased by increasing sheet density showing the highest tensile strength and modulus of 125 MPa and 20 GPa, respectively.