Abstract
This study was carried out to develop new application field and obtain the basic data of mixed paper with wood pulp and chitosan fiber for producing functional paper. Two types of wood pulp, such as SwBKP and HwBKP, were mixed with chitosan fiber. Physical and optical properties, water vapor absorption, air permeability, antibacterial activity and ash were measured. And the surface morphology of manufactured paper was observed using SEM. The results are as follows. It was revealed that density, breaking length, burst index, tear index, folding endurance and brightness were reduced but water vapor absorption and air permeability were on the rise in the structural view of SwBKP according to increasing the chitosan fiber ratio. Those HwBKP added chitosan fiber were great not only in the strength but also water vapor absorption and air permeability except for brightness. The water vapor absorption was lower and the air permeability was higher in the HwBKP added various chitosan fiber ratios than those with no chitosan fiber. It is estimated that these properties were related with various mixed rate of chitosan fiber. Particularly, air permeability was strongly dependent on the mixed rate of chitosan fiber. The chitosan fiber has superior antibacterial property, comparing with wood fiber. Adding chitosan fiber to the wood pulp was found to have an excellent antibacterial activity, more than 90%. The ashes were determined within 0.5%. Special bonds between chitosan fiber and wood pulp was observed by SEM and it means that the chitosan fiber were combined equally in the interior of wood pulp. In conclusion, mixing wood pulp with chitosan fiber can not only improves the quality of paper but also extend the usage of paper as a functional paper by using inherent property of chitosan. After all, production of functional paper added chitosan fiber is expected for new valuable industry of paper.