LONG FIBER OF SOME THAI HARDWOOD SPECIES

Abstract

The study of fiber length and quality of some Thai hardwood species was carried out in the pulp and paper laboratory of The Forests Products Department. The main objectives of this study are to test on fiber dimensions and quality of some hardwood species, and the potential of pulp and papermaking of non-commercial and commercial or lesser known species. Information obtained from this study would be great benefits for further forest product research and industrial development.

Evidence from the study shows that, the relative fiber length or slenderness ratio which is the coefficient of the length to the width of the fiber affects the tearing resistance of the pulp sheet. Generally the higher the relative fiber length the higher is the resistance to the tear. The tensile strength of pulp sheets, on the other hand is influenced by: the" flexibility coefficient " which is the ratio of the lumens width to the width of the fiber. The higher this : coefficient the higher is the tensile strength.

Fiber density, the ratio of the cell wall thickness to the fiber diameter represents the combined effects to cell wall thickness and lumens width.  Thick-walled or small-lumened fibers produce bulky sheets of low tensile strength, Furthermore, fiber strength and stiffness of hardwood fibers are highly related to cell wall thickness or area. Results of variability; studies indicate that age determines the fiber length of a species when older trees are used.  The study is significantly found the measures of using long fiber for improving pulp and paper quality and the coefficient of the length to the width of fiber is: likely to be useful for further pulp and paper quality development.