Research ArticlePhysical and Tensile Properties of Handmade Sidarhombifolia Paper

P. W. Huisken Mejouyo ,1,2 E. Dydimus Nkemaja,1,2 O. R. Beching,1,2

N. R. Sikame Tagne ,2,3 T. Kana’a,1 and E. Njeugna 1,2

1Laboratory of Mechanics (LM), ENSET-University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon2Laboratory of Mechanics and Appropriate Materials (LAMMA), University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon3Industrial Systems and Environmental Engineering Laboratory (UR-ISIE), IUT/FV Bandjoun-University of Dschang,Dschang, Cameroon

Correspondence should be addressed to P. W. Huisken Mejouyo; huiskenwilliam@gmail.com

Received 16 April 2020; Revised 13 June 2020; Accepted 25 June 2020; Published 14 July 2020

Academic Editor: Vijaya Kumar Rangari

Copyright © 2020 P.W.HuiskenMejouyo et al.-is is an open access article distributed under theCreative CommonsAttributionLicense, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work isproperly cited.

-is study focuses on the production and characterization of biodegradable handmade paper from the Sida rhombifolia plant(SRP) cellulose. Sida rhombifolia plant is a seasonal plant that grows in the equatorial and tropical climates.-e studies carried outon this SRP were aimed at investigating the methods required for the production of handmade paper from SRP plant and also atdetermining the tensile strength. Four specimens of SRP paper of different additive labels S0 (no additive), S1 (starch and KOH),S2 (starch), and S3 (Foska liquid glue) were produced using the Kraft method. Tensile properties (stress at break, elongation atbreak, and Young’s modulus), the rate of water absorption, and the rate of moisture absorption were carried out. Results showedthat the addition of potassium hydroxide considerably reduces Young’s modulus of SRP handmade paper (S1) while the Foskaliquid glue (S3) significantly improves it. In addition, the addition of potassium hydroxide and Foska liquid substantially improvesthe water absorption properties of the paper S2 and S3, respectively. -e adhesive liquid creates more porosity and consequentlyincreases the absorption of water. -e addition of potassium hydroxide and Foska liquid significantly embedded the rate ofmoisture absorption. From the results obtained, it can be concluded that the paper S3 can be used as packaging paper since it hasbetter mechanical properties and moisture absorption.

1. Introduction

According to some research studies on the suitability ofaquatic plant fibres for handmade papermaking [1], in manycountries, quantities of available wood are insufficient tomeet the requirements and demands of pulp and paperespecially in Mediterranean countries like Spain, Italy, andGreece. In Malaysia, over one million tons of papers wereproduced in 2005 according to Roda and Rathi [2]. -iswould mean that more tropical trees need to be felled tosustain papermaking industry to meet the paper require-ment and demand. -e felling down of more tropical treescauses deforestation and loss of rainforest. To reduce the lossof rainforests, an attempt was made to find the alternative

source of fibre for paper. Some alternatives have been used toreplace the wood fibre with non-wood-derived fibresaccording to Enayati et al. [3], from agriculture residues suchas wheat and rice straw, sorghum stalks, jute, and hemp forpaper production. Another alternative source of fibres forpaper production is from aquatic plants found in lakes,ditches, rivers, ponds, and estuaries. -ey have short lifecycle, grow massively, and due to their abundance can causeproblems in irrigation channels and water bodies accordingto the authors in [4, 5].

Handmade paper industry is an environmentallyfriendly and very promising industry for local entrepre-neurship. Still in the alternative to replace wood fibre forpaper production, Sida rhombifolia plant (SRP) cellulose will

HindawiInternational Journal of BiomaterialsVolume 2020, Article ID 3967641, 8 pageshttps://doi.org/10.1155/2020/3967641

be used as nonwood plant for papermaking. -is plant isavailable in almost of all the ten regions of Cameroon. Manyauthors present Sida rhombifolia as a plant with extraor-dinary medical properties [6–8], notably extracts fromstems, leaves, and roots. Unfortunately, in the absence of alocal pharmaceutical industry exploiting these extracts, itwas impossible for us to work with waste. So, we workedwith crushed stems. Hence, the objectives of this study are toproduce paper from SRP and characterize this paper. -ederived values from the test shall follow TAPPI [9] and ISOstandards. More so, the handmade paper produced fromselected Sida rhombifolia plant (SRP) will be subjected tosome mechanical (tensile strength) and physicochemical(water and moisture absorption) tests for quality control.Studies have been done on the characterization of fibre fromthe stem of Sida rhombifolia [10] and this paper is focused onthe production of paper from the entire plant excluding theleaves and roots.

2. Materials and Method

2.1. Sida rhombifolia Plant. -e material used for thepulping is SRP harvested in Bamenda, a town in thenorthwest region of Cameroon. -e harvested plant hadstems and branches of about 30mm of diameters. Leaveswere removed from the stems and branches and thenchopped into lengths of about 40mm and dried for twoweeks (Figure 1). -e dried stems were ground into finechips.

-e chemical composition of the Sida rhombifolia plant(SRP) fibre (Table 1) is cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin,which plays the role of adhesive. Cellulose and hemicelluloseare the principal elements constituting pulp and paper.

2.2. Method for Pulp Production. -e method of pulp andpaper production that has drawn our attention was theKraft method [11].-is method allows us, according to theliterature review, to obtain a high strength paper. -eKraft method (sulfate process) is a transformation ofwood into wood pulp, which has pure cellulose as aprincipal element. -e Kraft method uses wood chips witha hot mixture of water, sodium hydroxide, and sodiumsulfate (Table 2) that breaks the bonds which linkhemicellulose, lignin, and cellulose. According toMcDougall et al. [12], the Kraft method produces paperswith increased fibre strength and density and low elec-trical conductivity [11].

2.3. SRP Handmade Paper Production. -e production ofSRP paper was done in two ways:

(i) -e pulp was mixed with some additives in two litresof fresh distilled water and poured in a mould of317× 230× 3mm and then agitated for about 10 to15min for evenly distribution of the pulp on themould and then about 65% of water was drained(Figure 2(a)). And after, it is dried in an oven at 45°Cfor 72 hours and then removed to obtain paper

(ii) About 80% of water was removed by squeezing thepulp to have a paste, and then the paste is mixed withsome additives and spread in a mould of317× 230× 3mm to be laminated with a roller toobtain a uniform thickness all through (Figure 2(b))and then dried for 72 hours at 45°C in an oven.

Table 3 summarizes some volumes and masses of ad-ditives used in the production of paper.

2.4. Determination of Grammage, Density, and MicroscopicObservation of the SRP Handmade Paper. Grammage isdefined as the weight in grams per unit area of paper orboard expressed as g/m2. Grammage and thickness aresignificant properties in the sale and use of the paperproduct.

According to ISO 186 [9], grammage (g/m2) of a paperor paperboard can be calculated as follows:

g �m

A× 106, (1)

where m is the mass of the specimen in grams and A is theaverage area of the specimen in square millimetres. Densityaccording to ISO 186 is determined using the followingequation [9]:

ρ �m

V× 109, (2)

where m is the mass of the specimen in grams and V is theaverage volume of the specimen. We also observed themicroscopic structure of SRP handmade paper using theCelestron LCD Digital Microscope with 200x magnification.

2.5. Tensile Test of the SRPHandmade Paper. -e sample teststrips were sized according to ISO 1924-1, ISO 1924-2, andTechnical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry(TAPPI T 404) standards for tensile testing of paper andpaperboard [13].

-e samples were designed using the followingdimensions:

(i) Jaw holding length up and down (b) � 20mm(ii) Test length (L) � 100mm(iii) Width (w) � 15mm

Figure 1: Chop dried stems (SRP).

2 International Journal of Biomaterials

A tensile test was carried out using a specific tensile testmachine for natural fibres and paper made in our laboratory[14]. It enabled to make the static tensile testing of fibres orpaper samples whose length is between 10 and 250mm. It isequipped with a load cell and allowed a gradual loading insteps of 0.25N to a maximum capacity of 25N. -e fourspecimens produced, namely, S0, S1, S2, and S3 each had 10test samples which were mounted in the upper mobile anddown fixed jaws of the tensile test equipment. -e appli-cation of load F is done until the rupture occurs.

-e test values of the four specimen labels S0, S1, S2, andS3 allow us to plot a strain-stress diagram of each sample.

2.6. Water Absorption Test of the SRP Handmade Paper.-ewater absorption test was made by immersion accordingto T 491 concerning the water immersion number of pa-perboard [15]. -is test method is used for unsized paper

(less or greater than 25× 20mm� 500mm2) and paperboardhaving relatively high water sorption (noncoated paper).Here, the paper samples were weighed on an electronicbalance for initial mass to be recorded and then were im-mersed in distilled water of 300ml, and after 1min, thesample was removed and placed in between two sheets ofpaper on a horizontal flat surface and then a roller of mass500 g is rolled over once to remove the water on the twosurfaces of the immerse sample (Figure 3). -en, the samplewas weighed again and the mass was recorded. -e exercisecontinues until the weight is stable.

-e values obtained were for 10 samples of each spec-imen made. -ese values were recorded and the mass ratiowas calculated and plotted against time to observe thesorption behaviour of the samples.

-e values that shall be calculated here are as follows[16]:

MR �Mt − Mi

Mf − Mi

,

WR �Mf –Mi

Mi

× 100,

(3)

where MR is the mass ratio;Mt is the mass at time t;Mf is thefinal stable mass during the test;Mi is the initial mass beforethe test; WR is the water absorption rate.

Table 2: Materials used in the pulping (Kraft process).

Raw material Process Chemical used Conditions

Dried fine chips of SRP (100 g) Open cooking (2 hours)On electric cooker

20% NaOH18% Na2S

1500ml of HO2

Wash in 10 L of freshwater and blending

(a) (b)

Figure 2: Paper production methods: (a) pulp in soluble state poured in the mould and (b) laminating pulp in the mould.

Table 1: Chemical composition of Sida rhombifolia fibre [10].

Cellulose (%) Hemicellulose (%) Lignin (%) Wax (%) Moisture content (%) Density (kg/m3) Ash (%)75.09 15.43 7.48 0.49 12.02 1320 4.07

Table 3: Additive mixed with SRP pulp for paper production.

Specimens (S) 2% starch 4% KOH Foska liquid glue (300ml)S0 No No NoS1 Yes Yes NoS2 Yes No NoS3 No No Yes

International Journal of Biomaterials 3

2.7. Moisture Absorption Test on the SPR Handmade Paper.-e moisture absorption test was done here with respect toTAPPI standard T 402 with the relative humidity (RH) of74.0± 2.0%.

Our samples were preconditioned in an oven at 23°C for24 hours and then removed and put in a saturated sodiumchloride (NaCl) container isolated from RH greater than50.0%. -ese samples’ weight shall then be measured on anelectronic balance every hour until the weight becomesstable. -e results obtained will be tabulated and a log timegraph was plotted to show the increase of weight.

-ese values were recorded and a mass ratio was cal-culated and plotted against time to observe the moistureabsorption behaviour of the specimens.

-e values that shall be calculated here are as follows:

MR �Mt − M0

MSf − M0,

HR �Mf –Mi

Mi

× 100,

(4)

where HR is the humidity absorption rate.

3. Result and Discussion

3.1. Pulp and Paper Obtained. Kraft method was used toobtain paper pulp. -e two shaping methods allowed us toobtain different papers (S0, S1, S2, and S3) by incorporatingthe different additives as shown in Table 3.

-e results of the paper obtained are presented inFigure 4.

3.2. Physical Properties of Our Samples. Microscopic ob-servations made using Celestron LCD Digital Microscopewith 200x magnification are shown in Figure 5. Table 4presents the thickness, density, and grammage of SRPhandmade paper.

Microscopic observations highlight a random fibrousstructure. -e presence of numerous micropores in thestructure of the paper was noticed. Structurally, it seems to

have no significant difference from one type of paper toanother.

From Table 4, according to ISO standards for paper andpaperboard, packaging paper thickness is above 0.30mmand the grammage is above 200 g/m2; therefore, all ourspecimens’ papers could be used for packaging.

3.3. Tensile Properties of SRP Handmade Paper. -e tensiletest curves for the different papers are shown in Figure 6.

-ese curves highlight the brittle behaviour for all paperspecimens.-e different mechanical characteristics obtainedfrom the tensile test, notably the elongation at break, thestress at break, and Young’s modulus, are summarized inFigures 7–9.

It is noticed in Figure 7 that starch and potassium hy-droxide do not have a significant effect on the elongation atbreak (S0, S1, and S2). Furthermore, the addition of theliquid adhesive Foska improves significantly (approximatelytwice) the elongation at break (S3).

It can be seen in Figure 8 that the potassium hydroxidenegatively affects the tensile strength (S1) while the Foskaliquid glue significantly (substantially by four) improves it(S3). Starch does not have a significant effect on the tensilestrength (S2).

It is noticed in Figure 9 that the addition of potassiumhydroxide considerably reduces Young’s modulus of SRPhandmade paper (S1) while the Foska liquid glue (S3)significantly improves it (around 38%). Furthermore, theaddition of 2% starch (S2) has no effect on Young’smodulus. Moreover, the Kraft method retains only cel-lulose. However, recent studies [18, 19] proved thathemicellulose acts as a binding agent and increases thestrength of the paper. -is might be one of the reasons thatthe lack of binding agent (S0) showed poor resultscompared with the paper with adhesive (S3). Foska liquidglue certainly acts as a binder between cellulose micro-fibrils and improves internal cohesion. -is may explainthat the mechanical performance of S3 paper is better.Starch also plays the role of the binder but with weakcohesion forces. It is easy to understand why S3 is moreresistant than papers containing starch (S1 and S2).

(a) (b) (c)

(d) (e)

Figure 3: Water absorption test: (a) immerse sample, (b) sample placed on a dry sheet, (c) sample in between dry sheets of paper, (d)removing saturated water on the sample, and (e) weighing of the sample.

4 International Journal of Biomaterials

Potassium hydroxide would have a weakening effect oncellulose microfibers and therefore generate a poor level ofresistance.

3.4. Result and Discussion for Water Absorption Test Done.-e different curves of the water absorption ratio are pre-sented in Figure 10.

(a) (b) (c) (d)

Figure 4: Samples of the paper obtained.

(a) (b)

(c) (d)

Figure 5: Microscopic observation of SRP handmade paper: (a) S0, (b) S1, (c) S2, and (d) S3.

Table 4: Physical properties of our specimens compared to ISO standards.

Specimen properties ISO standards (paper and paperboard forpackaging) [17]

Specimen -ickness (mm) Density (g/cm3) Grammage (g/m2) -ickness (mm) Grammage (g/m2)S0 0.92 0.22 206.5

>0.30mm >200 g/m2S1 1.03 0.30 310. 2S2 1.01 0.36 361.1S3 1.45 0.31 447.7

International Journal of Biomaterials 5

It can be seen in Figure 10 that all the paper sampleshave two phases of water absorption. During the firstminute, the absorption is very fast. -en the absorption

becomes slow and all the samples reach saturation aroundthe fourth minute. Figure 11 shows different water ab-sorption rates.

Figure 11 shows that the addition of starch and potas-sium hydroxide (S2) substantially improves the water ab-sorption properties of the paper while the addition of starchalone (S1) has no noticeable effect. On the other hand, theaddition of Foska liquid glue (S3) causes a great absorptionof water. -e liquid adhesive is certainly degraded by water,which creates more porosity and consequently increases theabsorption of water.

3.5. Result and Discussion for Humidity Test Done. -edifferent curves of the humidity absorption ratio are pre-sented in Figure 12.

Figure 12 shows that moisture absorption is slower thanthe absorption of water although it is always made in twophases: the absorption phase proper, which takes placeduring the first four hours, and then the stabilization phase,which ends around the seventh hour.

S0S1

S2S3

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

σ (N

/mm

2 )

0.01 0.02 0.03 0.04 0.05 0.060ε (mm/mm)

Figure 6: Summary graph of the 4 SRP handmade paperspecimens.

0.015 0.013 0.011

0.029

Paper specimens

S0S1

S2S3

0.000

0.005

0.010

0.015

0.020

0.025

0.030

0.035

Brea

king

elon

gatio

n (m

m/m

m)

Figure 7: Breaking elongation of the 4 SRP handmade paperspecimens.

0.350.17

0.39

1.22

Paper specimens 0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

1.40

Tens

ile st

reng

th (M

Pa)

S0S1

S2S3

Figure 8: Tensile strength of the 4 SRP handmade paper specimens.

31.62

11.79

30.42

43.24

Paper specimens 05

101520253035404550

Youn

g m

odul

us (M

Pa)

S0S1

S2S3

Figure 9: Young’s modulus of the 4 SRP handmade Paperspecimens.

S0S1

S2S3

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

Mas

s rat

io (g

/g)

2 4 6 80Time t (min)

Figure 10: Summary graph of water absorption mass ratio of thespecimens.

6 International Journal of Biomaterials

Figure 13 shows that the addition of starch and/or potassiumhydroxide as well as Foska liquid glue improves the resistance tohumidity. As the absorption ofmoisture takes placemore slowly,there is no degradation of the liquid adhesive, and consequently,the humidity has little effect on the paper sample S3.

4. Conclusion

-is research work investigates the possibility of manuallymade paper from the stems of Sida rhombifolia. Somephysical (grammage and density) properties of this paperallow us to position it with regard to the ISO standard (ISO536) applicable in this field as packaging paper. -e me-chanical properties permit us to define the resistance class ofthis paper although it can be improved. In addition, thesorption properties of the paper have been measured andallow us to conclude that by reducing the thickness, we caneasily use it as a coffee filter since it does not disintegrate oncontact with water. -is paper and in particular that of classS3 can be used as packaging paper since it has better me-chanical properties and lower moisture absorption com-pared to the other paper samples. Other tests may be carriedout in future work to better assess the properties and the useof this paper.

Data Availability

-e data used to support the findings of this study areavailable from the corresponding author upon request.

Conflicts of Interest

-e authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

References

[1] N. Bidin, M. H. Zakaria, J. S. Bujang, and N. A. A. Aziz,“Suitability of aquatic plant fibers for handmade papermak-ing,” International Journal of Polymer Science, vol. 2015,Article ID 165868, 9 pages, 2015.

[2] J. M. Roda and S. S. Rathi, Feeding China’s Expanding Demandfor Wood Pulp: A Diagnostic Assessment of Plantation De-velopment, Fiber Supply, and Impacts on Natural Forests in,Center for International Forestry Research, Bogor, Indonesia,2005.

[3] A. A. Enayati, Y. Hamzeh, S. Ahmad Mirshokraie, andM. Molaii, “Papermaking potential of canola stalks,” Bio-Resources, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 245–256, 2009.

[4] S. Banerjee and B. V. Sankar, “Mechanical properties of hybridcomposites using finite element method based micro-mechanics,” Composites Part B: Engineering, vol. 58,pp. 318–327, 2014.

[5] L. Lancar and K. Krake, Aquatic Weeds and =eir Manage-ment, International Comission on Irrigation and Drainage,New Delhi, India, 2002.

[6] M. E. Islam, M. E. Haque, and M. A. Mosaddik, “Cytotoxicityand antibacterial activity of Sida rhombifolia (malvaceae)grown in Bangladesh,” Phytotherapy Research: PTR, vol. 17,no. 8, pp. 973–975, 2003.

[7] S. H.Mah, S. S. Teh, and G. C. L. Ee, “Anti-inflammatory, anti-cholinergic and cytotoxic effects of Sida rhombifolia,” Phar-maceutical Biology, vol. 55, no. 1, pp. 920–928, 2017.

[8] D. Efeze, N. Akono, N. Azeteh Ignatius, N. Ebenezer, M. Babu,and Z. Rodulf, “Studies ON anti-bacterial bacterial propertiesOF SIDARHOMBIFOLIA plant,” International Journal ofCurrent Research, vol. 10, no. 10, pp. 74412–74415, 2018.

[9] H. Holik,Handbook of Paper and Board, WILEY-VCHVerlagGmbH & Co, Weinheim, Germany, 2006.

306.58 293.19

178.13

375.12

Paper specimens

S0S1

S2S3

050

100150200250300350400450

Wat

er ab

sorp

tion

rate

(%)

Figure 11: Water absorption rates of the 4 specimens.

S0S1

S2S3

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

MR

(g/g

)

2 4 6 80T (hr)

Figure 12: Moisture absorption curves of the 4 specimens.

100.40

49.35 45.91

31.63

Paper specimens0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Moi

sture

abso

rptio

n ra

te (%

)

S0S1

S2S3

Figure 13: Bar chart of moisture absorbency of the specimens.

International Journal of Biomaterials 7

[10] R. Gopinath, K. Ganesan, S. S. Saravanakumar, andR. Poopathi, “Characterization of new cellulosic fiber from thestem ofSida rhombifolia,” International Journal of PolymerAnalysis and Characterization, vol. 21, no. 2, pp. 123–129,2016.

[11] R. E. Fogue, Physical Testing of Paper. Shawbury, Shrewsbury,Smithers Pira, Shropshire, UK, 2017.

[12] G. J. McDougall, I. M. Morrison, D. Stewart, J. D. B. Weyers,and J. R. Hillman, “Plant fibres: botany, chemistry and pro-cessing for industrial use,” Journal of the Science of Food andAgriculture, vol. 62, no. 1, pp. 1–20, 1993.

[13] TAPPI, Tensile Properties of Paper and Paperboard (UsingConstant Rate of Elongation Apparatus) (Revision of T 494Om-01), U.S.A. TAPPI Press, Peachtree Corners, GA, USA,2006.

[14] P. W. Huisken Mejouyo, O. Harzallah, N. R. Sikame Tagneet al., “Physical and mechanical characterization of severalvarieties of oil palm mesocarp fibers using different cross-sectional assumptions,” Journal of Natural Fibers, 2019.

[15] TAPPI, Water Immersion Number of Paperboard (Revision ofT 491 Om-04), U.S.A. TAPPI Press, Peachtree Corners, GA,USA, 2013.

[16] D. Ee, E. Njeugna, N. R. Sikame et al., “Experimental study ofthe water absorption kinetics of the coconut shells (nucifera)of cameroun,” Materials Sciences and Applications, vol. 7,no. 3, pp. 159–170, 2016.

[17] K. K. Ajibesin, “Herbal medicine: evidential, experiential,circumstantial,” Niger Delta Medical Journal, vol. 1, no. 2,pp. 40–62, 2017.

[18] G. Hu, S. Fu, and H. Liu, “Hemicellulose in pulp affects paperproperties and printability,” Appita Journal, vol. 66, no. 2,pp. 139–144, 2013.

[19] W. Farhat, R. Venditti, A. Quick et al., “Hemicellulose ex-traction and characterization for applications in paper coat-ings and adhesives,” Industrial Crops and Products, vol. 107,pp. 370–377, 2017.

8 International Journal of Biomaterials