Proportion of raw material optimisation in handicraft paper making made of Pinang fibre (Areca catechu I.) and old corrugated cardboard (used cardboard)

摘要

Betel nut ( Areca catechu L. ) fibre is regarded as waste containing of 70.2% cellulose, 10.92% water, and 6.02% ash. In direct utilisation of areca nut, certain innovation is required, one of which is to make handicraft paper. This research aims to determine the proportion of raw materials which are suitable in the process of handicraft paper making to produce optimal physical quality. The research was conducted by applying the response surface methodology using two factors, which are the proportion of areca nut and used cardboard paper, involving the 13 treatments with responses: grammature, tensile strength, tear strength, and water absorbency. The optimal results chosen are handicraft paper formula with 55.74% proportion of areca fibre and 50% of used cardboard with desirability value of 0.807 and 240 g/m~(2)grammature value, 26.0589 kN/m~(2)tensile strength, 498,401 gf tear strength, and 28,935% water absorbency.