Effect of beating on recycled properties of unbleached eucalyptus cellulose fiber

The effects of beating on recycled properties of eucalyptus cellulose fiber were studied by analyzing the changes of morphological parameters (fiber length and the fines content), physical properties (tensile strength, breaking length and the stretch), WRV, crystal structure of cellulose and pore structure of cellulose fiber. The results showed that beating caused the fine content increase. Tensile strength, breaking length and the stretch increased with the increasing beating time. WRV of the first cycle beaten eucalyptus pulp was increased by 32.1%, compared to the first cycle unbeaten pulp. WRV increased with the increase in beating degree. However, crystallinity of cellulose increased, and then decreased with an increase in beating degree. FTIR spectra showed that there were no drastic changes in the functional groups of the eucalyptus pulp cellulose during beating. Fiber pore size was gradually diverted into macropore with the increase in beating degree, resulting in the mean pore volume increased. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.