UNB Scholar Research Repository :: Browsing by Author "Chen, Xiaonan"

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Modification of the tensile strength of cotton fibre paper
(University of New Brunswick, 2012) Chen, Xiaonan; Savidge, Rodney Arthur
In this research, a scientific method based on treating cotton fibre paper strips with solutions prepared from cereal grain extract, citrus peel extract, and conifer bark extract were used to discover if tensile strength of the paper strips could be modified. Tensile strength of strips was significantly increased after treatment with aqueous solutions of either citrus peel or cereal grain extracts. Compared to "control" strips treated with distilled water, tensile strength of strips after treatment with 5% (w/v) boiled-water cereal grain extract and 5% (w/v) cold-water citrus peel extract were 15.166 N/mm2 and 17.965 N/mni2, increasing by 33.35% and 53.77%, respectively. In contrast, tensile strength of strips was significantly weakened following the application of aqueous preparation of conifer bark extract, either in cold water or in boiled-water. Compared to "control" strips, tensile strength of strips after treatment with 20% (w/v) cold-water developing xylem (May 04 2009) was 6.925 N/mm2, decreasing by 39.88%. These findings provide new insight into the molecular bonding imparting tensile strength to cotton fibre paper and the mechanisms regulating cell wall adjustments within the pine cambium during and after wood formation in trees.