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Inhibition of hornification in simao pine fibers and recycled paper with different beating degrees by microwave expansion treatment

  • Zinuo Meng , Jizhen Huang ORCID logo EMAIL logo , Liangliang An , Changrong Shi , Ya Zhang , Wanruo Lei and Yuxin Liu ORCID logo EMAIL logo
Published/Copyright: August 13, 2025
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Nordic Pulp & Paper Research Journal
From the journal Nordic Pulp & Paper Research Journal Volume 40 Issue 4

Abstract

Pulp and paper industry, though vital, strains forest resources, highlighting the importance of alternative materials and waste paper recycling. This study explores how beating degree and microwave expansion affect Simao pine fibers and recycled paper. Beating damages fiber cell walls, enhancing water-related and fibrillation abilities, increasing fine fiber content and water retention, and boosting paper tensile strength (from 11.5 kN/m at 13°SR to 48.45 kN/m at 62°SR), but over-beating weakens fibers. More recycling cycles reduce mechanical strength (except tear index). Microwave expansion improves fiber water retention and fine fiber content; 13°SR un-beaten fibers see 49.34 % more fiber-fiber bonds. Recycled paper with microwave-expanded fibers has stronger bonds. For example, 24°SR microwave-expanded paper after three cycles has 39.83 % higher tensile strength than conventional paper, and secondary expansion makes 13°SR paper after three cycles 51.82 % stronger. The study, by reducing hornification via microwave puffing and improving fiber water retention, provides theoretical and technical support for better waste paper recycling efficiency.

Keywords: simao pine fiber; beating degree; microwave expansion; fiber properties; recycled paper characteristics
Corresponding authors: Jizhen Huang and Yuxin Liu, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, 650500, China, E-mail: (J. Huang), (Y. Liu)

Funding source: Yunnan Fundamental Research Projects

Award Identifier / Grant number: No. 202501AS070003

Funding source: National Natural Science Foundation of China

Award Identifier / Grant number: No. 22178155

Funding source: Analysis and Testing Foundation of Kunming University of Science and Technology

Award Identifier / Grant number: No. 2024T20230145

Funding source: National Natural Science Foundation of China

Award Identifier / Grant number: Unassigned

Funding source: Kunming University of Science and Technology

Award Identifier / Grant number: Unassigned

  1. Research ethics: Not applicable.

  2. Informed consent: Not applicable.

  3. Author contributions: All authors have accepted responsibility for the entire content of this manuscript and approved its submission. Zinuo Meng: Writing – original draft, Methodology, Formal analysis, Data curation. Jizhen Huang: Writing – review & editing, Investigation. Liangliang An: Formal analysis, Data curation. Changrong Shi: Formal analysis. Ya Zhang: Data curation. Wanruo Lei: Methodology. Yuxin Liu: Supervision, Funding acquisition, Conceptualization.

  4. Use of Large Language Models, AI and Machine Learning Tools: None declared.

  5. Conflict of interest: The authors state no conflict of interest.

  6. Research funding: This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 22178155), the Yunnan Fundamental Research Projects (No. 202501AS070003), the Analysis and Testing Foundation of Kunming University of Science and Technology (No. 2024T20230145) and the project supported by “Xing Dian Ying Cai” programme of Yunnan province.

  7. Data availability: Not applicable.

–Highlights

  1. Microwave expansion enhances untreated fiber fines and bonding capacity.

  2. Recycled paper strength boosted via secondary microwave treatment.

  3. Optimal beating degree maximizes paper mechanical performance.

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Supplementary Material

This article contains supplementary material (https://doi.org/10.1515/npprj-2025-0025).

Received: 2025-04-23
Accepted: 2025-07-31
Published Online: 2025-08-13
Published in Print: 2025-12-17

© 2025 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Chemical Pulping
  3. Alkali-extracted spruce bark residues for pulping and making of pulp sheets
  4. Applications of cationic bamboo fibers for the effective reinforcements of secondary fibers
  5. Paper Technology
  6. Improving hydrophobicity and mechanical strength of rice straw paper using chitosan nanoparticles and beeswax coatings
  7. Extended wet pressing at elevated temperature enables enhanced dewatering for tissue and linerboard
  8. Tissue paper from cabbage leaf – waste paper mixtures
  9. Inhibition of hornification in simao pine fibers and recycled paper with different beating degrees by microwave expansion treatment
  10. Preparation of mycelium paper sheets and study on their adsorption properties
  11. Paper Physics
  12. Influence of the hybrid effect on the mechanical properties of pulp molds
  13. Paper Chemistry
  14. Response surface methodology optimization and anti-age properties in paper protection of carboxymethyl cellulose grafted with β –cyclodextrin
  15. Printing
  16. Green innovations in natural paper ink: trends, applications, and future prospects
  17. Packaging
  18. Advanced moisture strategy for expanded formability in paper-based packaging
  19. Production of packaging paper from Populus deltoides NSSC pulp reinforced with rice straw cellulose nanofibrils
  20. Environmental Impact
  21. Treatment of regenerated papermaking wastewater by sequencing batch moving bed biofilm reactor and kinetics study
https://doi.org/10.1515/npprj-2025-0025
Keywords for this article
simao pine fiber; beating degree; microwave expansion; fiber properties; recycled paper characteristics

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Frontmatter
  2. Chemical Pulping
  3. Alkali-extracted spruce bark residues for pulping and making of pulp sheets
  4. Applications of cationic bamboo fibers for the effective reinforcements of secondary fibers
  5. Paper Technology
  6. Improving hydrophobicity and mechanical strength of rice straw paper using chitosan nanoparticles and beeswax coatings
  7. Extended wet pressing at elevated temperature enables enhanced dewatering for tissue and linerboard
  8. Tissue paper from cabbage leaf – waste paper mixtures
  9. Inhibition of hornification in simao pine fibers and recycled paper with different beating degrees by microwave expansion treatment
  10. Preparation of mycelium paper sheets and study on their adsorption properties
  11. Paper Physics
  12. Influence of the hybrid effect on the mechanical properties of pulp molds
  13. Paper Chemistry
  14. Response surface methodology optimization and anti-age properties in paper protection of carboxymethyl cellulose grafted with β –cyclodextrin
  15. Printing
  16. Green innovations in natural paper ink: trends, applications, and future prospects
  17. Packaging
  18. Advanced moisture strategy for expanded formability in paper-based packaging
  19. Production of packaging paper from Populus deltoides NSSC pulp reinforced with rice straw cellulose nanofibrils
  20. Environmental Impact
  21. Treatment of regenerated papermaking wastewater by sequencing batch moving bed biofilm reactor and kinetics study
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