PULP AND PAPER PROPERTIES OF EUCALYPTUS MICROTHECA GROWN IN SOUTHERN REGION OF IRAN

In this study, anatomical, physical, pulping and paper making properties of Eucalyptus microtheca grown in Farse province is investigated. Eight trees were sampled for this study. The average dry and critical specific gravity of 8 samples were measured at 0.85 and 0.88 for heartwood and 0.8 and 0.75 for sapwood respectively. Mean of fiber length, diameter and cell wall thickness were measured at 0.78 mm, 15.68 mm and 4.560 mm for heartwood respectively. The corresponding figures for sapwood are 0.84 mm, 15.72 mm and 4.88 mm.Pulps were produce by two processes, Kraft (as a chemical process) and NSSC (as a semi-chemical process). Pulp properties of these two processes were compared. Yield and Kappa number of Pulp depend on cooking condition are 36.42-53.25 percent and 21.68-87.68 for Kraft Pulps and 64.59-70.91 percent and 130-189 for NSSC pulp respectively. Physical properties of pulps consist of burst and tear Index and breaking length were measured at 3.90-4.84 kPa.m2/g and 8.34-11.01 mN.m2/g and 5.36-6.94 Km for Kraft Pulps respectively. These properties for NSSC Pulp are 1.72-2.89 kPam2/g, 7.46-8.26 mNm2/g and 4.11-5.14 Km