Preliminary Study on Feasibility of Manufacturing Injection-molded Composite Using Cellulosic Materials

Wastepaper-derived fibers, natural starch binders, and micro-fibrillated cellulose (MFC) additives were preliminarily studied as key components in injection-moldable bio-composite formulations. Commercially available paper cups coated with polyethylene, corn starch, and MFC prepared in a laboratory...

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Main Authors: Ji Hyun Tak, Min Seo Kim, Ji Young Lee
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: North Carolina State University 2025-06-01
Series:BioResources
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Online Access:https://ojs.bioresources.com/index.php/BRJ/article/view/24764
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author Ji Hyun Tak
Min Seo Kim
Ji Young Lee
author_facet Ji Hyun Tak
Min Seo Kim
Ji Young Lee
author_sort Ji Hyun Tak
collection DOAJ
description Wastepaper-derived fibers, natural starch binders, and micro-fibrillated cellulose (MFC) additives were preliminarily studied as key components in injection-moldable bio-composite formulations. Commercially available paper cups coated with polyethylene, corn starch, and MFC prepared in a laboratory were selected as raw materials. Since the injection molding machine is yet to be developed, handsheets were prepared as a substitute for the future injection-molded composites, and their physical properties were evaluated to assess the promising formulation candidates of recycled fibers, binder, and reinforcing agent. The optimal paper cup powder–starch ratio was 60:40, which balanced the tensile strength, elongation at break, and burst strength of the material while maintaining good processing characteristics and avoiding problems related to dewatering and adhesion to equipment during drying. The incorporation of up to 5% (by weight) MFC considerably improved the mechanical properties of the sheets by enhancing their fiber–fiber bonding. However, increasing the MFC content above 5% prolonged the dewatering time, compromising process efficiency, and making handsheet preparation impossible. These findings suggested that used paper cups, when combined with starch and MFC, could be effectively recycled into injection-molded composite materials, thereby contributing to environmental conservation and the advancement of resource circulation in manufacturing.
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institution Kabale University
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publisher North Carolina State University
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spelling doaj-art-d6aaa7bf83074645b84fc17b6df7e0942025-08-20T04:00:33ZengNorth Carolina State UniversityBioResources1930-21262025-06-01203696669783268Preliminary Study on Feasibility of Manufacturing Injection-molded Composite Using Cellulosic MaterialsJi Hyun Tak0Min Seo Kim1Ji Young Lee2Department of Forest Products, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Forest Products, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Environmental Materials Science/IALS, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Republic of KoreaWastepaper-derived fibers, natural starch binders, and micro-fibrillated cellulose (MFC) additives were preliminarily studied as key components in injection-moldable bio-composite formulations. Commercially available paper cups coated with polyethylene, corn starch, and MFC prepared in a laboratory were selected as raw materials. Since the injection molding machine is yet to be developed, handsheets were prepared as a substitute for the future injection-molded composites, and their physical properties were evaluated to assess the promising formulation candidates of recycled fibers, binder, and reinforcing agent. The optimal paper cup powder–starch ratio was 60:40, which balanced the tensile strength, elongation at break, and burst strength of the material while maintaining good processing characteristics and avoiding problems related to dewatering and adhesion to equipment during drying. The incorporation of up to 5% (by weight) MFC considerably improved the mechanical properties of the sheets by enhancing their fiber–fiber bonding. However, increasing the MFC content above 5% prolonged the dewatering time, compromising process efficiency, and making handsheet preparation impossible. These findings suggested that used paper cups, when combined with starch and MFC, could be effectively recycled into injection-molded composite materials, thereby contributing to environmental conservation and the advancement of resource circulation in manufacturing.https://ojs.bioresources.com/index.php/BRJ/article/view/24764injection-molded compositerecycled paperpaper cupstarchmicro-fibrillated cellulose (mfc)
spellingShingle Ji Hyun Tak
Min Seo Kim
Ji Young Lee
Preliminary Study on Feasibility of Manufacturing Injection-molded Composite Using Cellulosic Materials
BioResources
injection-molded composite
recycled paper
paper cup
starch
micro-fibrillated cellulose (mfc)
title Preliminary Study on Feasibility of Manufacturing Injection-molded Composite Using Cellulosic Materials
title_full Preliminary Study on Feasibility of Manufacturing Injection-molded Composite Using Cellulosic Materials
title_fullStr Preliminary Study on Feasibility of Manufacturing Injection-molded Composite Using Cellulosic Materials
title_full_unstemmed Preliminary Study on Feasibility of Manufacturing Injection-molded Composite Using Cellulosic Materials
title_short Preliminary Study on Feasibility of Manufacturing Injection-molded Composite Using Cellulosic Materials
title_sort preliminary study on feasibility of manufacturing injection molded composite using cellulosic materials
topic injection-molded composite
recycled paper
paper cup
starch
micro-fibrillated cellulose (mfc)
url https://ojs.bioresources.com/index.php/BRJ/article/view/24764
work_keys_str_mv AT jihyuntak preliminarystudyonfeasibilityofmanufacturinginjectionmoldedcompositeusingcellulosicmaterials
AT minseokim preliminarystudyonfeasibilityofmanufacturinginjectionmoldedcompositeusingcellulosicmaterials
AT jiyounglee preliminarystudyonfeasibilityofmanufacturinginjectionmoldedcompositeusingcellulosicmaterials