Fire-retardant Paper Based on Montmorillonite and Oil Palm Trunk Fibres

Abstract

Fire-retardant paper was prepared by mixing of Montmorillonite (MTM), Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC) and Cellulose Fibres (CF) isolated from oil palm trunk biomass by alkaline treatment. The mixtures of dispersed CMC, MTM and CF with various ratios were stirred for 24 h, then casted and dried to form paper. The samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). Their mechanical and fire retardance properties were also evaluated. The CMC50 : MTM50 paper with CF (12 phr) was the proper ratio according to the good of flame-retardant testing and maximum tensile testing at 24.7 MPa and Young’s Modulus at 13.7 MPa.