Several fibers from Musa species grown and extracted in the Philippines (P) and Ecuador (E), that are cavendishii (from P and E), saba (Philippine local name, sapientum P), canton fiber (natural hybrid of textilis × balbisiana from P), gros Michel (from E), alinsanay (Philippine local name, from P), were investigated into their pulping characteristics and paper-making properties, and compared with those of abaca fiber.
From the results of this investigation, it was found that :
(1) The alkaline sulfite method, which is suitable for abaca, is applicable to the fibers from other Musa species.
(2) Pulp brightness, crude yield and screened yield increase as parenchyma content and 1% NaOH extracts in the fiber decrease.
(3) Fiber length and width distribution curves show that the samples can be separated into practically two groups. Banana fibers have a feature of grouping into one block. Every pulp contains brick shape cells like stegmata in abaca pulp.
(4) On the pulps other than saba and cavendishii (P), drainage time develops pretty fast as beating proceeds. Collapse of parenchyma seems to have much influence on the increase of drainage time.
(5) Pulp fibers of saba, cavendishii (P), gros Michel and abaca are apt to form fiber lumps caused by their entanglement.
(6) All pulps show equal or rather high strength values than abaca in the beating range of up to 100 seconds of drainage time. While, in the lower drainage time range, which is suitable for good sheet formation, abaca and cavendishii (P) show higher strength values.
(7) For strength development, addition of parenchyma to unbeaten fiber is effective, however, its addition to beaten fiber has negative effect.