Study On Superhydrophobic Surface Of Green Magnetic Sheet From Durian Shell.

UNIVERSITI TEKNIKAL MALAYSIA MELAKA

STUDY ON SUPERHYDROPHOBIC SURFACE OF GREEN

MAGNETIC SHEET FROM DURIAN SHELL USING LUMEN

LOADING TECHNIQUE

This report submitted in accordance with requirement of the Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) for Bachelor Degree of Manufacturing Engineering

(Engineering Materials) with Honours.

by

WAN NUR FATEEHAH BT. WAN ABDULLAH SHANI B051110054

921203-11-5382

FACULTY OF MANUFACTURING ENGINEERING 2015

UNIVERSITI TEKNIKAL MALAYSIA MELAKA

BORANG PENGESAHAN STATUS LAPORAN PROJEK SARJANA MUDA

TAJUK: St udy On Superhydrophobic Surf ace Of Green Magnet ic Sheet From Durian Shell Using Lumen Loading Technique

SESI PENGAJIAN: 2014/ 15 Semest er 2

Saya WAN NUR FATEEHAH BT WAN ABDULLAH SHANI

mengaku membenarkan Laporan PSM ini disimpan di Perpust akaan Universit i Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM) dengan syarat -syarat kegunaan sepert i berikut : 1. Laporan PSM adalah hak milik Universit i Teknikal Malaysia Melaka dan penulis. 2. Perpust akaan Universit i Teknikal Malaysia Melaka dibenarkan membuat salinan

unt uk t uj uan pengaj ian sahaj a dengan izin penulis.

3. Perpust akaan dibenarkan membuat salinan laporan PSM ini sebagai bahan pert ukaran ant ara inst it usi pengaj ian t inggi.

4. **Sila t andakan (√) SULIT

TERHAD

TIDAK TERHAD

(Mengandungi maklumat yang berdarj ah keselamat an at au kepent ingan Malaysiasebagaimana yang t ermakt ub dalam AKTA RAHSIA RASMI 1972)

(Mengandungi maklumat TERHAD yang t elah dit ent ukan oleh organisasi/ badan di mana penyelidikan dij alankan)

Alamat Tet ap:

LOT 237, KAMPUNG PASIR HOR, 15100 KOTA BHARU, KELANTAN.

Tarikh: _________________________

Disahkan oleh:

Cop Rasmi:

Tarikh: _______________________

** Jika Laporan PSM ini SULIT at au TERHAD, sila lampirkan surat daripada pihak berkuasa/ organisasi berkenaan dengan menyat akan sekali sebab dan t empoh laporan PSM ini perlu dikelaskan sebagai SULIT at au TERHAD.

STUDY ON SUPERHYDROPHOBIC SURFACE OF GREEN

MAGNETIC SHEET FROM DURIAN SHELL USING LUMEN

LOADING TECHNIQUE

WAN NUR FATEEHAH BT WAN ABDULLAH SHANI

B051110054

UNIVERSITI TEKNIKAL MALAYSIA MELAKA 2015

DECLARATION

I hereby, declared this report entitled ‘Study on Superhydrophobic Surface of Green Magnetic Composite Sheet from Durian Shell Using Lumen Loading Technique’

is the results of my own research except as cited in references.

Signature : ………

Author’s Name : WAN NUR FATEEHAH BT WAN ABDULLAH SHANI

APPROVAL

This report is submitted to the Faculty of Manufacturing Engineering of UTeM as a partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Manufacturing Engineering (Engineering

Materials) (Hons.). The members of the supervisory committee are as follows:

………

i

ABSTRAK

Industri pembuatan kertas pada masa kini kebanyakannya diperbuat daripada kayu lembut dan kayu keras dan ianya menjurus kepada kekurangan sumber utama hutan. Satu penyelesaian alternatif telah diperkembangkan di mana bahan buangan daripada sumber semulajadi seperti kulit durian digunakan sebagai bahan mentah utama dalam membuat pelbagai jenis gred kertas. Penyelesaian ini berpotensi dalam menghasilkan produk biodegradasi yang lebih mudah terurai dan mesra alam. Walaubagaimanapun, ciri-ciri kertas yang sedia ada iaitu sifat mudah menyerap air dan sifat mekanikal yang lemah menyebabkan kertas tersebut mempunyai kualiti rendah dan terhad penggunaannya. Oleh itu, dalam kajian ini, kulit durian telah dipilih sebagai bahan utama untuk tujuan membuat kepingan permukaan kertas magnet kalis air. Tiga teknik untuk menghasilkan permukaan kalis air iaitu salutan celup dengan asid stearik, polimer pengadunan melalui teknik perpecahan, dan lapisan celup penyelesaian campuran yang terdiri daripada ubahsuai zarah silika dan polistirena (PS) emulsi akan diaplikasikan ke atas kertas magnet. Kemudian, kepingan kertas magnet tersebut dianalisiskan bedasarkan morfologi dan tahap penyerapan air. Teknik terbaik telah dipilih untuk menghasilkan permukaan kalis air kepingan kertas magnet iaitu salutan celup dengan asid stearik kerana pencapaian sudut air bersentuhan sangat tinggi dan melebihi 150o_{, dengan penerimaan nilai ciri mekanikal} dari segi ujian tegangan (4.7133 Nm/g) dan koyakan (3.0476 m.Nm2_{/g). Dengan} terhasilnya kepingan kertas magnet kalis air, kajian ini akan menyumbang kepada aplikasi kertas dinding yang mempunyai kebolehan serapan tenaga gelombang bunyi serta kelebihan ciri-ciri penolakan air. Oleh itu, kepingan kertas dinding kalis air tersebut boleh digunakan dalam pelbagai jenis persekitaran termasuk persekitaran lembap dan sekaligus menjadi produk mesra alam yang mengurangkan kesan persekitaran berbahaya kepada generasi akan datang.

ii

ABSTRACT

The papermaking industry nowadays mainly made from softwood and hardwood causes many trees are cut down and tends to lose a main resource of forest. An alternative solution is made by using the biomass waste from natural resources like durian shell is used as the raw material in producing variety type grades of paper. This alternative way has potential in producing a biodegradable product that can easily decompose and contribute to the sustainable development. However, the properties of existing paper that are easily to absorb water, and also low in mechanical properties made the paper has low quality and limited in application. Thus, in this study, durian shell is used as the main raw material with the aim to make a superhydrophobic surface of green magnetic sheet. Three techniques of fabricating superhydrophobic surface which are dip coating using stearic acid, blending polymer via disintegration technique, and drop-coating the mixed solution comprising of modified silica particles and polystyrene (PS) emulsion are applied to the green magnetic sheet. Then, the green magnetic sheets are characterized in term of surface morphology and water absorption. The best potential technique of dip coating using stearic acid has been selected due to the achievement of superhydrophobic water contact angle that exceed 150o_{, with the acceptable} mechanical properties of tensile index (4.7133 Nm/g) and tear index value (3.0476 m.Nm2_{/g). By forming superhydrophobic surface of green magnetic sheet, this} research contributes in future for the application of wallpaper that has ability to absorb sound or wave energy with the specialty characteristic of waterproof. Thus, the waterproof wallpaper can be used in variety environment, including moist environment and directly act as a sustainable product that minimize environmental impact on the future generation .

iii

DEDICATION

To my beloved parents and family, I have devoted all my effort in order to accomplish Projek Sarjana Muda (PSM) report. The reason why I devote all my effort in this report is because I want my family to know especially my beloved mother and father that I have done my best in order for me to fully fill the bachelor degree program. On top of that, I dedicate this report to my supervisor which has helped me throughout this whole semester to complete my full thesis.

iv

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First and foremost, all praise to the Most Gracious and the Most Merciful Allah for giving me the golden chance and determination to complete my PSM project successfully.

Deepest express my gratitude to my beloved parents and family who are always given endless encouragement and loving during my study. My special sincere appreciation goes to Dr. Rose Farahiyan Bt. Munawar, for her supervision and constant support. Thanks to all her guidance, advice, concern, encouragement and understanding throughout whole my PSM project. She is very helpful and committed with this project discussion. Not forget also my grateful thanks to Dr. Mohd Edeerozey for his contribution and idea in helping me for completing this project.

In addition, I would like to thank to all my friends especially Afraha Baiti Arif who always gave me full of commitment and co-operation during my project from the beginning until the end of this PSM project. I also want to deliver my thankfulness to all technicians in Fakulti Kejuruteraan Pembuatan (FKP) who is directly or indirectly helped me to finish my PSM project smoothly. Last but not least, thanks again to all those help me in such any way, thank you very much.

v

TABLE OF CONTENT

Abstrak i

Abstract ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgement iv

Table of Content v

List of Tables x

List of Figures xi

List of Abbreviations, Symbols, and Nomenclatures xiv

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Background of Study 1

1.2 Problem Statement 3

1.3 Objective 4

1.4 Scope 4

1.5 Project Potential 5

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 6

2.1 Durian 6

2.1.1 Durian shell 7

2.1.1.1 Pore distribution 7

vi

2.1.1.3 Chemical composition of durian shell 11

2.2 Pulping 12

2.2.1 Chemical pulping 12

2.2.1.1 Soda pulping 13

2.3 Green Magnetic Sheet 13

2.3.1 Lumen loaded method 14

2.4 Superhydrophobic 14

2.4.1 Technique 1: dip coating technique using stearic acid 16

2.4.2 Technique 2: blending polymer via disintegration technique 18

2.4.3 Technique 3: drop coating using modified silica 19

particles and polystyrene (PS) emulsion

2.5 Material Characterization and Analysis 20

2.5.1 Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) 20

2.5.2 X-ray diffraction (XRD) 21

2.5.3 Contact angle meter 22

2.5.4 Tensile strength test 24

2.5.5 Tear strength test 25

CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY 26

3.1 Introduction 26

3.2 Experimental Materials 28

vii

3.2.2 Chemicals and other materials 29

3.2.3 Experimental equipment 29

3.3 Experimental Methods 29

3.3.1 Sample preparation 29

3.3.2 Pulping 30

3.3.3 Preparation of green magnetic sheet by using 31

lumen loading method

3.3.4 Preparation for superhydrophobic green magnetic sheet 31

3.3.4.1 Technique 1: dip coating technique using stearic acid 31

3.3.4.2 Technique 2: blending polymer via disintegration 32

technique

3.3.4.3 Technique 3: drop coating using modified silica 32

and polystyrene (PS) emulsion technique

3.3.5 Characterization of superhydrophobic green magnetic sheet 33

3.3.5.1 Morphological analysis 33

3.3.5.2 Water absorption analysis 34

3.3.5.3 Mechanical testing 34

CHAPTER 4: RESULT AND DISCUSSION 36

4.1 Introduction 36

4.2 Surface Morphology of Green Magnetic Sheet From 36

viii

4.2.1 Technique 1: dip coating technique using stearic acid 37

4.2.2 Technique 2: blending polymer via disintegration technique 39

4.2.3 Technique 3: drop coating using modified silica 41

particles and polystyrene emulsion technique

4.3 Water Contact Angle of Superhydrophobic Green Magnetic Sheet 43

4.3.1 Technique 1: dip coating technique using stearic acid 44

4.3.2 Technique 2: blending polymer via disintegration technique 44

4.3.3 Technique 3: drop coating using modified silica particles 45

and polystyrene emulsion technique

4.4 The Mechanism of Technique Used in Superhydrophobic Green 45

Magnetic Sheet Making

4.4.1 Technique 1: dip coating technique using stearic acid 46

4.4.1.1 Effect of stearic acid on superhydrophobicity of 46

green magnetic sheet

4.4.1.2 Effect of polymer latex on green magnetic coated 47

sheet

4.4.1.3 The influence of dipping treatment on water 47

contact angle

4.4.2 Technique 2: blending polymer via disintegration technique 48

technique

4.4.2.1 The effect of polyethylene (PE) in disintegration 48

ix

4.4.3 Technique 3:using modified silica particles and polystyrene 49

emulsion technique

4.4.3.1 Effect of silica particles and polystyrene emulsion 49

4.4.3.2 Effect of polystyrene particles 51

4.5 The Best of Superhydrophobic Surface Technique In Green 51

Magnetic Sheet Making

4.6 Mechanical Properties of The Best Superhydrophobic Surface 52

of Green Magnetic Sheet

4.6.1 Tensile properties of green magnetic sheet using technique 1: 52 dip coating with stearic acid

4.6.2 Tear properties of green magnetic sheet using technique 1: 54

dip coating with stearic acid

CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 56

5.1 Conclusion 56

5.2 Recommendation 57

5.3 Future Prospect 58

5.4 Related Research Achievement 58

REFERENCES 59 APPENDIX

x

LIST OF TABLES

2.1 Pore Characteristic of Durian Shell Activated Carbon 9

(DSAC)

2.2 Chemical Composition of Durian Peel and Durian 11

Fiber

4.1 Tensile Strength of Green Magnetic Sheet Coated by Stearic Acid 53

xi

LIST OF FIGURES

2.1 Size of Pore Distribution of Durian Shell Activated 8

Carbons (a) KOH to Durian Shell Ratio 0.25 and (b) KOH to Durian Shell Ratio 0.50

2.2 Image of Pore In Durian Shell (a) and (b) 10

2.3 Superhydrophobic Surfaces: (a) Wenzel, (b) Cassie-Baxter 15

Model

2.4 Water Contact Angle 1470 16

2.5 Effect of Stearic Acid on Contact Angle In Surface 17

Coating

2.6 Image of Water Contact Angle (a) Wood Surface, 19

(b) Pure Polystyrene Coating and (c) Wood Surface Treated With Modified Silica/Polystyrene Composite Coatings

2.7 SEM Image of γ-Fe2O3/SiO2 Composite 20

2.8 SEM Image of Etched Surface of Steel Modified With Stearic Acid 21

2.9 XRD Patterns of Nanoparticles, Cellulose Fiber and 22

Composites Fe3O4@SiO2: Silica Shell Coated Magnetite

2.10 XRD Patterns of Samples MS1-MS3 22

xii

2.12 Water Contact Angle Meter Measurement 23

of 84o

2.13 Relative Tensile Strength vs. Relative Humidity 25

of UP, HP, and SHP Specimen

3.1 Flowchart of Experimental Study 27

3.2 Durian Shell 28

3.3 Rotary Digestion Machine 30

3.4 Scanning Electron (Microscope SEM) 33

3.5 FECA Contact-Angle Meter 34

3.6 Universal Tensile Test 35

3.7 Elmendorf Tear Tester 35

4.1 Image of Green Magnetic Sheet by Dip Coating using Stearic Acid 37

4.2 SEM Images of surface coating using stearic acid at different 38

magnification; (a) low magnification, (b) high magnification

4.3 Image of Green Magnetic Sheet by Blending Polymer via 39

Disintegration Technique

4.4 SEM Micrograph of Green Magnetic Sheet via Disintegration Method; 40

(a) Cross section with low magnification, (b) Surface of Green Magnetic

xiii

4.5 Image of Green Magnetic Sheet by Drop Coating Using Modified 41

Silica Particles

4.6 SEM Images of Surface Coating Green Magnetic Sheet with 42

Modified Silica Particles; (a) low magnification, (b) high magnification

4.7 Image of Water Droplet Being Absorbed on the Surface of 43

Green Magnetic Sheet

4.8 Water Contact Angle of Coated Green Magnetic Sheet using 44

Stearic Acid

4.9 Water Contact Angle Of Green Magnetic Sheet using Blending 44

Polymer via Disintegration Method

4.10 Water Contact Angle of Coated Green Magnetic Sheet using 45

Modified Silica Particles

4.11 Chemical Structure of Stearic Acid 46

4.12 Schematic Diagram of Absorbent of Stearic Acid onto PCC Surface 47

4.13 Schematic of Potassium Stearate Chemical Structure 48

4.14 Schematic Illustration of the Fiber Network of Green Magnetic 49

Sheet Prepared via (a) Immersion and (b) Disintegration Techniques

4.15 Schematic illustration fabrication using unique silica particles 50

4.16 Tensile Testing of Green Magnetic Sheet Coated by Stearic Acid 52

xiv

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS, SYMBOLS AND

NOMENCLATURE

Alum - Aluminum Sulphate

CMC - Carboxymethylcellulose

DSAC - Durian Shell Activated Carbon

Fe3O4 - Magnetite

HP - Hydrophobic Paper

IPA - Isopropyl Alcohol

KOH - Potassium Hydroxide

NaOH - Sodium Hydroxide

PE - Polyethylene

PEI - Polyethylenimine

PP - Polypropylene

PS - Polystyrene

PS - Potassium Stearate

PCC - Precipitate Calcium Carbonate

SA - Stearic acid

SEM - Scanning Electron Microscope

xv

SMCA - Sodium Monochloroacetate

SHP - Superhydrophobic Paper

TEOS - Tetraethyl Orthosilicate

TiO2 - Titanium dioxide

THF - Tetrahydrofuran

UP - Untreated Paper

α-Fe2O3 - Hematite

β-FeOOH - Ferric Hydroxide

1

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

This chapter details describe the background, problem statement, objectives, scope of the study, and project potential.

1.1 Background of Study

The green magnetic sheet is one of the composite sheet type which is a flat piece of two or more phase material that can be obtained from two sources which are artificial and natural fiber. The green magnetic sheet that is made from natural fibers such as cellulose fiber, usually has properties of environmentally friendly and good mechanical performances. One of the common applications, from natural fiber composite sheet is paper (Madsen and Gamstedt, 2013). The composite paper was made by mixing the heterogeneous pulp and slag-wool fiber, and can be also added with or without composite addictive. In addition, the composite sheet of paper also can be prepared with high photocatalytic performance that fabricated using natural zeolite (Ko et al., 2009).

Paper is a basic requirement in daily life especially for many types of written communications from letters to bills to advertising medium, receipts, paperwork, documentation, paper money, and also in food packaging industries. The history of paper started when an emperor’s eunuch in China known as Ts’ai Lun invented the paper making from bamboo in 105 C.E. The refined process of paper by Ts’ai Lun had been spread widely about 615 papers making to Japan, in the Arab regions

2

around 750, and reached in Egypt and Morocco in the 10th century (Flowers, 2009). In this new decade, there are several types’ grades of paper produced including green magnetic sheet that are developed widely to be produced using magnetic particle materials (Chia et al., 2009). Thus, nowadays papers made more futuristic, flexible,

durable, and extremely versatile since the existing on green magnetic sheet have started to be used widely in many applications such as making business cards, military field as the inner layer of the wall, printed sports, sign system, and printed paper.

The green magnetic sheet is prepared with the adding of ferrite into the amorphous area of the pulp fibers. Then, it undergoes processing of lumen loading and in situ synthesis (Chia et al., 2006). As compared to other magnetic material, green

magnetic sheet has some incredible properties such as softness, renewable use, and folding resistance (Gao et al., 2014). Pacurariu et al., (2014) used magnetic

nanoparticles in making green magnetic sheet by using in situ and lumen loading method. This made the green magnetic sheet to be more super paramagnetic behavior and known as security paper which can be used for printing valuable documents such as banknotes, bank checks, identity cards, and passports.

The properties of green magnetic sheet can be improved by having superhydrophobic behavior. The high tensile strength at high relative humidity condition can be kept by having this superhydrophobic properties and produce resistance to bacterial contamination (Yang and Deng, 2008). In addition, Nurul Izzati et al., (2013)

reported that papermaking usually using natural fibers for woody and non-woody. But, the paper made from natural fiber such as kenaf still have disadvantages since the presence of hydrophilic groups such as hydroxyl, carboxyl, and sulfonic group in the cellulosic paper make the rate absorption of water or moisture high.

The specialty durian shell has its own characteristics that suite to be used in green magnetic sheet making. It contains of 9.24 % of moisture content, 4.34 % of ash content, and 6.43 % of fixed carbon. By using the durian shell in making superhydrophobic green magnetic sheet, the waste can be reduced and saving cost (Wilaipon, 2011). Thus, it can reduce the landfill area for disposal and pollution which sustain to the health of environment.

3

Therefore, in this study, different methods of making the superhydrophobic surface of green magnetic sheet from the durian shell is investigated. The inner part of the white durian shell is taken to be used as raw material. Then, the process of making green magnetic sheet is carried out by using lumen loading technique before three fabrication techniques of superhydrophobic surface is being applied. The techniques are dip coating using stearic acid, blending polymer via disintegration technique, and drop-coating using modified silica particles and polystyrene (PS) emulsion. Lastly, the best potential fabrication of the superhydrophobic surface will be selected based on the material characterization and analysis.

1.2 Problem Statement

The green magnetic sheet used nowadays usually made from natural fiber due to sustainable ability, low cost packaging needed, high biodegradability and renewability. The well-known property of natural fiber is its typical hydrophilic natural materials that form green magnetic sheet to have high water and moisture absorptions. In addition, the hygroscopic properties and low of water vapor barrier in natural fiber made the green magnetic sheet have low mechanical properties. The high hygroscopicity causes the green magnetic sheet to absorb water vapor easily from the environment and loss its valuable mechanical properties. According to Derluyn et al., (2007) the water vapor resistance factor decreases at higher relative

humidity for all types composite sheet of paper including green magnetic sheet. Thus, this current problem needs to be improved by having superhydrophobic property of green magnetic sheet from durian shell. Durian shell is the new improvement to be made since the properties of the durian shell that have good pore distribution for a large amount of magnetic particles to enter into the lumen fibre. Thus, it suite to be used in making green magnetic sheet and in order to increase mechanical property. As to reduce waste and saving cost, durian shell is the most suitable raw material to be used in making green magnetic sheet.

4

1.3 Objective

There are several objectives of this study:

(a) To use pulp from durian shells waste and combine with magnetic particles to produce green magnetic sheet.

(b) To characterize in terms of surface morphology and water absorption

of surface green magnetic sheet after using three techniques to form superhydrophobic surface of green magnetic sheet.

(c) To determine the best potential technique in producing

superhydrophobic surface of green magnetic sheet from durian shell and analyse the mechanical properties of the superhydrophobic green magnetic sheet.

1.4 Scope

The study will focus on fabricating of superhydrophobic surface in green magnetic sheet from durian shell. Durian shell will be used as the main raw material to make green magnetic sheet by using lumen loading technique after the soda pulping process. Soda pulping is used in making the paper pulp and ensuring the separation between cellulose and lignin. The green magnetic sheet then is produced through lumen loading whereby the magnetic particles are inserted into the lumen of cellulose fibers. After the magnetic sheet paper formed, three superhydrophobic techniques will be applied in order to screen the best potential method that suite the durian shell. The techniques are dip coating using stearic acid, blending polymer via disintegration technique, and drop coating using modified silica particles and polystyrene (PS) emulsion.

Next, all of the green magnetic sheet after being applied three techniques will be characterized through morphological analysis and water contact angle analysis. Lastly, the mechanical testing will be done on the superhydrophobic surface of green magnetic sheet.

xiv

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS, SYMBOLS AND

NOMENCLATURE

Alum - Aluminum Sulphate CMC - Carboxymethylcellulose DSAC - Durian Shell Activated Carbon Fe3O4 - Magnetite

HP - Hydrophobic Paper IPA - Isopropyl Alcohol KOH - Potassium Hydroxide NaOH - Sodium Hydroxide PE - Polyethylene PEI - Polyethylenimine PP - Polypropylene PS - Polystyrene

PS - Potassium Stearate

PCC - Precipitate Calcium Carbonate SA - Stearic acid

SEM - Scanning Electron Microscope SiO2 - Silicon dioxide

xv SMCA - Sodium Monochloroacetate SHP - Superhydrophobic Paper TEOS - Tetraethyl Orthosilicate TiO2 - Titanium dioxide THF - Tetrahydrofuran UP - Untreated Paper α-Fe2O3 - Hematite

β-FeOOH - Ferric Hydroxide γ-Fe2O3 - Maghemite

1

CHAPTER 1

INTRODUCTION

This chapter details describe the background, problem statement, objectives, scope of the study, and project potential.

1.1 Background of Study

The green magnetic sheet is one of the composite sheet type which is a flat piece of two or more phase material that can be obtained from two sources which are artificial and natural fiber. The green magnetic sheet that is made from natural fibers such as cellulose fiber, usually has properties of environmentally friendly and good mechanical performances. One of the common applications, from natural fiber composite sheet is paper (Madsen and Gamstedt, 2013). The composite paper was made by mixing the heterogeneous pulp and slag-wool fiber, and can be also added with or without composite addictive. In addition, the composite sheet of paper also can be prepared with high photocatalytic performance that fabricated using natural zeolite (Ko et al., 2009).

Paper is a basic requirement in daily life especially for many types of written communications from letters to bills to advertising medium, receipts, paperwork, documentation, paper money, and also in food packaging industries. The history of paper started when an emperor’s eunuch in China known as Ts’ai Lun invented the paper making from bamboo in 105 C.E. The refined process of paper by Ts’ai Lun had been spread widely about 615 papers making to Japan, in the Arab regions

2

around 750, and reached in Egypt and Morocco in the 10th century (Flowers, 2009). In this new decade, there are several types’ grades of paper produced including green magnetic sheet that are developed widely to be produced using magnetic particle materials (Chia et al., 2009). Thus, nowadays papers made more futuristic, flexible, durable, and extremely versatile since the existing on green magnetic sheet have started to be used widely in many applications such as making business cards, military field as the inner layer of the wall, printed sports, sign system, and printed paper.

The green magnetic sheet is prepared with the adding of ferrite into the amorphous area of the pulp fibers. Then, it undergoes processing of lumen loading and in situ synthesis (Chia et al., 2006). As compared to other magnetic material, green magnetic sheet has some incredible properties such as softness, renewable use, and folding resistance (Gao et al., 2014). Pacurariu et al., (2014) used magnetic nanoparticles in making green magnetic sheet by using in situ and lumen loading method. This made the green magnetic sheet to be more super paramagnetic behavior and known as security paper which can be used for printing valuable documents such as banknotes, bank checks, identity cards, and passports.

The properties of green magnetic sheet can be improved by having superhydrophobic behavior. The high tensile strength at high relative humidity condition can be kept by having this superhydrophobic properties and produce resistance to bacterial contamination (Yang and Deng, 2008). In addition, Nurul Izzati et al., (2013) reported that papermaking usually using natural fibers for woody and non-woody. But, the paper made from natural fiber such as kenaf still have disadvantages since the presence of hydrophilic groups such as hydroxyl, carboxyl, and sulfonic group in the cellulosic paper make the rate absorption of water or moisture high.

The specialty durian shell has its own characteristics that suite to be used in green magnetic sheet making. It contains of 9.24 % of moisture content, 4.34 % of ash content, and 6.43 % of fixed carbon. By using the durian shell in making superhydrophobic green magnetic sheet, the waste can be reduced and saving cost (Wilaipon, 2011). Thus, it can reduce the landfill area for disposal and pollution which sustain to the health of environment.

3

Therefore, in this study, different methods of making the superhydrophobic surface of green magnetic sheet from the durian shell is investigated. The inner part of the white durian shell is taken to be used as raw material. Then, the process of making green magnetic sheet is carried out by using lumen loading technique before three fabrication techniques of superhydrophobic surface is being applied. The techniques are dip coating using stearic acid, blending polymer via disintegration technique, and drop-coating using modified silica particles and polystyrene (PS) emulsion. Lastly, the best potential fabrication of the superhydrophobic surface will be selected based on the material characterization and analysis.

1.2 Problem Statement

The green magnetic sheet used nowadays usually made from natural fiber due to sustainable ability, low cost packaging needed, high biodegradability and renewability. The well-known property of natural fiber is its typical hydrophilic natural materials that form green magnetic sheet to have high water and moisture absorptions. In addition, the hygroscopic properties and low of water vapor barrier in natural fiber made the green magnetic sheet have low mechanical properties. The high hygroscopicity causes the green magnetic sheet to absorb water vapor easily from the environment and loss its valuable mechanical properties. According to Derluyn et al., (2007) the water vapor resistance factor decreases at higher relative humidity for all types composite sheet of paper including green magnetic sheet. Thus, this current problem needs to be improved by having superhydrophobic property of green magnetic sheet from durian shell. Durian shell is the new improvement to be made since the properties of the durian shell that have good pore distribution for a large amount of magnetic particles to enter into the lumen fibre. Thus, it suite to be used in making green magnetic sheet and in order to increase mechanical property. As to reduce waste and saving cost, durian shell is the most suitable raw material to be used in making green magnetic sheet.

4

1.3 Objective

There are several objectives of this study:

(a) To use pulp from durian shells waste and combine with magnetic particles to produce green magnetic sheet.

(b) To characterize in terms of surface morphology and water absorption of surface green magnetic sheet after using three techniques to form superhydrophobic surface of green magnetic sheet.

(c) To determine the best potential technique in producing superhydrophobic surface of green magnetic sheet from durian shell and analyse the mechanical properties of the superhydrophobic green magnetic sheet.

1.4 Scope

The study will focus on fabricating of superhydrophobic surface in green magnetic sheet from durian shell. Durian shell will be used as the main raw material to make green magnetic sheet by using lumen loading technique after the soda pulping process. Soda pulping is used in making the paper pulp and ensuring the separation between cellulose and lignin. The green magnetic sheet then is produced through lumen loading whereby the magnetic particles are inserted into the lumen of cellulose fibers. After the magnetic sheet paper formed, three superhydrophobic techniques will be applied in order to screen the best potential method that suite the durian shell. The techniques are dip coating using stearic acid, blending polymer via disintegration technique, and drop coating using modified silica particles and polystyrene (PS) emulsion.

Next, all of the green magnetic sheet after being applied three techniques will be characterized through morphological analysis and water contact angle analysis. Lastly, the mechanical testing will be done on the superhydrophobic surface of green magnetic sheet.