Papermaking process and paper made therefrom

Abstract

A papermaking process, and a paper product made from the process, wherein a biodegradable plastic is used with papermaking material. The biodegradeable plastic may be provided as a substrate, with the papermaking material being applied to the substrate. The papermaking material may include recycled paper fibers and/or agricultural crop material. Recycled wood fibers may be applied in a fibrous state or agricultural plant material may be powdered and applied to the substrate. The surface material is affixed to the substrate by the application of heat and pressure or by the use of vegetable slime juice as an adhesive.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method of making paper comprising the steps of: drying agricultural plant material; 
 shredding said agricultural plant material;    providing a biodegradable plastic substrate;    depositing said plant material on said biodegradable plastic substrate; and affixing the plant material to the biodegradable plastic substrate.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of heating said biodegradable plastic substrate.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing a vegetable slime juice; creating a paste of the slime juice and the plant material; and spreading the paste on the biodegradable plastic substrate.  
     
     
         4 . A process for making paper comprising the steps of: providing a biodegradable substrate; 
 selecting a surface material from the group including agricultural plant material and recycled paper fibers;    preparing the surface material;    applying the surface material to the substrate;    and affixing the surface material on the substrate.    
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 4  in which said step of selecting a surface material includes choosing from a group of agricultural plants including hemp, kenaf, bagasse, corn, wheat and cotton.  
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 5  in which said step of preparing the surface material includes the steps of drying plant material and powdering the plant material.  
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 6  further including creating a paste of prepared surface material and vegetable slime juice.  
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 4  in which said preparing step includes the step of repulping recycled paper.  
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 4  further including creating a paste of prepared surface material and vegetable slime juice.  
     
     
         10 . The process of  claim 4  including the step of moistening the substrate.  
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10 , further including the step of powdering plant material; and, wherein said applying step includes depositing powdered plant material on the moistened substrate.  
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11  wherein said affixing step includes pressing and heating the substrate.  
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 4 , further comprising recovering recycled paper fibers, pulping the recovered fibers, and applying the pulped recovered fibers on a biodegrable substrate.  
     
     
         14 . A papermaking process comprising the steps of: preparing papermaking fibers; mixing biodegradable plastic filaments with the papermaking fibers; and forming a web of the mixed papermaking fibers and biodegradable plastic filaments.  
     
     
         15 . The papermaking process of  claim 14 , further comprising the steps of recovering papermaking fibers and biodegradable plastic from previously formed products.  
     
     
         16 . An additive for paper products formed of papermaking fibers, said additive comprising discrete filaments intermingled with said papermaking fibers, said filaments being a biodegradable plastic.  
     
     
         17 . A fabric comprising a woven matrix of biodegradeable plastic filaments, said filaments containing therein at least one of agricultural crop residue and recycled paper material.