Banana paper
Image:Banana tree [paper.jpg|thumb|300px|Banana plant paper]
Banana paper is a type of paper made from the natural fibers of the banana plant.
History
''Basho'' paper
Basho paper is a banana fiber paper created in Ryukyu. After the methods of mulberry paper production were brought to Ryukyu from Satsuma Province, Japan in the 16th century, fibers from the banana Musa basjoo were substituted for the paper mulberry to create banana paper. First created in Naha in 1717, basho paper was used for everyday purposes until its decline in the mid-late 19th century. Basho papermaking was revived with the Mingei craft revival movement of the 20th century.Manila paper
Invented in the 1830s in the United States, Manila paper was produced in the Philippines from discarded Abacá fiber, or "Manila hemp." True Manila hemp paper was discontinued by the late 19th century as pulpwood paper became dominant.20th century
Banana paper was first patented in the United States on March 16, 1912, by Charles M. Taylor and Howard Kay Cook. They both learned that cellulose fiber can be easily removed from the waste of the banana plant, and that the fiber is well adapted to making durable paper. Taylor and Cook applied for the patent on March 16, 1912. The application was granted on May 2, 1916, and they received a lifetime patent. The patent is now expired.Properties
Banana paper has a lower density, higher stiffness, higher disposability, higher renewability, and higher tensile strength compared to wood pulp paper.Raw banana paper has a coarse surface due to the presence of hemicellulose, lignin, and other waxy components in the fiber. Hemicellulose is located between and within the cellulose fibrils and is incorporated into the cellulose structure. The fiber or pulp with high hemicellulose content has a high maximum tensile strength and a low maximum tear index. The cellulosic fibers enclose the outside of cellulose fibers, acting as natural binders.
Long wrapped fiber bundles are a key component of banana paper. Length is also a significant fiber property, as longer fibers contain more fiber joints. These fiber joints contribute to a stronger network of fibers. Long fiber manufactured papers usually have better strength properties than short fiber manufactured papers. Banana fiber can vary in weight and thickness depending on the specific part of the banana stem used. Sturdy, thick fibers can be taken from the outer sheaths, and softer fibers can be extracted from the inner sheaths.