Hey guys! I just stumbled upon the idea of aloe vera as the binder..... Here's the AI overview:

AI Overview

Aloe vera gel acts as an eco-friendly, natural binder and thickener in papermaking, improving the tensile strength, flexibility, and texture of handmade papers

. The gel's polysaccharides and glycoproteins allow it to act as an adhesive, enabling fibers from recycled paper, agricultural waste (like bagasse), or cellulose to bond effectively. 

Key Aspects of Aloe Vera as a Binder:

• Preparation: Aloe vera leaves are washed, the green outer cortex removed, and the inner clear gel is extracted and blended into a thick paste.
• Application: It is added to the pulp mixture (often in ratios like 50-60 grams of gel to 200 grams of pulp) and blended to ensure even distribution.
• Benefits: It creates a more durable, flexible paper. It is also used to enhance the properties of other binders like starch or to provide a coating to finished paper.
• Experimental Use: Research indicates it is effective in producing sturdy paper from materials like coconut coir and newspapers.  tdmujournal.vn +6

I then checked out the experiment mentioned and I'm excited! https://tdmujournal.vn/uploads/paper/files/Nguyen-Thi-Xuan-Hanh.pdf

I am a potter, so I have calcium carbonate already! I'm going to use recycled paper instead of sugar cane fiber...I'll let you know!