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Paper stacked outside a paper mill with a smokestack in the background. Photo by John Vachon.

by Chris Woodford . Last updated: October 28, 2022.

Photo: Even in the computer age, we still use vast quantities of paper. This photo could have been taken yesterday; in fact, it was shot in 1943 at the huge Southland Paper Mills near Lufkin, Texas, and shows newsprint (paper for printing newspapers) made from wood pulp using the Kraft process. Photo by John Vachon for the Office of War Information, courtesy of US Library of Congress .

What is paper?

How is paper made, papermaking materials.

Photo: Look really closely at almost any ordinary paper and you'll see just how fibrous it is! The photo on the right is a closeup of the one on the left. It might look like a pile of folded fluffy bathroom towels, but really it's sheets of paper! This is 100 percent recycled Evolve paper made by M-real.

Photo: A small papermaking machine from the early 20th century. Photo by courtesy of National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Photographic Collection .

How does a Fourdrinier machine work?

Photo: A detail of some of the rollers in a Fourdrinier machine. Photo by Russell Lee for the Office of War Information, courtesy of US Library of Congress .

Who invented paper and papermaking?

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The History of Paper & How it is Made

The History of Paper:

Papyrus Plant

Paper and papyrus are not the same, but often get confused because the word paper is derived from the Egyptian word for Papyrus, “Pa-prro”.

The true history of paper beings in China, where there was no access to the Papyrus plant. The Chinese began using woven textiles as their writing surfaces, and a pen & ink calligraphy style of writing. Books and scrolls were made from woven cloth by hand, and the woven cloth left a lot of scrap after being trimmed for books and scrolls.

In 105AD, Ts’ai Lun developed the idea of beating the discarded cloth into fibers, suspending them in water, and matting them into sheets (creating the basic process for making paper).

News of the paper making process did not spread fast. It took over 1,000 year before the process reached Europe.

Papermaking Timeline

It wasn’t until 1789 that Nicolas Louis Robert of France created the concept for the first paper-making machine. The French Revolution put Nicolas’ plans of developing the machine on hold, so he sent his idea and design to his brother-in-law in England. It was here in 1803 that the first successful paper-making machine was developed. Henry and Sealy Fourdrinier were financial backers and enthusiastic supporters of the project, giving way to the name of the machine, the Fourdrinier. This machine became the standard design for paper-making machines, which remain virtually the same today.

Fourdrinier

The Papermaking Process:

The basic principles involved in making and forming paper have not changed since Ts’ai Lun invented the process nearly 2000 years ago. Wood or cotton fibers are beaten until they break down into small particles, and the fibers are diluted with water to make pulp and placed in a reservoir.

Pulp is then metered out in a continuous stream onto a moving wire screen. The moving wire is mechanically shaken side to side to distribute the pulp evenly across the screen and drain water. Suction boxes underneath the screen also help drain excess water.

The pulp is then transferred to a woven felt blanket and carries paper through a press roll which removes even more water. By varying the woven texture and the location of felts, the finished texture of the paper can be varied. Watercolor paper, for example, uses a very heavily textured felt, while the felts for drawing and sketch papers have very little texture. At this point, the fibers have interlocked and the paper has dried enough to be passed through steam-heated cylinders.

Next, the paper is run through a “sizing” bath to enhance the working properties of the sheet. Without sizing, the paper would act like a blotter. The sizing seals the fibers individually or as a structure to provoke water holdout. The amount of sizing is adjusted based on the grade of the paper. For example, drawing papers have more sizing for water hold out, where watercolor papers require a different approach to allow absorbency while still maintaining an internal barrier.

Sizing Bath

After the sizing bath, the paper is re-dried. At this point, it will go through different finishing processes depending on the type of paper. A calendaring stack, which is a large stack of rolls that the paper runs though, determines the final smoothness of the sheet. The degree of calendaring can be adjusted to change the smoothness of a sheet.

Calendar Stack

If an ultra-smooth sheet is desired, we have a special process at Strathmore that we reserve for our high end, 100% cotton bristol papers. We layer the bristol paper between sheets of metal which gets passed back and forth between pressure rollers in a process known as plating. This is why we call our ulta-smooth 500 Series Bristol papers "Bristol Plate".

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The Beginner's Guide to Writing an Essay | Steps & Examples

An academic essay is a focused piece of writing that develops an idea or argument using evidence, analysis, and interpretation.

There are many types of essays you might write as a student. The content and length of an essay depends on your level, subject of study, and course requirements. However, most essays at university level are argumentative — they aim to persuade the reader of a particular position or perspective on a topic.

The essay writing process consists of three main stages:

  • Preparation: Decide on your topic, do your research, and create an essay outline.
  • Writing : Set out your argument in the introduction, develop it with evidence in the main body, and wrap it up with a conclusion.
  • Revision:  Check your essay on the content, organization, grammar, spelling, and formatting of your essay.

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Table of contents

Essay writing process, preparation for writing an essay, writing the introduction, writing the main body, writing the conclusion, essay checklist, lecture slides, frequently asked questions about writing an essay.

The writing process of preparation, writing, and revisions applies to every essay or paper, but the time and effort spent on each stage depends on the type of essay .

For example, if you’ve been assigned a five-paragraph expository essay for a high school class, you’ll probably spend the most time on the writing stage; for a college-level argumentative essay , on the other hand, you’ll need to spend more time researching your topic and developing an original argument before you start writing.

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Before you start writing, you should make sure you have a clear idea of what you want to say and how you’re going to say it. There are a few key steps you can follow to make sure you’re prepared:

  • Understand your assignment: What is the goal of this essay? What is the length and deadline of the assignment? Is there anything you need to clarify with your teacher or professor?
  • Define a topic: If you’re allowed to choose your own topic , try to pick something that you already know a bit about and that will hold your interest.
  • Do your research: Read  primary and secondary sources and take notes to help you work out your position and angle on the topic. You’ll use these as evidence for your points.
  • Come up with a thesis:  The thesis is the central point or argument that you want to make. A clear thesis is essential for a focused essay—you should keep referring back to it as you write.
  • Create an outline: Map out the rough structure of your essay in an outline . This makes it easier to start writing and keeps you on track as you go.

Once you’ve got a clear idea of what you want to discuss, in what order, and what evidence you’ll use, you’re ready to start writing.

The introduction sets the tone for your essay. It should grab the reader’s interest and inform them of what to expect. The introduction generally comprises 10–20% of the text.

1. Hook your reader

The first sentence of the introduction should pique your reader’s interest and curiosity. This sentence is sometimes called the hook. It might be an intriguing question, a surprising fact, or a bold statement emphasizing the relevance of the topic.

Let’s say we’re writing an essay about the development of Braille (the raised-dot reading and writing system used by visually impaired people). Our hook can make a strong statement about the topic:

The invention of Braille was a major turning point in the history of disability.

2. Provide background on your topic

Next, it’s important to give context that will help your reader understand your argument. This might involve providing background information, giving an overview of important academic work or debates on the topic, and explaining difficult terms. Don’t provide too much detail in the introduction—you can elaborate in the body of your essay.

3. Present the thesis statement

Next, you should formulate your thesis statement— the central argument you’re going to make. The thesis statement provides focus and signals your position on the topic. It is usually one or two sentences long. The thesis statement for our essay on Braille could look like this:

As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness.

4. Map the structure

In longer essays, you can end the introduction by briefly describing what will be covered in each part of the essay. This guides the reader through your structure and gives a preview of how your argument will develop.

The invention of Braille marked a major turning point in the history of disability. The writing system of raised dots used by blind and visually impaired people was developed by Louis Braille in nineteenth-century France. In a society that did not value disabled people in general, blindness was particularly stigmatized, and lack of access to reading and writing was a significant barrier to social participation. The idea of tactile reading was not entirely new, but existing methods based on sighted systems were difficult to learn and use. As the first writing system designed for blind people’s needs, Braille was a groundbreaking new accessibility tool. It not only provided practical benefits, but also helped change the cultural status of blindness. This essay begins by discussing the situation of blind people in nineteenth-century Europe. It then describes the invention of Braille and the gradual process of its acceptance within blind education. Subsequently, it explores the wide-ranging effects of this invention on blind people’s social and cultural lives.

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The body of your essay is where you make arguments supporting your thesis, provide evidence, and develop your ideas. Its purpose is to present, interpret, and analyze the information and sources you have gathered to support your argument.

Length of the body text

The length of the body depends on the type of essay. On average, the body comprises 60–80% of your essay. For a high school essay, this could be just three paragraphs, but for a graduate school essay of 6,000 words, the body could take up 8–10 pages.

Paragraph structure

To give your essay a clear structure , it is important to organize it into paragraphs . Each paragraph should be centered around one main point or idea.

That idea is introduced in a  topic sentence . The topic sentence should generally lead on from the previous paragraph and introduce the point to be made in this paragraph. Transition words can be used to create clear connections between sentences.

After the topic sentence, present evidence such as data, examples, or quotes from relevant sources. Be sure to interpret and explain the evidence, and show how it helps develop your overall argument.

Lack of access to reading and writing put blind people at a serious disadvantage in nineteenth-century society. Text was one of the primary methods through which people engaged with culture, communicated with others, and accessed information; without a well-developed reading system that did not rely on sight, blind people were excluded from social participation (Weygand, 2009). While disabled people in general suffered from discrimination, blindness was widely viewed as the worst disability, and it was commonly believed that blind people were incapable of pursuing a profession or improving themselves through culture (Weygand, 2009). This demonstrates the importance of reading and writing to social status at the time: without access to text, it was considered impossible to fully participate in society. Blind people were excluded from the sighted world, but also entirely dependent on sighted people for information and education.

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The conclusion is the final paragraph of an essay. It should generally take up no more than 10–15% of the text . A strong essay conclusion :

  • Returns to your thesis
  • Ties together your main points
  • Shows why your argument matters

A great conclusion should finish with a memorable or impactful sentence that leaves the reader with a strong final impression.

What not to include in a conclusion

To make your essay’s conclusion as strong as possible, there are a few things you should avoid. The most common mistakes are:

  • Including new arguments or evidence
  • Undermining your arguments (e.g. “This is just one approach of many”)
  • Using concluding phrases like “To sum up…” or “In conclusion…”

Braille paved the way for dramatic cultural changes in the way blind people were treated and the opportunities available to them. Louis Braille’s innovation was to reimagine existing reading systems from a blind perspective, and the success of this invention required sighted teachers to adapt to their students’ reality instead of the other way around. In this sense, Braille helped drive broader social changes in the status of blindness. New accessibility tools provide practical advantages to those who need them, but they can also change the perspectives and attitudes of those who do not.

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Checklist: Essay

My essay follows the requirements of the assignment (topic and length ).

My introduction sparks the reader’s interest and provides any necessary background information on the topic.

My introduction contains a thesis statement that states the focus and position of the essay.

I use paragraphs to structure the essay.

I use topic sentences to introduce each paragraph.

Each paragraph has a single focus and a clear connection to the thesis statement.

I make clear transitions between paragraphs and ideas.

My conclusion doesn’t just repeat my points, but draws connections between arguments.

I don’t introduce new arguments or evidence in the conclusion.

I have given an in-text citation for every quote or piece of information I got from another source.

I have included a reference page at the end of my essay, listing full details of all my sources.

My citations and references are correctly formatted according to the required citation style .

My essay has an interesting and informative title.

I have followed all formatting guidelines (e.g. font, page numbers, line spacing).

Your essay meets all the most important requirements. Our editors can give it a final check to help you submit with confidence.

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An essay is a focused piece of writing that explains, argues, describes, or narrates.

In high school, you may have to write many different types of essays to develop your writing skills.

Academic essays at college level are usually argumentative : you develop a clear thesis about your topic and make a case for your position using evidence, analysis and interpretation.

The structure of an essay is divided into an introduction that presents your topic and thesis statement , a body containing your in-depth analysis and arguments, and a conclusion wrapping up your ideas.

The structure of the body is flexible, but you should always spend some time thinking about how you can organize your essay to best serve your ideas.

Your essay introduction should include three main things, in this order:

  • An opening hook to catch the reader’s attention.
  • Relevant background information that the reader needs to know.
  • A thesis statement that presents your main point or argument.

The length of each part depends on the length and complexity of your essay .

A thesis statement is a sentence that sums up the central point of your paper or essay . Everything else you write should relate to this key idea.

The thesis statement is essential in any academic essay or research paper for two main reasons:

  • It gives your writing direction and focus.
  • It gives the reader a concise summary of your main point.

Without a clear thesis statement, an essay can end up rambling and unfocused, leaving your reader unsure of exactly what you want to say.

A topic sentence is a sentence that expresses the main point of a paragraph . Everything else in the paragraph should relate to the topic sentence.

At college level, you must properly cite your sources in all essays , research papers , and other academic texts (except exams and in-class exercises).

Add a citation whenever you quote , paraphrase , or summarize information or ideas from a source. You should also give full source details in a bibliography or reference list at the end of your text.

The exact format of your citations depends on which citation style you are instructed to use. The most common styles are APA , MLA , and Chicago .

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The Invention of Paper

Who Invented Paper, and When?

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Try to imagine life without paper. Even in the era of emails and digital books, paper is all around us. Paper is in shopping bags, money, store receipts, cereal boxes, and toilet paper. We use paper in so many ways every day. So, where did this marvelously versatile material come from?

According to ancient Chinese historical sources, a court eunuch named Ts'ai Lun (or Cai Lun) presented the newly-invented paper to the Emperor Hedi of the Eastern Han Dynasty in 105 CE. The historian Fan Hua (398-445 CE) recorded this version of events, but archaeological finds from western China and Tibet suggest that paper was invented centuries earlier.

Samples of even more ancient paper, some of it dating to c. 200 BCE, have been unearthed in the ancient Silk Road cities of Dunhuang and Khotan, and in Tibet. The dry climate in these places allowed the paper to survive for up to 2,000 years without entirely decomposing. Amazingly, some of this paper even has ink marks on it, proving that ink was invented much earlier than historians had supposed.

Writing Materials Before Paper

Of course, people in various places around the world were writing long before the invention of paper. Materials such as bark, silk, wood, and leather functioned in a similar way to paper, although they were either much more expensive or heavier. In China, many early works were recorded on long bamboo strips , which were then bound with leather straps or string into books.

People world-wide also carved very important notations into stone or bone, or pressed stamps into wet clay and then dried or fired the tablets to preserve their words. However, writing (and later printing) required a material that was both cheap and lightweight to become truly ubiquitous. Paper fit the bill perfectly.

Chinese Paper-Making

Early paper-makers in China used hemp fibers, which were soaked in water and pounded with a large wooden mallet. The resulting slurry was then poured over a horizontal mold; loosely-woven cloth stretched over a framework of bamboo allowed the water to drip out the bottom or evaporate, leaving behind a flat sheet of dry hemp-fiber paper.

Over time, paper-makers began to use other materials in their product, including bamboo, mulberry and different types of tree bark. They dyed paper for official records with a yellow substance, the imperial color, which had the added benefit of repelling insects that might have destroyed the paper otherwise.

One of the most common formats for early paper was the scroll. A few long pieces of paper were pasted together to form a strip, which was then wrapped around a wooden roller. The other end of the paper was attached to a thin wooden dowel, with a piece of silk cord in the middle to tie the scroll shut.

The Spread of Paper-Making

From its point of origin in China, the idea and technology of paper-making spread throughout Asia. In the 500s CE, artisans on the Korean Peninsula began to make paper using many of the same materials as Chinese paper-makers. The Koreans also used rice straw and seaweed, expanding the types of fiber available for paper production. This early adoption of paper fueled the Korean innovations in printing, as well. Metal movable type was invented by 1234 CE on the peninsula.

Around 610 CE, according to legend, the Korean Buddhist monk Don-Cho introduced paper-making to the court of Emperor Kotoku in Japan . Paper-making technology also spread west through Tibet and then south into India .

Paper Reaches the Middle East and Europe

In 751 CE, the armies of Tang China and the ever-expanding Arab Abbasid Empire clashed in the Battle of Talas River , in what is now Kyrgyzstan. One of the most interesting repercussions of this Arab victory was that the Abbasids captured Chinese artisans, including master paper-makers like Tou Houan, and took them back to the Middle East.

At that time, the Abbasid Empire stretched from Spain and Portugal in the west through North Africa to Central Asia in the east, so knowledge of this marvelous new material spread far and wide. Before long, cities from Samarkand (now in Uzbekistan ) to Damascus and Cairo had become centers of paper production.

In 1120, the Moors established Europe's first paper mill at Valencia, Spain (then called Xativa). From there, this Chinese invention passed to Italy, Germany, and other parts of Europe. Paper helped spread knowledge, much of which was gleaned from the great Asian culture centers along the Silk Road, that enabled Europe's High Middle Ages.

Manifold Uses

Meanwhile, in East Asia, paper was used for an enormous number of purposes. Combined with varnish, it became beautiful lacquer-ware storage vessels and furniture. In Japan, the walls of homes were often made of rice-paper. Besides paintings and books, paper was made into fans, umbrellas, even highly effective armor. Paper truly is one of the most wonderful Asian inventions of all time.

History of China, "Invention of Paper in China," 2007.

" The Invention of Paper ," Robert C. Williams Paper Museum, Georgia Tech, accessed Dec. 16, 2011.

"Understanding Manuscripts," International Dunhuang Project, accessed Dec. 16, 2011.​

Wei Zhang. The Four Treasures: Inside the Scholar's Studio , San Francisco: Long River Press, 2004.

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19th Century

The Evolution of 19th Century Paper: From Handmade to Industrial Production

Welcome to my blog, 19th Century ! In this article, we delve into the fascinating world of 19th century paper . Discover the importance of paper in shaping communication, industry, and culture during this transformative era. Join us on this historical journey as we explore the intricacies and impact of this essential material.

Table of Contents

The Evolution of 19th Century Paper: From Papyrus to Machine-Made Sheets

In the 19th century , the production and use of paper underwent a significant transformation. The ancient practice of writing on papyrus gradually gave way to machine-made sheets , which revolutionized the paper industry.

Papyrus, made from the pith of the papyrus plant, had been used as a writing material for centuries. However, it was a labor-intensive and expensive process to produce. The demand for paper grew with the spread of literacy and the printing press, leading to the need for more efficient methods of papermaking.

The invention of the paper machine in the early 19th century revolutionized paper production. This invention allowed for the mass production of paper using wood pulp, linen rags, or other fibers. The availability of raw materials and the mechanization of the process made paper more affordable and accessible to a wider range of people.

Machine-made sheets offered many advantages over papyrus. They were more consistent in texture, size, and thickness, making them ideal for printing and writing. The increased availability of paper also led to a surge in publications, newspapers, and written correspondence.

The development of steam-powered machines further enhanced the efficiency of paper production in the 19th century. These machines could produce large quantities of paper at a faster rate, meeting the growing demand and allowing for the expansion of industries that relied on paper, such as publishing and education.

Industrialization played a crucial role in the evolution of 19th-century paper. The combination of technological advancements, the availability of raw materials, and the increasing demand for paper resulted in a significant shift from traditional methods to machine-made paper.

In conclusion, the 19th century witnessed a remarkable evolution in the production of paper. The transition from papyrus to machine-made sheets revolutionized the paper industry, making it more accessible, affordable, and efficient. This transformation played a crucial role in facilitating the spread of literacy and the growth of various industries during this period.

AQA GCSE Literature Paper 1 Section B: 19th Century Novel

Classical music for when you’re on a deadline, what type of paper was commonly used during the 19th century.

During the 19th century , various types of paper were commonly used for different purposes.

For general writing and correspondence, rag paper was widely used. Made from cotton or linen fibers, rag paper had a high quality and durability compared to other types. It was often used for official documents, letters, and books.

Newsprint was another type of paper that gained popularity during this period. It was made from wood pulp, making it less expensive to produce. Newsprint was commonly used for newspapers and magazines, as it offered a cost-effective option for mass printing.

Additionally, vellum paper was often used for special documents, such as legal contracts and certificates. Vellum was made from treated animal skins, which gave it a smooth and durable surface suitable for calligraphy and important records.

Blotting paper was also commonly used during the 19th century. It was highly absorbent and used to absorb excess ink when writing, preventing smudging and blotting.

Overall, the choice of paper during the 19th century depended on the specific purpose and budget of the individual or institution using it.

What kind of paper was utilized in 1860?

In the 19th century, various types of paper were used for different purposes. Rag paper was commonly used for important documents like legal papers, certificates, and currency. It was made from cotton or linen rags and was known for its durability and resistance to aging.

For everyday writing and printing needs, wood pulp paper became increasingly popular during this time. It was made from ground-up wood fibers and was less expensive to produce compared to rag paper. However, wood pulp paper was not as durable and prone to yellowing and deteriorating over time.

Another type of paper that gained popularity in the 19th century was newsprint . It was a low-cost, lightweight paper used primarily for newspapers and other publications. Newsprint was made from wood pulp and had a coarse texture.

In addition to these primary types of paper, other specialty papers were also used during this period. For example, vellum paper , made from treated animal skins, was sometimes used for manuscripts and fine artwork.

Overall, the paper used in the 19th century ranged from high-quality rag paper for important documents to cheaper wood pulp paper and newsprint for everyday purposes.

What material was paper made from during the 18th century?

During the 18th century, paper was primarily made from rags. These rags were typically sourced from discarded clothing and textiles. The process of making paper involved breaking down the rags into pulp by soaking them in water and then beating them to form a fibrous mixture. This pulp was then pressed and dried to create sheets of paper. As demand for paper increased during this time period, there was a growing need for alternative materials. One such material was wood pulp, which started to be used in the latter half of the century. Wooden scraps and chips were processed to extract the cellulose fibers, which were then mixed with other additives to create paper. This method, known as mechanical pulping, allowed for a more cost-effective production of paper. However, it resulted in a lower quality product compared to rag-based paper. Wood pulp became increasingly popular in the 19th century and eventually replaced rags as the primary material for paper production.

What was the process of paper production like in the early 1800s?

In the early 1800s, the process of paper production underwent significant changes.

The production of paper during the 19th century involved several steps. It typically began with the collection of rags, which were the primary source of fibers for the paper-making process. These rags were sourced from various places, such as clothing factories, households, and even prisons.

Once the rags were collected, they were sorted and then cut into smaller pieces. This was done to facilitate the subsequent process of breaking them down into fibers. The cut rags were then washed multiple times to remove any dirt or impurities.

After washing, the rags were beaten in large machines called Hollander beaters. The beaters had rotating blades or hammers that shredded the rags into individual fibers. This process was crucial in breaking down the rags and creating a pulp-like material.

Next, the resulting pulp was mixed with water to create a slurry. This slurry was poured onto wire screens, which were used to drain the water and collect the fibers. The screens had a fine mesh that allowed the water to pass through while retaining the fibers, creating a wet sheet of paper.

To further consolidate the fibers and remove excess water, the wet sheets were pressed between felt or woolen blankets. This process, known as pressing, helped to improve the strength and smoothness of the paper.

After pressing, the wet sheets were dried either by hanging them on racks or passing them through heated drying cylinders. This step aimed to remove all remaining moisture and solidify the paper.

Once dry, the paper sheets were often sized to improve their surface characteristics. Sizing involved applying substances like starch or gelatin to the paper, which made it more resistant to ink absorption and gave it a smoother finish.

Finally, the paper was cut into desired sizes and sometimes subjected to additional treatments, such as calendering, which involved pressing the sheets between hot rollers to make them even smoother and more polished.

In conclusion, the paper production process in the early 1800s involved collecting rags, beating them into pulp, forming wet sheets, pressing and drying them, sizing, and eventually cutting the paper into usable forms.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did the invention of the papermaking machine in the 19th century impact the production and distribution of paper.

The invention of the papermaking machine in the 19th century had a significant impact on the production and distribution of paper. Prior to the invention of the papermaking machine , paper was primarily made by hand, which was a time-consuming and labor-intensive process. The introduction of the papermaking machine revolutionized the industry by automating and streamlining the production process.

The machine allowed for the continuous production of paper, significantly increasing the speed and efficiency of papermaking. This led to a significant increase in paper production, making it more affordable and accessible to a wider audience . The availability of paper increased, which spurred the growth of printing and publishing industries.

Moreover, the papermaking machine allowed for the production of paper in larger quantities and standardized sizes. This facilitated the mass production of newspapers, books, and other printed materials , which had a profound impact on education, communication, and the dissemination of information during the 19th century. The faster production also meant that there was a greater supply of paper available for trade and distribution, enabling wider access to printed materials.

Additionally, the machine-made paper was of a more consistent quality compared to handmade paper. This made it suitable for various printing techniques, including lithography and engraving, which further expanded the possibilities for visual communication and artistic expression.

In conclusion, the invention of the papermaking machine in the 19th century significantly transformed the production and distribution of paper. It streamlined the manufacturing process, increased production output, reduced costs, and made paper more widely accessible to the general public. This, in turn, fueled the growth of the printing and publishing industries and played a crucial role in the spread of information and literacy during that time.

What technological advancements were made in the paper industry during the 19th century?

During the 19th century, there were several key technological advancements made in the paper industry. One notable innovation was the invention of the Fourdrinier machine, which revolutionized the papermaking process. The Fourdrinier machine, patented in 1801, allowed for continuous and mechanized paper production.

Another important development was the introduction of wood pulp as a raw material in paper production. Previously, paper was primarily made from rag fibers, which were expensive and limited in supply. The introduction of wood pulp, which was cheaper and more abundant, greatly increased paper production and accessibility.

Furthermore, the invention of the papermaking machine by Henry and Sealy Fourdrinier in the early 19th century improved paper quality and consistency. This machine enabled the production of larger sheets of paper with a more uniform thickness.

In addition to these advancements, the 19th century saw improvements in bleaching techniques. Previously, paper had a yellowish tint due to impurities in the pulp. However, the development of chlorine-based bleaching agents in the mid-19th century allowed for the production of whiter and brighter paper.

Lastly, the invention of the rotary printing press in the mid-19th century significantly impacted the paper industry. This new printing technology enabled faster and more efficient printing, leading to increased demand for paper.

Overall, the 19th century was a period of significant technological advancements in the paper industry. These innovations, such as the Fourdrinier machine, wood pulp utilization, papermaking machines, improved bleaching techniques, and the rotary printing press, transformed the industry and paved the way for modern paper production.

How did the demand for paper change in the 19th century with the rise of industrialization and increased literacy rates?

The demand for paper significantly increased in the 19th century due to the rise of industrialization and increased literacy rates.

During this period, industrialization led to technological advancements in papermaking, making it more efficient and cost-effective. This resulted in a substantial increase in paper production, allowing it to become more readily available and affordable for the general population. The development of steam-powered machines and the use of wood pulp as a raw material also contributed to the expansion of paper production.

In addition to industrialization, the rising literacy rates throughout the 19th century played a crucial role in driving the demand for paper. As education became more accessible and compulsory in many countries, more people were learning to read and write. This increased literacy created a growing market for books, newspapers, magazines, and other printed materials, all of which required paper.

The increased demand for paper was further fueled by the development of mass printing technologies, such as the rotary press and the steam-powered printing press. These technologies allowed for faster and cheaper production of printed materials, making them more accessible to a wider audience.

Overall, the combination of industrialization and increased literacy rates in the 19th century led to a significant growth in the demand for paper. This had a profound impact on the paper industry, shaping its development and paving the way for further advancements in the 20th century.

In conclusion, the 19th century was a pivotal era for the development and advancement of paper. The advancements in paper production techniques, including the invention of the Fourdrinier machine and the use of wood pulp, revolutionized the industry and made paper more accessible than ever before.

The 19th century also saw significant improvements in the quality and durability of paper, with the introduction of chemical treatments such as sizing and bleaching. These advancements allowed for the creation of archival-grade papers that have stood the test of time, preserving important historical documents and artworks.

Moreover, the rise of printing technologies, such as the steam-powered printing press, facilitated the mass production of books, newspapers, and magazines, democratizing access to information and shaping the literary and intellectual landscape of the time.

Additionally, the 19th century witnessed a growing demand for decorative papers, as advancements in printing techniques and the popularity of Victorian-era design aesthetic gave rise to intricate patterns and richly colored papers. These papers were used for book covers, wallpaper, and even for personal correspondence, adding a touch of elegance and luxury to everyday life.

Overall, the 19th century marked a transformative period for paper, both in terms of its production methods and its applications. Its impact on various industries and its contribution to the dissemination of knowledge and culture cannot be understated. The innovations and developments of the 19th century laid the foundation for the diverse range of papers we have today, making it a crucial chapter in the history of this essential material.

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Paper Manufacturing Process: How Paper is Made?

Niti Samani

The global paper production capacity is projected to reach 510 million tons by 2025, driven by rising demand for packaging, printing, and writing paper products. (Source: Research and Markets)

The paper manufacturing process is a complex and resource-intensive process that involves converting raw materials such as wood, recycled paper, or other plant-based fibers into high-quality paper products. Paper is a ubiquitous product that is used in a variety of applications, from printing and packaging to hygiene and personal care products.

Paper Manufacturing Process: How Paper is Made?

The paper manufacturing process involves several stages, including pulping, refining, screening, and drying, each of which plays a crucial role in determining the quality and properties of the final product. The process also generates significant waste, including water, chemicals, and paper sludge, which can have a significant environmental impact if not managed properly.

In recent years, the paper manufacturing industry has been under increasing pressure to adopt more sustainable and efficient practices, driven by a growing awareness of the need to reduce waste, conserve natural resources, and minimize environmental impact.

In this context, it is important for companies to understand the key trends, challenges, and opportunities facing the paper manufacturing industry and to adopt new strategies and practices that can help them improve their operations, reduce costs, and produce high-quality paper products that meet customer needs while minimizing their environmental impact.

The basis for all of this is understanding how paper is made. This article will help you with it all by covering the following topics:

What is Paper Manufacturing?

How to ensure quality control in the paper manufacturing process, challenges associated with the paper manufacturing process, opportunities associated with the paper manufacturing process, areas of improvement in the paper manufacturing process, how have technological advancements affected the paper manufacturing process, role of automation in the paper manufacturing process, ensuring sustainability in the paper manufacturing process, new trends in the paper manufacturing process, faqs related to the paper manufacturing process, how can deskera help you with the paper manufacturing process, key takeaways, related articles.

Paper manufacturing is the process of converting raw materials, such as wood fiber, recycled fiber, and other materials, into paper products. The process involves a series of mechanical, chemical, and other treatments that transform the raw materials into pulp, which is then formed into continuous sheets of paper.

The paper manufacturing process typically includes several stages, including preparation of raw materials, pulping, refining, forming, pressing, drying, and finishing. During each of these stages, the pulp mixture undergoes various treatments to improve its properties, such as strength, brightness, and printability, and to create the final paper product.

The paper manufacturing process can vary depending on the intended use of the paper product, as different types of paper require specific properties and characteristics. For example, newsprint paper requires high porosity and low density, while fine writing paper requires high smoothness and uniformity.

Paper manufacturing is a complex and highly automated process, and it requires advanced technologies, equipment, and skilled workers to ensure that the final paper product meets the desired quality and performance requirements.

The industry has made significant advances in recent years to improve the efficiency and sustainability of the process, such as reducing water and energy consumption, increasing the use of recycled fibers, and minimizing waste and emissions.

The paper manufacturing process involves several stages, including the preparation of raw materials, pulping, refining, forming, pressing, drying, and finishing. The following is a general overview of the process:

Preparation of the Fiber

The preparation of the fiber is the first step in the paper manufacturing process. It involves breaking down the raw material, typically wood chips, into small fibers that can be used to make paper.

The preparation of raw materials is a crucial step in the paper manufacturing process, as it affects the quality and properties of the final paper product. The main raw materials used in papermaking are wood fiber, recycled fiber, and other materials such as pulp substitutes, fillers, and chemicals.

The preparation of wood fiber involves harvesting trees, transporting them to the pulp mill, and converting them into wood chips. The wood chips are then subjected to a series of mechanical and chemical treatments to separate the cellulose fibers from the lignin and other impurities. This process is known as pulping, and it can be done using various methods, such as chemical pulping, mechanical pulping, or a combination of both.

Recycled fiber is another important raw material used in papermaking, and it involves collecting used paper and converting it into pulp. The recycled fiber is then blended with virgin fiber to create a pulp mixture that meets the desired quality and performance requirements.

Other materials, such as pulp substitutes, fillers, and chemicals, may also be added to the pulp mixture to improve the paper's properties, such as strength, brightness, and printability. These materials can include clay, talc, starch, dyes, and various chemical additives.

Once the raw materials are prepared, they are typically transported to the paper mill, where they undergo further processing, such as refining, forming, pressing, drying, and finishing, to create the final paper product.

Overall, the preparation of raw materials is a critical step in the paper manufacturing process, and it requires careful attention to detail and quality control to ensure that the final pulp mixture meets the desired quality and performance requirements. This will ensure that your customers are satisfied, leading to improved customer retention and customer loyalty .

Pulping is a crucial step in the paper manufacturing process, during which wood chips, recycled paper, or other raw materials are turned into pulp, which is then used to make paper.

The pulping process can be divided into two main types: mechanical pulping and chemical pulping.

Mechanical pulping involves grinding the wood chips or other raw materials using mechanical force to separate the fibers. This method is fast and efficient but produces a lower-quality pulp that is not suitable for all paper types.

Chemical pulping, on the other hand, uses chemicals to break down the lignin that binds the fibers together, resulting in a higher-quality pulp. There are two main types of chemical pulping: sulfite and kraft pulping.

  • Kraft pulping: This is the most common method of chemical pulping. The wood chips are cooked in a solution of sodium hydroxide (caustic soda) and sodium sulfide (white liquor) at high temperatures and pressure. This breaks down the lignin and separates the fibers, leaving a pulp that is strong and versatile.
  • Sulfite pulping: This method uses a solution of sulfurous acid to break down the lignin and separate the fibers. Sulfite pulping produces a pulp that is softer and more flexible than kraft pulp.

Once the pulp is produced, it goes through a series of refining, cleaning, and screening processes to remove impurities and improve the quality of the pulp. The pulp is then ready to be used to make paper or other products.

Overall, pulping is a critical step in the paper manufacturing process and is essential for producing high-quality paper products.

After the pulping process, the fibers are washed and screened to remove any remaining impurities. The resulting pulp can then be used to make paper or further refined to improve its properties.

Refining is an important step in the paper manufacturing process that occurs after the pulping stage. It involves mechanically treating the pulp to further separate and refine the fibers to create a pulp with the desired properties for the specific paper product being produced.

The refining process typically involves passing the pulp through a series of conical or cylindrical refiners, which use rotating discs or bars to mechanically refine the fibers. The refining process can be adjusted to control the degree of fiber separation and the resulting fiber characteristics, such as fiber length, strength, and flexibility.

The goal of refining is to create a pulp that is suitable for the specific type of paper being produced, whether it is newsprint, printing and writing paper, packaging materials, or specialty papers. The refining process can be adjusted to create pulps with different characteristics, such as higher or lower tensile strength, porosity, or smoothness.

After refining, the pulp may go through additional cleaning and screening processes to remove any remaining impurities before being sent to the paper machine for further processing.

Overall, refining is a critical step in the paper manufacturing process, as it helps to improve the quality and consistency of the pulp, which ultimately affects the final properties of the paper product. The desired output from the same will help in improving net revenue and net profit ratio of your business.

Forming is a critical step in the paper manufacturing process that involves transforming the pulp into a continuous sheet of paper on a paper machine.

The paper machine is a complex piece of equipment that typically consists of several sections, including the forming section, press section, drying section, and calendering section. The forming section is where the pulp is transformed into a continuous sheet of paper.

In the forming section, the pulp slurry is pumped onto a moving mesh screen or wire. As the pulp travels along the screen, water is drained off, and the fibers begin to bond together to form a wet web of paper. The consistency and speed of the pulp flow are carefully controlled to ensure that the paper sheet has the desired properties, such as strength, smoothness, and thickness.

The wet web of paper is then passed through the press section, where it is squeezed between two or more rolls to remove more water and improve the paper's density and strength.

Next, the paper is dried in the drying section using steam-heated cylinders, and then it may pass through the calendering section to improve its surface finish and smoothness.

The forming process is critical to the quality of the final paper product, as it can affect the paper's surface properties, such as smoothness, porosity, and formation. Proper formation of the paper sheet is essential to ensure that it has the desired physical and mechanical properties for its intended use.

Overall, forming is a crucial step in the paper manufacturing process, and careful control of the pulp consistency, flow, and speed is essential to ensure that the final paper product has the desired quality and characteristics. This will thus encourage returning customers as well as increased sales velocity .

Pressing is an important step in the paper manufacturing process that occurs after the pulp is formed into a continuous sheet of paper on the paper machine.

The pressing stage involves passing the wet paper web through one or more sets of rollers or presses, which squeeze out water and flatten the paper. This process helps to improve the paper's density, strength, and smoothness by removing excess water and consolidating the paper fibers.

The pressing stage typically follows the forming stage and precedes the drying stage in the paper machine. The number of press sections and the pressure applied during pressing can vary depending on the desired properties of the final paper product.

The pressing process helps to remove the majority of the remaining water from the wet paper web, which can account for up to 50% of the paper's weight. As the paper web is squeezed between the rollers, the fibers are flattened and compacted, resulting in a denser and stronger paper product.

After pressing, the paper web typically enters the drying section of the paper machine, where it is dried using heated cylinders or other drying methods. The pressing stage helps to prepare the paper web for efficient drying and can significantly impact the final quality of the paper product.

Overall, pressing is an essential step in the paper manufacturing process, as it helps to improve the paper's strength, density, and smoothness, which are critical factors in the final paper product's quality and performance.

Drying is a crucial step in the paper manufacturing process that occurs after the pulp has been formed into a continuous sheet of paper and pressed to remove excess water.

The drying stage involves passing the paper web through a series of heated cylinders or other drying methods to remove the remaining water and bring the paper to its final moisture content. The drying process is carefully controlled to ensure that the paper is dried uniformly and without any damage to its structure or surface properties.

The drying section of the paper machine typically consists of several sets of heated cylinders arranged in a specific sequence to gradually reduce the moisture content of the paper web. As the paper web travels through the drying section, it is subjected to increasing temperatures and decreasing humidity levels, which cause the remaining water to evaporate.

The drying process can significantly impact the final quality of the paper product, as it can affect the paper's strength, smoothness, and surface properties. Proper control of the drying temperature, humidity, and airflow is critical to ensure that the paper is dried uniformly and without any defects.

After the paper has been dried to the desired moisture content, it may go through additional processing, such as calendaring, coating, or surface sizing, to further improve its surface properties and enhance its performance for specific applications.

Overall, drying is a critical step in the paper manufacturing process, and careful control of the drying conditions is essential to ensure that the final paper product has the desired quality and characteristics. When this stage is carried out properly, it will help you in avoiding additional manufacturing costs , which will lead to higher gross profits .

Bleaching (Optional Step)

Bleaching is an optional step in the paper manufacturing process that is used to improve the brightness and whiteness of the paper. Bleaching removes residual lignin and other impurities from the fibers, which can cause the paper to turn yellow over time. There are several methods of bleaching used in the paper industry:

  • Elemental chlorine bleaching: This method uses chlorine gas to bleach the pulp. While effective, it can produce harmful byproducts such as dioxins and furans, which are toxic and persistent in the environment.
  • Chlorine dioxide bleaching: This method uses chlorine dioxide gas, which is less harmful than elemental chlorine. Chlorine dioxide is a powerful oxidizing agent that breaks down the lignin and other impurities in the pulp.
  • Oxygen delignification: This method uses oxygen gas to break down the lignin in the pulp. It is less effective than chlorine-based bleaching but produces fewer harmful byproducts.
  • Peroxide bleaching: This method uses hydrogen peroxide to bleach the pulp. It is a relatively mild and environmentally friendly method of bleaching.
  • Ozone bleaching: This method uses ozone gas to bleach the pulp. Ozone is a powerful oxidizing agent that breaks down the lignin and other impurities in the pulp. It is an effective and environmentally friendly method of bleaching but is more expensive than other methods.

After bleaching, the pulp is washed and screened to remove any remaining chemicals or impurities. The resulting pulp can then be used to make paper or further refined to improve its properties. Many paper manufacturers have shifted towards using chlorine-free or totally chlorine-free (TCF) bleaching methods in order to minimize environmental impacts.

Calendering (Optional Step)

Calendering is a post-processing step in the paper manufacturing process that is used to improve the surface properties of the paper, such as smoothness, gloss, and printability. The calendering process involves passing the paper sheet through a series of heated rollers under high pressure. The rollers are typically made of steel or cast iron and are either smooth or embossed with patterns or textures.

The calendering process can be divided into two types: soft calendering and hard calendering.

  • Soft calendering: This process uses a series of heated rollers with relatively low pressure. Soft calendering is used to improve the surface properties of coated papers, such as magazine paper or coated paperboard. It can also be used to add texture to specialty papers, such as wallpaper or gift-wrapping paper.
  • Hard calendering: This process uses a series of heated rollers with high pressure, which can be up to 1000 pounds per linear inch (PLI). Hard calendering is used to improve the surface properties of uncoated papers, such as printing and writing papers. It can also be used to improve the bulk and stiffness of the paper, making it more resistant to tearing and wrinkling.

The calendering process can also be combined with other surface treatments, such as coating or supercalendering, to further enhance the surface properties of the paper. The calendered paper is then wound onto rolls and can be further processed into various paper products, such as books, magazines, or packaging materials.

While calendering can improve the surface properties of the paper, it can also decrease the bulk and opacity of the paper, making it thinner and more transparent.

Therefore, the calendering process must be carefully controlled to ensure that the paper meets the desired specifications for strength, thickness, and other properties.

The coating is a common process in paper manufacturing that involves applying a layer of material to the surface of the paper to enhance its properties, such as brightness, opacity, smoothness, and printability. The coating can be applied on one or both sides of the paper and can be either aqueous-based or solvent-based.

The coating process typically occurs after the paper has been produced and before it is rolled into finished products. There are various methods of applying coatings, including blade coating, air knife coating, rod coating, and roll coating.

Blade coating is the most common method used in the paper industry, which involves applying a thin layer of coating onto the paper surface using a blade. Air knife coating uses a pressurized air stream to atomize the coating and apply it to the paper surface. Rod coating involves using a metering rod to apply a controlled amount of coating to the paper. Roll coating applies the coating using a rotating roller.

Once the coating is applied, the paper is typically dried using heated rollers or by passing through a drying oven. The finished paper can then be cut, packaged, and shipped to customers.

Coated paper is commonly used in printing applications, such as magazines, catalogs, and brochures, as well as in packaging materials, such as food packaging and labels. The coating enhances the paper's visual appeal and improves its performance characteristics, such as ink holdout and resistance to smudging and tearing.

Cutting and Packaging

Cutting and packaging are important steps in the paper manufacturing process, as they ensure that the finished product is of the desired size and shape and is packaged in a way that protects it during shipping and handling.

After the paper is made, it is typically rolled onto large spools called jumbo rolls, which can be several meters wide and weigh several tons. These jumbo rolls are then transported to a converting facility, where they are cut down into smaller rolls or sheets and packaged for sale.

The cutting process typically involves feeding the jumbo roll through a series of large cutting blades, which slice it into smaller rolls or sheets of the desired size. These cutting blades can be adjusted to produce rolls or sheets of different widths and lengths, depending on the requirements of the customer.

Once the paper has been cut to size, it is typically packaged in protective wrapping to prevent damage during shipping and handling. This wrapping can be made of materials such as plastic or paper and may be printed with information about the paper product, such as its weight, grade, and manufacturer.

Overall, cutting and packaging are essential steps in the paper manufacturing process, as they ensure that the finished product meets the specific needs of customers and is protected during transportation and storage.

This is the finishing stage of the paper manufacturing process. Finishing is the final stage of the paper manufacturing process, which involves a variety of processes to improve the paper's appearance, performance, and functionality for specific applications.

Overall, finishing is a critical step in the paper manufacturing process, as it helps to improve the paper's appearance, performance, and functionality for specific applications. The finishing process can significantly impact the final quality and value of the paper product, and it requires careful attention to detail and quality control.

When this stage is carried out properly, you will be able to avoid additional operating costs , while also increasing the ratio of operating income to operating expenses .

Ensuring quality control in the paper manufacturing process is essential to produce high-quality products that meet customer expectations. Here are some steps that can be taken to ensure quality control in the paper manufacturing process:

  • Raw Material Quality Control: Raw materials used in paper manufacturing should be checked for quality before being used. The quality of wood pulp, recycled paper, and other raw materials should be checked for impurities, moisture, and other factors that can affect the quality of the final product.
  • Process Control: The manufacturing process should be monitored to ensure that it is within the acceptable range of parameters. Control charts can be used to track key process parameters such as temperature, humidity, and pressure, and deviations from the standard parameters should be addressed promptly.
  • Quality Testing: Quality testing should be performed at various stages of the manufacturing process to ensure that the product meets quality standards. Tests may include tensile strength, tear resistance, brightness, and other parameters.
  • Calibration and Maintenance: The equipment used in the manufacturing process should be calibrated and maintained regularly to ensure accurate readings and prevent breakdowns that can affect the quality of the final product.
  • Statistical Process Control: Statistical process control can be used to monitor the manufacturing process and detect any deviations from the standard parameters. This can help identify potential quality issues before they affect the final product.
  • Quality Audits: Regular quality audits should be conducted to ensure that the manufacturing process is meeting quality standards and to identify areas for improvement.

Overall, ensuring quality control in the paper manufacturing process requires a combination of effective process control, quality testing, and regular maintenance and calibration of equipment.

The paper manufacturing process faces several challenges, including:

  • Environmental impact: The paper industry is a significant consumer of natural resources, such as water and wood fiber, and it generates large amounts of waste and emissions, including greenhouse gases, wastewater, and solid waste. This can have a significant impact on the environment, and the industry is facing increasing pressure to reduce its environmental footprint and adopt more sustainable practices.
  • Energy consumption: Paper manufacturing requires significant amounts of energy, particularly in the drying and refining stages. This can lead to high energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions, and the industry is working to improve energy efficiency and adopt renewable energy sources to reduce its impact on the environment.
  • Water consumption: The paper manufacturing process also requires a large amount of water, particularly in the pulping and papermaking stages. Efforts are being made to reduce water consumption through the use of more efficient technologies and water recycling.
  • Raw material availability: The paper industry relies on a finite supply of natural resources, such as wood fiber, and the availability and cost of these resources can vary significantly depending on factors such as climate, geography, and market demand. This can create supply chain challenges and affect the cost and quality of the final paper product.
  • Changing market demand: The paper industry is facing increasing competition from digital media, which has reduced demand for certain types of paper products, such as newspapers and magazines. This has led to a shift in the industry towards higher value and specialty paper products, such as packaging materials, tissue paper, and fine writing paper.
  • Quality control: The paper manufacturing process requires strict quality control measures to ensure that the final product meets the desired quality and performance requirements. This can be a challenge, particularly as the process involves multiple stages and variables.
  • Cost competitiveness: The paper manufacturing industry faces intense global competition, particularly from low-cost producers. This can be a challenge for companies to remain cost-competitive while maintaining high-quality standards.
  • Technology advancements: The paper manufacturing industry requires constant technological advancements to remain efficient, cost-effective, and sustainable. Keeping up with technological advancements can be a challenge, particularly for smaller companies.
  • Regulatory compliance: The paper industry is subject to a range of regulations and standards related to environmental protection, worker safety, and product quality. Compliance with these regulations can be complex and costly, and non-compliance can lead to legal and reputational risks.

Overall, the paper manufacturing process faces several challenges related to sustainability, energy efficiency, raw material availability, market demand, and regulatory compliance. The industry is working to address these challenges through continuous innovation , collaboration, and continuous improvement in the manufacturing process.

Here are some opportunities associated with the paper manufacturing process:

  • Sustainable practices: The paper manufacturing industry has the opportunity to adopt more sustainable practices, such as using renewable energy sources, reducing water and energy consumption, increasing the use of recycled fibers, and minimizing waste and emissions. These practices not only reduce the environmental impact but can also result in cost savings and increased efficiency.
  • Innovative products: The paper manufacturing industry has the opportunity to develop innovative products that meet changing consumer needs and preferences. For example, there is growing demand for paper products that are more eco-friendly, biodegradable, and compostable.
  • Digital technologies: The paper manufacturing industry can leverage digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the Internet of Things , to improve efficiency, productivity, and quality control. For example, digital sensors can monitor the quality of paper products in real time, reducing waste and improving overall product quality.
  • International markets: The paper manufacturing industry has the opportunity to tap into international markets, particularly in emerging economies where demand for paper products is growing. Companies can expand their global footprint, diversify their revenue streams, and access new customers and markets.
  • Raw material innovation: The paper manufacturing industry has the opportunity to develop new and innovative raw materials, such as non-wood fibers, that can improve the quality and sustainability of paper products. For example, hemp and bamboo fibers are being used as alternative sources of raw material, as they require less water and pesticides than traditional wood fibers.
  • Circular economy: The paper manufacturing industry can embrace the circular economy model, where products and materials are reused, recycled, and repurposed. This can create new revenue streams, reduce waste and emissions, and improve overall sustainability.

Overall, the paper manufacturing industry has many opportunities to innovate, improve sustainability, and tap into new markets and technologies. By embracing these opportunities, companies can stay competitive and meet changing consumer and environmental demands.

Here are some areas of improvement in the paper manufacturing process:

  • Energy efficiency: The paper manufacturing process requires a significant amount of energy, particularly in the drying stage. Improving energy efficiency can result in significant cost savings and reduce environmental impact. This can be achieved through the use of more efficient technologies, such as heat recovery systems and cogeneration, and the adoption of renewable energy sources.
  • Water conservation: The paper manufacturing process requires a large amount of water, particularly in the pulping and papermaking stages. Improving water conservation can reduce costs and environmental impact. This can be achieved through the use of more efficient technologies, such as closed-loop water systems and water recycling.
  • Raw material sourcing: The paper manufacturing process relies on raw materials, such as wood fiber and recycled paper. Improving raw material sourcing can reduce costs, increase sustainability, and improve quality. This can be achieved through the use of alternative raw materials, such as non-wood fibers, and the adoption of sustainable sourcing practices.
  • Waste reduction: The paper manufacturing process generates waste, such as sludge and trimmings. Improving waste reduction can reduce costs and environmental impact. This can be achieved through the use of waste-to-energy systems, recycling, and waste reduction programs.
  • Digital technologies: The paper manufacturing process can benefit from the adoption of digital technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, to improve efficiency, productivity, and quality control. For example, digital sensors can monitor the quality of paper products in real time, reducing waste and improving overall product quality.
  • Supply chain optimization: The paper manufacturing process involves multiple stages and suppliers. Optimizing the supply chain can improve efficiency, reduce costs, and increase sustainability. This can be achieved through the adoption of supply chain management systems and the use of sustainable sourcing practices.
  • Regulatory compliance: The paper manufacturing process is subject to various regulations and environmental standards. Improving regulatory compliance can reduce the risk of fines and legal issues and improve the company's reputation. This can be achieved through the adoption of environmental management systems and the use of best practices.

Overall, the paper manufacturing process can benefit from continuous improvement in efficiency, sustainability, and quality control. By adopting new technologies, best practices, and sustainable sourcing practices, companies can reduce costs, maximize their returns on investment , improve their environmental impact, and maintain a competitive edge in the market.

Technological advancements have had a significant impact on the paper manufacturing process, leading to improvements in efficiency, quality, and sustainability. Here are some examples:

  • Automation: The use of automation technology has greatly improved the efficiency of the paper manufacturing process. Automated systems can control the flow of raw materials, monitor quality, and optimize master production schedules , reducing the need for manual labor and improving accuracy.
  • Digitalization: Digital technologies, such as sensors and data analytics, have enabled real-time monitoring of the paper manufacturing process, allowing for improved quality control and reduced waste. Digital systems can also analyze data to optimize production processes and reduce costs.
  • Advanced materials: The development of new materials, such as non-wood fibers and synthetic fibers, has improved the sustainability and quality of paper products. These materials require less water and energy to produce and can be recycled more efficiently than traditional wood fiber.
  • Renewable energy: The use of renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, has reduced the environmental impact of the paper manufacturing process. These sources of energy can power paper mills and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
  • Closed-loop systems: Closed-loop systems, which recycle and reuse materials and water, have reduced waste and improved sustainability. For example, closed-loop water systems can reduce the amount of freshwater used in the paper manufacturing process.
  • Smart manufacturing: Smart manufacturing technology, which integrates data from various sensors and systems, has improved the efficiency and accuracy of the paper manufacturing process. This technology can optimize production processes, reduce waste, and improve quality control.

Overall, technological advancements have enabled the paper manufacturing process to become more efficient, sustainable, and cost-effective. As new technologies continue to emerge, the industry is expected to continue to evolve, leading to further improvements in quality and environmental impact.

Automation plays a critical role in the paper manufacturing process, helping to increase efficiency, reduce costs, improve quality, and enhance safety. Here are some specific ways that automation is used in the paper manufacturing process:

  • Raw material handling: Automated systems are used to transport and store raw materials, such as wood chips, pulp, and chemicals, which are needed for the papermaking process. These systems can include conveyors, lifts, and storage tanks.
  • Stock preparation: Automation is used to control the process of preparing the raw materials for the paper machine, including refining, screening, and cleaning. This helps to ensure consistent quality and reduces waste, thereby helping in reducing the cost of goods manufactured .
  • Paper machine control: The paper machine is the heart of the paper manufacturing process, and automation is used extensively to control the various stages of the process, including forming, pressing, and drying. Sensors and computerized systems are used to monitor and adjust the machine's operation in real time, optimizing production and quality.
  • Quality control: Automated systems are used to monitor the quality of the paper throughout the manufacturing process. This includes measuring the paper's strength, thickness, moisture content, and other properties and making adjustments to the process to maintain consistent quality.
  • Maintenance and safety: Automation is also used to monitor and maintain the equipment used in the paper manufacturing process, including detecting and diagnosing faults before they cause downtime. Automated safety systems are also used to protect workers and equipment from accidents and hazards.

Overall, automation has revolutionized the paper manufacturing process, making it faster, safer, and more efficient than ever before.

Ensuring sustainability in the paper manufacturing process is essential to minimize the impact of the industry on the environment and to meet the increasing demand for environmentally responsible products. Here are some ways that the paper manufacturing process can be made more sustainable:

  • Use sustainable raw materials: The use of sustainable raw materials, such as FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified wood or recycled paper, can help to reduce the environmental impact of paper manufacturing.
  • Reduce waste: The paper manufacturing process can generate significant amounts of waste, including pulp and paper sludge. By implementing recycling and waste reduction programs, this waste can be reused or disposed of responsibly.
  • Improve energy efficiency: The paper manufacturing process is energy-intensive, and improving energy efficiency can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save costs. Energy-efficient technologies, such as heat recovery systems and energy-efficient lighting, can be used to reduce energy consumption.
  • Use renewable energy: Renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power, can be used to power the paper manufacturing process, reducing reliance on non-renewable sources of energy.
  • Reduce water usage: The paper manufacturing process requires a significant amount of water, and reducing water usage can help to conserve this valuable resource. Water conservation strategies, such as the use of closed-loop systems and water reuse, can be implemented to reduce water usage.
  • Minimize emissions: The paper manufacturing process can generate emissions, including air and water pollution. To minimize these emissions, technologies such as air pollution control devices and wastewater treatment systems can be implemented.
  • Support sustainable forestry practices: Supporting sustainable forestry practices, such as reforestation and conservation, can help to ensure the long-term availability of raw materials for paper manufacturing.

Overall, by implementing sustainable practices, the paper manufacturing process can be made more environmentally responsible and economically viable in the long term.

The paper manufacturing industry is continually evolving, and new trends are emerging that are transforming the way paper is produced. Here are some of the latest trends in the paper manufacturing process:

  • Digitalization: Digitalization is rapidly transforming the paper manufacturing process, with new technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) being used to optimize production, quality, and efficiency.
  • Circular Economy: The concept of the circular economy is gaining traction in the paper manufacturing industry, with companies seeking to minimize waste and maximize resource efficiency by reusing and recycling materials.
  • Bio-based materials: Bio-based materials, such as cellulose nanofibers and lignin, are being explored as potential alternatives to traditional materials, such as petroleum-based plastics.
  • Energy Efficiency: The focus on energy efficiency continues to be a key trend in the paper manufacturing process, with companies investing in new technologies to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Smart packaging: Smart packaging, which incorporates sensors and other technologies to provide information about the contents of the package, is becoming increasingly popular in the paper manufacturing industry, as it enhances product safety and traceability.
  • Sustainable Forestry: Sustainable forestry practices, such as reforestation and conservation, are becoming increasingly important in the paper manufacturing process as companies seek to ensure a reliable supply of raw materials and minimize the environmental impact of their operations.
  • Digital Printing: Digital printing is becoming more prevalent in the paper manufacturing industry, as it enables faster turnaround times, reduced waste, and greater flexibility in product design.

Overall, these trends are transforming the paper manufacturing process, making it more efficient, sustainable, and innovative.

  • What is the paper manufacturing process?

The paper manufacturing process involves several steps, including preparing the raw materials, pulping the wood or recycled paper, refining the pulp, and forming the paper sheets.

  • What types of raw materials are used in the paper manufacturing process?

The raw materials used in the paper manufacturing process can include wood pulp, recycled paper, and agricultural residues, among others.

  • What is pulping, and why is it necessary?

Pulping is the process of breaking down wood fibers or recycled paper into pulp. It is necessary to make the fibers suitable for papermaking.

  • How is the pulp refined?

The pulp is refined using mechanical or chemical methods, which break down the fibers further, making them more suitable for papermaking.

  • How are the paper sheets formed?

The paper sheets are formed by pressing the pulp onto a wire mesh, where the water drains away, leaving behind the paper fibers.

  • What is the purpose of drying the paper sheets?

Drying the paper sheets removes the remaining water and creates a stronger, more durable paper product.

  • How is the paper product finished?

The paper product may be finished by coating, calendaring, or embossing, depending on the desired properties.

  • What is the environmental impact of the paper manufacturing process?

The paper manufacturing process can have a significant environmental impact, including deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, and water pollution. However, sustainable practices can help to mitigate these impacts.

  • How can paper manufacturers reduce their environmental impact?

Paper manufacturers can reduce their environmental impact by using sustainable raw materials, minimizing waste and emissions, and improving energy efficiency.

  • What is FSC certification, and why is it important?

FSC certification is a certification system for sustainable forestry practices. It is important because it ensures that the wood used in paper manufacturing comes from responsibly managed forests.

  • What is the role of automation in the paper manufacturing process?

Automation plays a critical role in the paper manufacturing process, helping to increase efficiency, reduce costs, improve quality, and enhance safety.

  • How has digitalization affected the paper manufacturing process?

Digitalization has transformed the paper manufacturing process, with new technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) being used to optimize production, quality, and efficiency.

  • What is the circular economy, and how does it relate to the paper manufacturing process?

The circular economy is a concept that emphasizes the reuse and recycling of materials. It is relevant to the paper manufacturing process because it encourages companies to minimize waste and maximize resource efficiency.

  • What is smart packaging, and why is it becoming popular in the paper manufacturing industry?

Smart packaging incorporates sensors and other technologies to provide information about the contents of the package. It is becoming popular in the paper manufacturing industry because it enhances product safety and traceability.

Deskera is a material requirements planning (MRP) software that can help with the paper manufacturing process by streamlining and automating various aspects of the production process, including inventory management, production planning, scheduling, and order management. Here are some specific ways Deskera can help:

  • Material Management: Deskera can help manage raw material inventory levels and ensure the timely procurement of required materials.
  • Production Planning: Deskera can help with production planning by creating production schedules, managing production workflows, and ensuring efficient production processes.
  • Quality Control: Deskera can assist with quality control by enabling real-time monitoring of production processes and quality parameters.
  • Maintenance Management: Deskera can help manage maintenance schedules, equipment downtime, and work orders, ensuring minimal disruption to the production process.
  • Cost Management: Deskera can help with cost management by tracking production costs, comparing actual costs against budgets, and identifying areas of cost-saving.
  • Sales Management: Deskera can help with sales management by tracking sales orders, invoicing, and delivery schedules and ensuring efficient order fulfillment.
  • Financial Management: Deskera can help with financial management by tracking expenses, revenue, and profitability, providing insights into financial performance, and facilitating timely decision-making.
  • Preparation of raw materials: Wood chips, recycled paper, or other raw materials are collected, sorted, and processed to remove any impurities, such as metals or plastics. The raw materials are then washed and debarked.
  • Pulping: The raw materials are chopped into small pieces and mixed with water and chemicals to form a pulp. The pulp is then heated and stirred to break down the fibers and remove any remaining impurities.
  • Refining: The pulp is further refined to improve the quality of the fibers and make them more suitable for papermaking. Refining involves passing the pulp through a series of screens and filters.
  • Forming: The pulp is poured onto a wire mesh screen, and water is drained away. The remaining fibers form a wet mat, which is then pressed to remove more water.
  • Pressing: The wet mat is pressed between rollers to remove even more water and compact the fibers.
  • Drying: The paper is dried by passing it through a series of heated rollers or by hanging it on a drying rack.
  • Finishing: The paper is cut into the desired size and shape and may be coated or treated with chemicals to improve its properties, such as brightness, smoothness, or resistance to water.

Overall, the paper manufacturing process is complex and requires careful attention to detail at each stage to produce high-quality paper products.

To ensure sustainability and efficiency in the paper manufacturing process, companies need to adopt new technologies and best practices, such as automation, digitalization, circular economy, bio-based materials, energy efficiency, smart packaging, sustainable forestry, and digital printing. These trends are transforming the paper manufacturing process, making it more efficient, sustainable, and innovative.

To ensure quality control in the paper manufacturing process, companies need to monitor the manufacturing process, perform quality testing, calibrate and maintain equipment, and conduct regular quality audits. By implementing these measures, companies can produce high-quality paper products that meet customer expectations and minimize their environmental impact.

The paper manufacturing process is evolving rapidly, driven by new technologies and a growing awareness of the need for sustainability and efficiency. Companies that adopt these new trends and best practices can improve productivity, reduce costs, and ensure efficient and sustainable operations while producing high-quality paper products that meet customer needs.

Overall, Deskera can help paper manufacturers improve productivity, reduce costs, and ensure efficient operations by providing a unified view of the entire production process.

what is writing paper made of

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The History of Paper

The fascinating history of paper, from its ancient origins to the modern-day process. 

Before paper as we know it existed, people communicated through pictures and symbols carved into tree bark, painted on cave walls, and marked on papyrus or clay tablets.

About 2,000 years ago, inventors in China took communication to the next level, crafting cloth sheets to record their drawings and writings. And paper, as we know it today, was born!

Paper was first made in Lei-Yang, China by Ts'ai Lun , a Chinese court official. In all likelihood, Ts'ai mixed mulberry bark, hemp and rags with water, mashed it into pulp, pressed out the liquid and hung the thin mat to dry in the sun.

During the 8th century , about 300 years after Ts’ai’s discovery, the secret traveled to the region that is now the Middle East. Yet, it took another 500 years for papermaking to enter Europe . One of the first paper mills was built in Spain , and soon, paper was being made at mills all across Europe.

Then, with paper easier to make, paper was used for printing important books, bibles, and legal documents.

England began making large supplies of paper in the late 15th century and supplied the colonies with paper for many years.

Finally, in 1690, the first U.S. paper mill was built in Pennsylvania .

At first American paper mills used the Chinese method of shredding old rags and clothes into individual fibers to make paper.

But, as the demand for paper grew, the mills changed to using fiber from trees because wood was less expensive and more abundant than cloth.

what is writing paper made of

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The Paper Industry Today

Today, paper is made from trees grown in sustainably managed forests and from recycled paper.

Recycling has always been a part of papermaking.

When you recycle your used paper, paper mills will use it to make new notebook paper, paper grocery bags, cardboard boxes, envelopes, magazines, cartons, newspapers and other paper products.

Everything You Need to Know About Paper Recycling

Paper is one of the most widely recycled materials in the U.S. Nearly 50 million tons of paper was recovered for recycling in 2022. That amount could fill rail cars stretching from New York to Los Angeles nearly 3 times!

And, the paper recycling rate has met or exceeded 63% every year since 2009!

The paper industry uses recycled paper the make the essential products millions of people rely on every day. In fact, about 80% of U.S. paper mills use some recycled paper to make new and innovative products.

Dive deeper into how the paper industry is improving paper recycling.

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Learn more about AF&PA member projects aimed at improving recycling technology and using more recycled fiber.

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Paper Recycling Facts

Learn more about the paper and cardboard recycling rates, where recycled paper goes and more resources. 

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Learn How to Recycle Paper 

Want to know how to recycle address window envelopes or paper-padded mailers? We've got you covered. 

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what is writing paper made of

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  • History of Paper
  • About Our Paper

All About Paper

Paper origins & history.

Paper has a rich, colourful history which has spanned the world's geography and its cultures. To trace its development offers us insight into humanity's relentless imagination, creativity and sometimes folly.

Thanks to the wonderful creation of paper many descriptions of our world have been stored so that we may share and learn from them. Paper has been used for many purposes, not just literature, but for war plans, the creation of the dollar bill, and of course, to give the ability to people at home of producing their own writing in physical form for hundreds of years. Whether you're printing off advice from lovemoney.com or simply writing a love letter, paper is vital to the organisation of modern business and economy, and for entertainment purposes such as magazines and newspapers. We have prepared the following history of paper, along with a description of how paper is made, what it is used for and some words that are useful to know when talking about paper.

We hope that this is an informative, useful and enjoyable document which inspires you, in the same way that we have been, about paper. We welcome your comments and contributions. Please contact us at anytime.

The Origins of Paper

Egypt 3,000 bc.

When we think of the origins of paper, our minds might wander back over 5000 years ago to the Nile river valley in Egypt. It was there that a marsh grass called Cyperous Papyrus flourished. The Egyptians cut thin strips from the plant's stem and softened them in the muddy waters of the Nile. These strips were then layered in right angles to form a kind of mat. The mat was then pounded into a thin sheet and left in the sun to dry. The resulting sheets were ideal for writing on. Since they were also lightweight and portable they became the writing medium of choice of Egyptians, Greeks and Romans for record keeping, spiritual texts and works of art.

Papyrus

It is from papyrus that the word paper comes from. Although papyrus sheets were similar to paper in terms of function, being laminated sheets they were technically more like a mat and therefore not the same as the papers of today. Similar processes were developed in other lands - in Central America during the 2nd Century AD the Mayans fashioned a similar product for bookmaking. In the Pacific Islands, a paper was made by beating a fine bark over specially shaped logs to make clothes and ritual objects. However, none of these sheets would qualify as true paper today.

The father of true paper - T'sai Lun

Paper as we know it today comes from another source - China. Excavations of tombs of the former Han Dynasty (207BC-9AD) have revealed silk cloth bearing the texts of Lao Tzu - the father of Taoism (born in 604BC). In 105 AD, Han Emperor Ho-Ti's chief eunuch T'sai Lun experimented with a wide variety of materials and refined the process of macerating the fibre of plants until each filament was completely separate.

The individual fibres were mixed with water in a large vat. Next, a screen was submerged in the vat and lifted up through the water,catching the fibers on its surface. When dried, this thin layer of intertwined fiber became what today we call paper. T'sai Lun's thin, yet flexible and strong paper with its fine, smooth surface was known as T'sai Ko-Shi , meaning: "Distinguished T'sai's Paper" and he became revered as the patron saint of papermaking.

Spread of Papermaking

A million prayers.

It wasn't until the 3rd century that the secret art of papermaking began to creep out of China, first to Vietnam and then Tibet. It was introduced in Korea in the 4th century and spread to Japan in 6th.

The Million Pagoda Dharani

There, during the 8th century, the Empress Shotuka undertook a massive project consisting of printing a million prayers - dharani - on individual sheets of paper, with each mounted in its own pagoda. With such a profound inception, it is not surprising that the fine art of papermaking has continued in Japan to this day, garnering deep appreciation and ever increasing sophistication.

The Journey to the West

Papermaking spread slowly throughout Asia to Nepal and later to India. It made its true push westward in 751AD when the Tang Dynasty was at war with the Islamic world. During a battle on the banks of the Tarus river, Islamic warriors captured a Chinese caravan which happened to include several papermakers. They spirited them away to Samarkand, which soon became a great centre for paper production.

Gradually papermakers made their way further west through the Muslim world - to Baghdad, Damascus and Cairo. Finally, when the Moors from North Africa invaded Spain and Portugal they brought the technology with them and so it was that papermaking entered Europe in the 12th century.

Spreading the Word

In Europe, the use of papyrus had dropped out in the 9th century. The preferred medium for the artists and literati of the time was the smooth and lustrous parchment. However, parchment - made from animal skin - was extremely expensive. In fact, it has been estimated that a single bible hand written on parchment required the skins of 300 sheep. The notion of paper being used as a practical everyday item did not occur until the 15th Century. When Johann Gutenburg perfected movable type and printed his famous bible in 1456, he not only spread the word of Christianity, but also sparked a revolution in mass communication. The birth of the modern paper and printing industry is commonly marked from this date.

Paper Becomes an Industry

The age of experimentation.

Printing technology rapidly developed and created an ever increasing demand for paper. The early European papers were made from recycled cotton and linen - and a huge trade quickly developed around the trading of old rags. It is said that the black plague entered England from Europe on these old rags. Yet soon this source became insufficient and some curious attempts were made to source new materials - the most macabre of which was the recycling of Egyptian mummies to create wrapping paper! Others experimented with fibres such as straw, cabbage, wasp nests and finally wood, resulted in inexpensive - and replaceable - materials for paper making. Today, the long soft fibres of softwoods such as spruce have become the most suitable source of pulp for mass production.

Mass Production

The demand for paper also created the need for greater efficiency in production. In the late 18th century the labours of Nicholas Luis Robert resulted in the creation of a machine that could produce a seamless length of paper on a endless wire mesh with squeeze rollers at one end. Perfected and marketed by the Fourdrinier brothers, the new machine made papers soon replaced traditional single sheets made by hand.

The Mass Production of Paper

In Europe and America, the mass-production of paper became a thriving industry supplying huge volumes of paper for the production of newspapers, books, magazines, paper bags, toilet paper, money and a huge variety of other purposes - including clothing, chimney's and even coffins! Today, the increasing volume of paper consumption has become a complex environmental matter - and the need for new materials increasingly urgent. While recycling has done some good, much paper is still wasted.

The Future of Paper

Looking ahead.

Owing to the ceaseless imagination of humanity, the words you are reading at this moment are digitally arranged and sent across the world via a new technology - signaling a new revolution in mass communication. As these new technologies develop where does the future of papermaking lay? At HQ PaperMaker we believe it lies in the past, when paper was valued for its innate sensual qualities - an appreciation which deeply respects the materials used, the skill of the artisan and the unique quality of the finished product.

Return to Tradition

In the west, as industrial paper production boomed the art of hand paper-making has been driven nearly to extinction - being practiced only by a few fine artists and crafts people. However, in small areas throughout Asia, the tradition has lived on.

Traditional Papermaking

Incidentally, the traditional Asian paper which is often referred to as "rice paper" is not made from rice fibres at all. More commonly it is made from the versatile mulberry tree - varieties of which are also used for feeding silkworms and in medicine. In contrast to the cold precision and standardisation which industrial production demands, the soft, subtle textures and natural feeling of handmade paper is said to echo the warm heart of the papermaker who makes each sheet with devotion.

Papermaking in Thailand

In Thailand there are records of papermaking going back seven hundred years. Traditional uses of paper have been for Buddhist texts, temple writings and ritual purposes. It used to be that paper was made from the inner bark of the Khoi tree Streblus Asper (L.) Lour . Earlier in the 20th century paper production from Khoi began to die out because of a shortage of Khoi trees. It was not until the Japanese occupied the kingdom during the second world war that paper making again flourished in Thailand. For centuries the Japanese had been making paper called "Kozo" from the inner bark of the mulberry tree Broussonetia Papyrifera (L.) Vent .

In Thailand the mulberry tree - known as "sa" - grew in abundance and the Japanese demand for maps, banknotes and other documents caused sa paper production to flourish. The mulberry tree is still abundant in Thailand - growing wild all over the Northern forest and lowland areas - and Thai artisans continue to produce handmade paper using the same technique that they have done for centuries. Yet, as international demand for these products is increasing, new speciality papers are being developed which incorporate colour dyes, flower petals and other materials into their design.

HQ Group were among the first people in Thailand to produce sa papers incorporating petals and leaves nearly ten years ago and our original paper sheet designs using bougainvillea petals and tamarind leaves, for example, are still hugely popular internationally.

Making Paper

The process.

Although there are many subtleties which affect the quality of a paper, papermaking in essence is a simple process. Whether using recycled materials or fresh organic matter, the process starts by shredding the material into small strips and soaking them overnight to loosen the fibres. Next, the fibres are boiled for 2-6 hours, being turned every so often. When finished, the fibres are washed with fresh water to remove impurities and then small particles or specks are removed by hand.

Making Paper by Hand

The fibres are beaten in a blender or by hand to a creamy pulp. At this stage, dyes can be added to create coloured papers. The pulp is poured into a large tub and the fibres are suspended in the water. The artisan dips a framed screen into the water and with great skill, lifts it to the surface catching the fibres onto the screen. The screens can either be left in the sun to dry, or be transferred to boards, pressed, smoothed and then dried.

The Possibilities

Papers made in this tradition are durable, flexible and extremely versatile. They can be used by anyone for gift-wrapping, writing, drawing and painting. They are also used by craft-makers to produce books and binding, stationery and greeting cards, boxes, picture frames and so on. Paper also has many applications in architecture and interior design, such as wallpaper, screens, blinds and lampshades. By using techniques such as moulding and papier-mache one can make almost anything - vases, trays, jewellery, furniture and utilitarian products such as cartons and packaging. In fact, paper is such a versatile medium, its uses are only limited to the imagination... So Dream On!

Would you like to learn a few helpful words for talking about paper ?

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The history of paper: from its origins to the present day

  • Get inspired

Sarah Cantavalle Published on 4/5/2019

what is writing paper made of

The history of paper is inextricably linked with that of culture and science .

The spark that set off the invention of paper was simple but extremely significant.

Humans had an urgent need: to communicate certain information to each other in written form. The information had to be set on a lightweight and durable medium that was easily transportable. The invention of paper allowed papyrus and parchment to be replaced with a material that was easier and, with the advent of new production techniques, cheaper to make.

The arrival of digital media has perhaps obscured the fundamental role that paper has played in spreading knowledge : it should not be forgotten that, until a few decades ago, the dissemination of any idea required a sheet of paper .

It’s interesting to note that the first definition of paper provided by the Treccani children’s encyclopaedia in Italy is: “A material that is essential for spreading ideas in everyday life. Over the centuries, paper has made an enormous contribution to progress, from enabling citizen participation in democratic life to raising levels of knowledge and education.”

The history of paper has mirrored the evolution of human society over the centuries: from the dissemination of scientific and philosophical knowledge to the spread of education right up to the creation of the kind of political and historical consciousness which gave birth of the modern nation state.

what is writing paper made of

The history of paper: Chinese origins

Historical sources credit the invention of paper to Cai Lun, a dignitary serving the imperial Chinese court who, in AD 105, began producing sheets of paper from scraps of old rags , tree bark and fishing nets . The Chinese guarded the secret of paper making jealously for many centuries until, in the 6th century, their invention was brought to Japan by Buddhist monk Dam Jing. The Japanese immediately learned papermaking techniques and began using pulp derived from mulberry bark to produce this precious material themselves.

Ancient fragment of Chinese paper

The history of paper: reaching the Arab world

The Arab world discovered the secrets of papermaking in AD 751, when the governor-general of the Caliphate of Bagdad captured two Chinese papermakers in Samarkand and, with their help, founded a paper mill in the Uzbek city. From here, aided by an abundance of hemp and linen , two high-quality raw materials perfect for making paper, production spread to other cities in Asia, particularly Baghdad and Damascus.

The process for making paper employed by the Arabs involved garnetting and macerating rags in water to obtain a homogenous pulp, which was then sifted to separate the macerated fibres from the water. The sheets thus obtained were subsequently pressed, dried and finally covered with a layer of rice starch to make them more receptive to ink. In the same period, people in Egypt and North Africa also started to make paper using the same techniques employed in the Arab world.

Paper reaches Europe

  It wasn’t until the 11th century that paper arrived in Europe, with the Arab conquest of Sicily and Spain . However, paper was quickly considered an inferior-quality material compared to parchment, so much so that, in 1221, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II prohibited its use for public documents. Rice starch, in fact, was an attractive food source for insects, which meant sheets of paper did not last long.

The history of paper owes much to the paper makers of Fabriano , a small town in the Marche region of Italy, who started producing paper using linen and hemp in the 12th century. By using new equipment and production techniques, these papermakers introduced important innovations :

  • They mechanised rag grinding by using hydraulic hammer mills , significantly reducing the time it took to produce pulp.
  • They started gluing sheets with gelatine, an additive that insects didn’t like.
  • They created different paper types and formats .
  • They invented watermarking .

Watermarking involved using metal wires to add decorations to paper which became visible when the sheet was held up to the light, allowing hallmarks, signatures, ecclesiastical emblems and other symbols to be inserted.

Fabriano paper

From the 14th century, papermaking began to spread to other European countries and, at the end of the 15th century, with the invention of movable-type printing , production really took off. The discovery of America and the subsequent European colonisation brought papermaking to the New World. Interestingly, in his book “ Paper: Paging Through History ”, Mark Kurlansky tells a curious anecdote: when the North American colonies rebelled, they boycotted all British goods, except the fine paper produced by London’s paper mills.

Paper as a means of mass communication

The industrial manufacture of paper began in the 19th century with the expansion of mass-circulation newspapers and the first best-selling novels, which required enormous quantities of cheap cellulose. In 1797, Louis Nicolas Robert created the first Fourdrinier machine, which was able to produce a 60-cm-long sheet. As demand for papermaking rags outstripped supply, alternative materials were sought, like wood pulp . With the development of new techniques for extracting fibres from trees, the price of paper fell dramatically, and paper soon became a product of mass consumption . In Britain alone, paper output soared from 96,000 tonnes a year in 1861 to 648,000 tonnes in 1900.

Once again, the history of paper and the history of humankind were closely intertwined: with the spread of cheap paper, books and newspapers became accessible to all, leading to an explosion of literacy among the middle classes . But it wasn’t until the turn of the century that paper would be employed for other uses, like toilet and wrapping paper, toys and interior decoration.

The environmental impact of paper and environmental choices

Paper manufacturing uses significant amounts of natural resources : between 2 and 2.5 tonnes of timber and 30-40 cubic metres of water are required to make one tonne of paper. What’s more, electricity and methane gas are needed to power the industrial machines used in the various production phases and, depending on the type of paper, a host of polluting chemical additives . That’s why, whenever possible, it’s important to choose sustainable or recycled paper to reduce the environmental impact of paper production.

 A card made from recycled paper

Sustainable paper is made out of wood cellulose originating from  Forest Stewardship Council-certified forests , where strict environmental, social and economic standards apply. Recycled paper , on the other hand, is made out of recovered paper. However, the chlorine used to bleach it, as well as other chemical additives used, mean that recycled paper is often not as environmentally friendly as commonly thought. To be sure that you are choosing a genuinely eco-friendly product, opt for paper with the Ecolabel certification , the European ecological quality label awarded to environmentally sustainable products.

what is writing paper made of

Alternatives to paper

An excellent alternative to traditional paper is Crush paper, produced by venerable Italian papermakers Favini, made out of fruit and vegetable by-products . Production of this paper releases 20% fewer CO2 emissions and uses up to 15% less cellulose than traditional paper, and is suitable for many applications, from food and wine labels to premium-quality invitation cards, catalogues and brochures.

Crush paper by Favini

The latest innovation from Favini is Remake , paper made from 25% leather off-cuts , 40% recycled cellulose and 35% FSC-certified virgin cellulose fibres. It’s a fine-quality recyclable and compostable material, perfect for printing sophisticated publications and luxury packaging.

Another great substitute is hemp , a highly durable material that has been used to make paper since ancient times, first by the Chinese and later by the Arabs. Cultivation of this plant does not require pesticides and provides a quantity of fibre per hectare that is 3-4 times greater than traditional forests. Its main drawback is the cost of processing hemp pulp, which is much higher than conventional cellulose extraction.

Our article on the history of paper finishes here, but we’re sure that, thanks to continued technical innovation, many more surprises lie ahead! The history of paper is far from over, and this fascinating and useful material will remain with us for years to come.

How paper is made?

Papermaking is the process of creating paper from any substance that is rich with fibers. The history of this complicated process has started more than 2000 years ago in ancient china, much later than the ancient Egyptians had the access to the paper-like items such as papyrus and skin parchment. Even though those two older paper-like substances were in use for millennia earlier and Chinese had access to them somewhat, they were notoriously hard to use in most conditions.

First proof of paper used in China came from 3rd and 2nd century BC as a wrapping paper. Between 8 and 220 AD, organized production of writing paper began in china, with the recipe that consisted of processed mulberry plant, bast fibers from many other plants, fishnets and old rag and similar other fiber-rich items. In 3rd century AD writing paper became commonplace, in 6th century toilet paper, 7th paper tea bags, and 10th century paper money. Before that happened, Arabs managed to find out secret of paper production, spreading it slowly around known world, and arriving to Europe in 11th century.

By 13th century, Italian papermaking industry began with small steps, but it became commonplace across entire Europe by 16th century. Modern paper production started in 19th century with the discovery of Fourdrinier machine which was able to produce rolls of paper and not just single sheets, and later on machine that could produce paper very fast for pulped wood (standard for manufacture of all modern commonly used papers).

So, how was paper produced before industrial machines become invented? The entire process was based on making a suspension of interwoven fibers that was slowly drained from water and pressed into thin and very dry shape.

Five basic steps of paper making are:

1. Selection of usable fibers (early paper was mostly mix of plant fiber, cotton, old rags and fishnets)

2. Transforming fibers into pulp by beating it while being submerged into water.

3. Addition of chemical ingredients that will adjust papers appearance (special mixes for writing, drawing or wrapping), durability and color.

4. Separating the resulting solution into suspension of fibers

5. Pressing and drying of fibers into its final form – paper.

The Writing Center • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

What is Good Writing?

At the Writing Center, we’re often asked “What makes good writing?” or “What makes someone a good writer?” Instructors wonder whether anyone can really be taught to write and why their students don’t know how to write by now. To begin to understand what makes writing, and writers, “good,” we need to ask the larger question “What is writing?”

It’s easy to agree on the definition of writing if we limit it to something like “putting pen to paper” or “typing ideas into a computer.” But if we look more closely at the elements of the act of writing, the definition comes to life. The following paragraphs might prompt your thinking about how writing happens for your students and for you.

Writing is a response.

We write because we are reacting to someone or something. While writing can feel like an isolating, individual act—just you and the computer or pad of paper—it is really a social act, a way in which we respond to the people and world around us. Writing happens in specific, often prescribed contexts. We are not just writing—we are always writing to an audience(s) for some particular purpose. When we write, we do so because we want, need, or have been required to create a fixed space for someone to receive and react to our ideas. Understanding this social or rhetorical context—who our readers may be, why they want to read our ideas, when and where they will be reading, how they might view us as writers—governs some of the choices we make. The writing context requires writers to have a sense of the reader’s expectations and an awareness of conventions for a particular piece of writing. The context of the piece further determines the appropriate tone, level of vocabulary, kind and placement of evidence, genre, and sometimes even punctuation.

Writing is linear.

In order to communicate effectively, we need to order our words and ideas on the page in ways that make sense to a reader. We name this requirement in various ways: “grammar,” “logic,” or “flow.” While we would all agree that organization is important, the process of lining up ideas is far from simple and is not always recognized as “writing.” We assume that if a person has ideas, putting them on the page is a simple matter of recording them, when in fact the process is usually more complicated. As we’ve all experienced, our ideas do not necessarily arise in a linear form. We may have a scattering of related ideas, a hunch that something feels true, or some other sense that an idea is “right” before we have worked out the details. It is often through the act of writing that we begin to create the logical relationships that develop the idea into something that someone else may receive and perhaps find interesting. The process of putting ideas into words and arranging them for a reader helps us to see, create, and explore new connections. So not only does a writer need to “have” ideas, but the writer also has to put them in linear form, to “write” them for a reader, in order for those ideas to be meaningful. As a result, when we are writing, we often try to immediately fit our choices into linear structures (which may or may not suit our habits of mind).

Writing is recursive.

As we write, we constantly rewrite. Sometimes we do this unconsciously, as we juggle words, then choose, delete, and choose again. Sometimes we do this rewriting very consciously and conscientiously as we reread a paragraph or page for clarity, coherence, or simply to see what we’ve just said and decide whether we like it. Having read, we rewrite the same phrases or ideas to make a closer match to our intentions or to refine our discoveries through language. The process of writing and then reviewing, changing, and rewriting is a natural and important part of shaping expression for an anticipated audience. So while we are trying to put our words and ideas into a logical line, we are also circling round and back and over again.

Writing is both subject and object.

We value writing because it reveals the personal choices a writer has made and thereby reveals something of her habits of mind, her ability to connect and shape ideas, and her ability to transform or change us as readers. We take writing as evidence of a subject or subjective position. Especially in an academic environment, we read written language as individual expression (whether or not multiple voices have informed the one voice we privilege on the page), as a volley from one individual mind to another. That said, writing also serves as an object for us, a “piece” or a “paper” whose shape, size, and function are determined by genre and conventions. While we don’t think of writing as technology, it is also that; it allows us to remove a person’s ideas from the confines of her head and fix those ideas in another place, a place where they will be evaluated according to standards, objectively. Here is where our sense of what counts as “good” writing develops. We have created objective (although highly contextualized) ideals for writing that include measures of appropriate voice, vocabulary, evidence, and arrangement. So while writing is very personal, or subjective, it creates an objective space, a place apart from the individual, and we measure it against objective standards derived from the context. It creates space both for the individual (the subject) and the idea (the object) to coexist so that we can both judge the merits of the individual voicing the idea and contend with the idea on the page.

Writing is decision making.

It may seem obvious, but in order to get something on the page, a writer chooses the words, the order of the words in the sentence, the grouping of sentences into paragraphs, and the order of the paragraphs within a piece. While there is an ordinariness about this—we make choices or decisions almost unconsciously about many things all day long—with writing, as we have all experienced, such decision-making can be a complex process, full of discovery, despair, determination, and deadlines. Making decisions about words and ideas can be a messy, fascinating, perplexing experience that often results in something mysterious, something the writer may not be sure “works” until she has auditioned it for a real reader.

Writing is a process.

Contending with the decision-making, linearity, social context, subjectivity, and objectivity that constitute writing is a process that takes place over time and through language. When producing a piece of writing for an audience, experienced writers use systems they have developed. Each writer has an idiosyncratic combination of thinking, planning, drafting, and revising that means “writing” something. No matter how we each describe our writing process (e.g., “First I think about my idea then dump thoughts onto the computer,” or “I make an outline then work out topic sentences”), we all (usually unconsciously) negotiate the series of choices required in an individual context and produce a draft that begins to capture a representation of our ideas. For most people, this negotiation includes trial and error (this word or that?), false starts (beginning with an example that later proves misleading), contradictions (I can’t say X because it may throw Y into question), sorting (how much do I need to say about this?), doubt about how the idea will be received, and satisfaction when they think they have cleared these hurdles successfully. For most people, this process happens through language. In other words, we use words to discover what, how, and why we believe. Research supports the adage “I don’t know what I think until I read what I’ve said.”

Altogether these elements make writing both an interesting and challenging act—one that is rich, complex, and valuable. What else is writing for you? Think about what the definitions discussed here miss and how you might complete the sentence “Writing is like…” From your experience as a writer, what else about writing seems essential? How is that connected to what you value about the process of writing and the final pieces that you produce?

For more information about student writing or to talk with someone about your writing assignments, contact Kimberly Abels [email protected] at the Writing Center.

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IMAGES

  1. How Paper Is Made?

    what is writing paper made of

  2. How to Make Paper from Old Scrap Paper: 15 Steps (with Pictures)

    what is writing paper made of

  3. What is paper?

    what is writing paper made of

  4. How Paper Is Made?

    what is writing paper made of

  5. The History of Paper & How it is Made

    what is writing paper made of

  6. How to Make Parchment Like Paper for Writing: 8 Steps

    what is writing paper made of

VIDEO

  1. How paper is made #funnyvideo #thamovementnoize #comedy #reactionvideo

  2. Guide to learn types of paper part 27

  3. Guide to learn types of paper part 24

COMMENTS

  1. Papermaking

    papermaking, formation of a matted or felted sheet, usually of cellulose fibres, from water suspension on a wire screen. Paper is the basic material used for written communication and the dissemination of information.

  2. History of paper

    Paper is a thin nonwoven material traditionally made from a combination of milled plant and textile fibres. The first paper-like plant-based writing sheet was papyrus in Egypt, but the first true papermaking process was documented in China during the Eastern Han period (25-220 AD), traditionally attributed to the court official Cai Lun.

  3. Paper

    Paper is a thin sheet material produced by mechanically or chemically processing cellulose fibres derived from wood, rags, grasses, or other vegetable sources in water, draining the water through a fine mesh leaving the fibre evenly distributed on the surface, followed by pressing and drying.

  4. How is paper made?

    Paper is a dried, compressed mat of plant fibers—nothing more, nothing less. It's a bit like clothing you can write on. No, really! Clothes are made by weaving together yarns such as cotton and wool spun from natural fibers.

  5. How to Write a Research Paper

    A research paper is a piece of academic writing that provides analysis, interpretation, and argument based on in-depth independent research. Research papers are similar to academic essays, but they are usually longer and more detailed assignments, designed to assess not only your writing skills but also your skills in scholarly research.

  6. Paper

    paper, matted or felted sheet, usually made of cellulose fibres, formed on a wire screen from water suspension. A brief treatment of paper follows. For full treatment, see papermaking. More From Britannica art conservation and restoration: Paintings on paper Learn in depth the process of how paper products are produced and recycled

  7. The History of Paper & How it is Made

    The first writing surface was made in ancient Egypt from a plant called Papyrus, the royal plant of Egypt. The core of the papyrus plant was cut into tissue-thin strips, then laid across each other and pressed together under pressure. This turned the strips into a thin, smooth and durable laminated material that wasn't quite paper.

  8. PDF History of Papermaking Around the World

    Before paper was invented, people around the world used many different materials as writing surfaces. Local environments influenced the kinds of materials used: clay tablets, tree bark, or materials such as papyrus and parchment. Papyrus was developed in Egypt as early as 3,000 BCE. It was made by slicing the papyrus plant

  9. The Writing Process

    Grammar Style consistency See an example Table of contents Step 1: Prewriting Step 2: Planning and outlining Step 3: Writing a first draft Step 4: Redrafting and revising Step 5: Editing and proofreading Other interesting articles Frequently asked questions about the writing process Step 1: Prewriting

  10. How the invention of paper changed the world

    13 March 2017 Getty Images By Tim Harford BBC World Service, 50 Things That Made the Modern Economy The Gutenberg printing press - invented in the 1440s by Johannes Gutenberg, a goldsmith from...

  11. The History of Paper

    Around 600 A.D., the Chinese invented woodblock printing, and by 740 A.D., the first printed newspaper was seen in China. During the Tang dynasty (618-907), China was the world leader in book ...

  12. The Beginner's Guide to Writing an Essay

    Essay writing process. The writing process of preparation, writing, and revisions applies to every essay or paper, but the time and effort spent on each stage depends on the type of essay.. For example, if you've been assigned a five-paragraph expository essay for a high school class, you'll probably spend the most time on the writing stage; for a college-level argumentative essay, on the ...

  13. PDF The Structure of an Academic Paper

    tutorial. That said, writing conventions vary widely across countries, cultures, and even disciplines. For example, although the hourglass model introduces the most important point right from the beginning as a guide to the rest of the paper, some traditions build the argument gradually and deliver the main idea as a punchline.

  14. How Paper Is Made?

    Paper is made from trees. The bark is peeled off the logs and the wood is diced into small chips. The chips are then cooked in a solution of acid to form a pulp. The pulp is then cleaned and bleached with water to remove the acid and any residual lignin. The pulp is then passed through a series of blades to flatten the fibers and eliminate ...

  15. The Invention of Paper

    Writing Materials Before Paper . Of course, people in various places around the world were writing long before the invention of paper. Materials such as bark, silk, wood, and leather functioned in a similar way to paper, although they were either much more expensive or heavier. ... In the 500s CE, artisans on the Korean Peninsula began to make ...

  16. The Evolution of 19th Century Paper: From Handmade to Industrial

    Papyrus, made from the pith of the papyrus plant, had been used as a writing material for centuries. However, it was a labor-intensive and expensive process to produce. The demand for paper grew with the spread of literacy and the printing press, leading to the need for more efficient methods of papermaking.

  17. Papyus

    The ancient Egyptians used the stem of the papyrus plant to make sails, cloth, mats, cords, and, above all, paper.Paper made from papyrus was the chief writing material in ancient Egypt, was adopted by the Greeks, and was used extensively in the Roman Empire.It was used not only for the production of books (in roll or scroll form) but also for correspondence and legal documents.

  18. Paper Manufacturing Process: How Paper is Made?

    Paper manufacturing is the process of converting raw materials, such as wood fiber, recycled fiber, and other materials, into paper products. The process involves a series of mechanical, chemical, and other treatments that transform the raw materials into pulp, which is then formed into continuous sheets of paper.

  19. The History of Paper

    Paper was first made in Lei-Yang, China by Ts'ai Lun, a Chinese court official. In all likelihood, Ts'ai mixed mulberry bark, hemp and rags with water, mashed it into pulp, pressed out the liquid and hung the thin mat to dry in the sun.

  20. Papyrus

    Papyrus (P. BM EA 10591 recto column IX, beginning of lines 13-17) Papyrus (/ p ə ˈ p aɪ r ə s / pə-PY-rəs) is a material similar to thick paper that was used in ancient times as a writing surface.It was made from the pith of the papyrus plant, Cyperus papyrus, a wetland sedge. Papyrus (plural: papyri or papyruses) can also refer to a document written on sheets of such material, joined ...

  21. How Paper Is Made

    From pulping, to the actual paper making procedure, to the finishing process — Watch and be mesmerised at how each of our 1.15 million tons of paper is made ...

  22. History of Paper

    Traditional uses of paper have been for Buddhist texts, temple writings and ritual purposes. It used to be that paper was made from the inner bark of the Khoi tree Streblus Asper (L.) Lour. Earlier in the 20th century paper production from Khoi began to die out because of a shortage of Khoi trees.

  23. The history of paper: from its origins to the present day

    A card made from recycled paper. Sustainable paper is made out of wood cellulose originating from Forest Stewardship Council-certified forests, where strict environmental, social and economic standards apply. Recycled paper, on the other hand, is made out of recovered paper. However, the chlorine used to bleach it, as well as other chemical ...

  24. Paper Manufacturing Process

    1. Selection of usable fibers (early paper was mostly mix of plant fiber, cotton, old rags and fishnets) 2. Transforming fibers into pulp by beating it while being submerged into water. 3. Addition of chemical ingredients that will adjust papers appearance (special mixes for writing, drawing or wrapping), durability and color. 4.

  25. What is Good Writing?

    What is Good Writing? At the Writing Center, we're often asked "What makes good writing?" or "What makes someone a good writer?" Instructors wonder whether anyone can really be taught to write and why their students don't know how to write by now.