Paper is a thin material which is mainly used for writing, printing and packaging. Paper is produced by pressing moist fiber together; it is a cellulose pulp which is derived from wood, rags, grasses and drying them into flexible sheets. Paper is a versatile material and therefore has many uses. The most common use of paper is for writing but it is also used for printing upon, packaging material, cleaning products, industrial and construction processes, food ingredient basically in Asian cultures.
The word “Paper” has derived from Greek word “papyrus”. Papyrus was formed from beaten strips of papyrus plants and it was used BY ancient Egyptians as writing material.
It is believed that paper originated from china in 2nd century CE, but there is some proof for it being used before this era. The fourth great invention of Ancient China is considered as papermaking. China developed the first papermaking process in the 2nd century CE by “Han court eunuch Cai Lun”. Paper was used as cheap and effective alternative to silk in China. In the 19th century, “Mechanized production” of paper, made significant cultural change globally. For the first time in history, Mechanized production allowed cheap exchange of information in the form of letters, books, newspaper.
In the year 1844, Canadian inventor Charles fenerty and Ferman inventor F.G. Keller, both discovered a machine and process for smashing woods for paper making.
Steps for papermaking:
- The material required for paper making is pulp; it is concentrated mixture of fibers of suspended liquid. These fibers are naturally found in softwood trees, hardwood trees or other plants.
- While using plants to make paper, a special kind of chemical process used to break down the lignin which is found in the cell wall of the plant. This is done by craft process.
- Pulp can be breaking down in two ways mechanically and chemically: the primary reason to break pulp in this manner is to remove lignin by breaking it down to make it soluble.
- Once the fiber is extracted from pulp, they are dyed or bleached and any other ingredients are added to fiber to change the looks of paper. For example kaolin is added to make paper glossy for use in items such as magazines.
- At sheet formation process, the pulp mixture is diluted by adding some more water to it.
- After that it is strained through a moving screen which is made of fine mesh, to create a fibrous web.
- After that, press the moving web and let it dry, pressure is applied to drain out the water.
- Remove the resulting paper sheet, while it is still wet, from the mesh screen mould, let it be dry for sometime.
- Drying is the final stage of paper making, which can be completed with time and pressing paper. The method of drying depends on the exact process of paper making.
- After pressing, the extra amount of water is removed from paper sheets by force. After that an absorbent material is used to collect extra water.
- Heat and air are used to remove extra water, after drying process your paper making process is done. Now you can use your paper.
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