Paper: composition, production, history, types and uses
Comprehensive overview of paper: its materials and manufacture, varieties, historical development, common uses, the pulp and paper industry, and environmental considerations.
What is paper?
Paper is a thin, flexible sheet made chiefly from cellulose fibers that are bonded together. Traditionally the fibers come from wood, but they can also be derived from cotton, hemp, bamboo and recycled sources. In everyday language paper refers both to individual sheets used for writing or printing and to larger products such as books and board. For a concise definition see paper.
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Composition and manufacturing
Most modern paper begins as pulp: a slurry of fiber, water and additives. Wood fibers are the dominant raw material in industrial production, so the process is closely linked to forestry and the use of wood. Mechanical or chemical pulping separates fibers, which are then cleaned, sometimes bleached, and formed into sheets on a wire mesh. Further processing — pressing, drying, sizing and coating — determines surface properties, strength and absorbency. The term cellulose refers to the natural polymer that gives paper its structure.
Common types and characteristics
Paper varieties differ by weight, finish and purpose. Notable categories include writing and printing papers used for books and stationery, newsprint for newspapers, tissue for hygienic uses, and heavy board for packaging. Papers vary in brightness, opacity and absorbency — qualities important for printers and artists. Typical writing implements include pencil and pencil or pen, and finished bound volumes are typically called books.
Uses and practical properties
Paper is used for communication, packaging, hygiene, art and many industrial applications. It can absorb liquids such as water and inks, which makes it useful for cleaning or blotting (absorbency, water). Surface treatments can reduce absorption for glossy printing or increase it for towels and tissues. Recycled paper reduces demand for virgin fibers and is an important option in waste management.
History and development
Paper-like materials have ancient precedents, but the process of making thin sheets from macerated fibers was refined in China and spread worldwide over centuries. Industrialization in the 19th century transformed paper into a mass-produced commodity and gave rise to the modern pulp and paper industry, which supplies paper, board and related cellulose-based products globally.
Environmental and economic considerations
The paper industry links forestry, manufacturing and recycling. Sustainable sourcing, energy use, water consumption and chemical treatments are key environmental issues. Consumers and businesses often balance durability, recyclability and cost when choosing paper. Innovations continue in alternative fibers, reduced-chemical processing and improved recycling to reduce environmental impact.
- Key materials: wood fibers
- Primary industry: pulp and paper
- Common products: books, stationery, packaging
For introductory resources and technical standards, follow industry and library references (see definitions and supplier information at manufacturers and material guides).
Delimitation
Paper, cardboard, paperboard
Paper, cardboard and paperboard are distinguished on the basis of their mass per unit area, among other things. DIN 6730 avoids the term cardboard and only differentiates between paper and cardboard on the basis of the limit value 225 g/m² (mass occupancy). Colloquially, however, cardboard is a common term for a material in the range 150 g/m² to 600 g/m², which is typically thicker and stiffer than paper. In the allocation to mass per unit area, there are overlap ranges between paper and board and between board and cardboard:
| Designation | grammage |
| DIN 6730 | |
| Paper | 7 g/m² to 225 g/m² |
| Cardboard | from 225 g/m² |
| Colloquial (German) | |
| Paper | 7 g/m² to 225 g/m² |
| Cardboard | 150 g/m² to 600 g/m² |
| Cardboard | from 225 g/m² |
In some cases, in the case of the colloquial three-way division into paper, cardboard and paperboard, other limit values are given for the overlap ranges, for example:
| Designation | grammage |
| Paper | 7 g/m² to 250 g/m² |
| Cardboard | 150 g/m² to 600 g/m² |
| Cardboard | from 500 g/m² |
The minimum grammage of paperboard is stated differently depending on the source, for example as 220 g/m² or 600 g/m². The fluid weight limits are also based on innovations in production technology. The basis weight should therefore be regarded today as an approximate guide and as one of several distinguishing criteria.
Pseudo papers
Pseudo-papers (paper-like) such as papyrus, tapa, amatl and huun - all of plant origin - differ from paper mainly in the technique of production: plant fibres are joined together by tapping and formed into a sheet. In the production of real paper, the fibers are soaked in water and separated from each other. Then the fibers must be placed as a thin layer on a screen, dewatered and dried. The intertwined, matted fibres form the paper.
Paper Market
→ Main article: Paper industry
Worldwide, 406 million tons (as of 2014) of paper, cardboard and paperboard are produced annually. The largest producers (as of 2014) are China (108 million tonnes), the USA (73 million tonnes), Japan (26 million tonnes) and Germany (22.5 million tonnes).
The European paper industry accounts for one third of the world's paper production capacity. Europe is the leader in the production of printing and writing paper, followed by Asia and North America, and accounts for almost 26% of total paper and board production. Consolidation of the European paper industry over the last decade has reduced the number of companies, paper mills and paper machines in Europe, but at the same time significantly increased production capacity. It is estimated that the 20 largest paper producers currently account for almost 40% of global paper and board production. The turnover of the European paper industry was around 79 billion euros in 2015. 180,000 people work in the European pulp and paper industry. In addition to large paper manufacturers such as UPM-Kymmene, Stora Enso, International Paper, Svenska Cellulosa Aktiebolaget (SCA), Metsä Board, Sappi or the Smurfit Kappa Group, there are a large number of medium-sized and smaller paper manufacturers such as Papierfabrik Palm or Kartonfabrik WEIG.
The German paper industry, whose interests are represented by the Verband Deutscher Papierfabriken (VDP), is number one in Europe with a production volume of 22.6 million tonnes (2015) of paper, board and cardboard and ranks fourth worldwide behind China, the USA and Japan. The German pulp and paper industry's approximately 40,600 employees generate sales of 14.4 billion euros (2015) in 162 mills, an increase of 0.9% over the previous year.
Questions and answers
Q: What is paper made of?
A: Paper is mostly made of wood fibers that are pressed together.
Q: How do people write on paper?
A: People use pencils or pens to write on paper.
Q: What are books made of?
A: Books are made of paper.
Q: Can paper absorb liquids?
A: Yes, paper can absorb liquids such as water.
Q: Are there different types of paper?
A: Yes, there are many different types of paper.
Q: What is the pulp and paper industry?
A: The pulp and paper industry is a group of companies that use wood as a raw material to produce pulp, paper, board, and other cellulose-based products.
Q: What can people do with paper?
A: People can write on paper, make books, and use it to clean things due to its absorbent properties.
Related articles
Author
AlegsaOnline.com Paper: composition, production, history, types and uses Leandro Alegsa
URL: https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/74448
Sources
- www-user.uni-bremen.de : H. Idris Bell and T.C. Skeat, 1935. "Papyrus and its uses"