PAPER

What is paper?
Paper is a thin material produced by
pressing together
moist fibers of cellulose pulp derived
from wood, rags or grasses, and drying
them into flexible sheets. It is a
versatile material with many uses,
including writing, printing,
packaging, cleaning, and a number of
industrial and construction processes.
What is the chemical composition of
paper?
-cellulose (C6H10O5)n

What are the compounds found in

paper?
-[if the paper is coated] china clay
(Al2O3SiO22H2O)
-[or other types of bleaching
components] hydrogen peroxide
(H2O2)
What is this?
Cellulose
 The two most important
components to paper are the cellulose
and the bleach, if and when it is
used. Cellulose (C6H10O5)n is found
in plants and is protected by lignin
(C9H10O2). Cellulose is great for
papermaking because of its adequate
tensile strength and suppleness, or
its flexibility. Not only that but the
fibers that comprise cellulose bond
just so perfectly after being wetted
and dried that it creates what we
know and use as paper.
 Bleach, the other important
ingredient, is used to create
higher quality paper. Without
the bleach, paper would turn
yellows and browns because of
the traces of lignin. Society is
focused quite a bit on appearance
so when the paper is bleached, it
automatically makes it better.
An example of a possible lignin structure
The microscopic structure of paper:
Micrograph of paper autofluorescing under 
ultraviolet illumination. The individual fiber in
this sample is around 10 µm in diameter.
What is the chemical composition of plants?
What other compounds in plants dissolve in acid solution?

How about Abaca fiber?

Parameter Percentage (%)

Cellulose 76.6%
Compare!
Hemicellulose 14.6%
Lignin 8.4%
Pectin 0.3%
Wax and fat 0.1%
 What is the advantage of using abaca fiber?
Abaca is considered the
strongest of natural fibers, being
three times stronger than sisal
fibers, and is far more resistant
to saltwater decomposition than
most of the vegetable fibers.
Compared to synthetic fibers like
rayon and nylon, abaca fiber
possesses higher tensile strength
and lower elongation in both wet
and dry states. The Philippines
is the world’s largest
source and supplier of abaca
Abaca fiber fiber for cordage and pulp for
Abaca is also known as specialist paper. It supplies
Manila hemp. 85% of the needed abaca fiber
around the globe.
http://textilelearner.blogspot.com/2013/04/abaca-fiber-manila-hemp-usesapplication.html
January 29, 2017
Sisal hemp
Abaca is a versatile plant with several uses.
Because its fibers are particularly resistant
to saltwater, abaca has been commonly used
for fishing nets. Abaca fiber is used mainly
in the production of tea bags and meat
casings; it is also a substitute for bark,
which was once a primary source of cloth. In
addition, it is considered an excellent raw
material in the processing of security
and high quality paper, diapers, napkins,
machinery filters, hospital textiles
(aprons, caps, gloves), and electrical
conduction cables, as well as some 200
other different finished products. 
Properties of
Paper
A. Fibers
B. Basis Weight
C. Caliper (Thickness)
D. Grain Direction
E. Formation
F. Surface Sizing
G. Opacity
H. Brightness
Properties of
Paper

I. Whiteness
J. Absorption
K. Smoothness
L. Paper Strength
M. Stretch
N. Moisture
 Fibers
The fibers used in paper
manufacturing play a key part in
what happens to it later.
A. Hard woods
•shorter fibers •weaker, yet
smoother
B. Coniferous trees
•longer fibers •stronger, yet
rough
C. Eucalyptus trees
 Fibers
Manufacturing paper can be made
from MANY sources, but wood fibers
are used more often.
Other paper fibers sources can
include:
• Cotton and other plants (i.e. hemp)
• Recycled fibers
• Hemp
• Rice
• Even old jeans!
 Basis Weight
Paper weight in pounds of
a ream (500 sheets) in it’s
basic size. Web Printers
purchase paper by weight
(pounds) in rolls. Sheet fed
printers typically order by
number of sheets needed
for the job.
 Basis Weight
Example: The basic size for
Book papers is 25” x 38”. The
measurement of basis weight
for book paper would be
calculated by taking 500 sheets
each measuring 25” x 38” and
placing it on a scale. If the
weight of the 500 sheets was
50lb., we would call that paper
50 lb. book. If the weight was
60 lb. it would be 60 lb. book.
 Formation

The physical distribution

and orientation of fibers
and other solid
constituents in the
structure of a sheet of
paper which affects the
appearance and other
physical properties.
 Formation

is also referred to
as “look through”
because the
formation can
sometimes be
observed by looking
through the sheet.
 Surface Sizing

Surface is a key to good press

runnability!
a. Uncoated papers need to “seal” the
sheet to reduce press contamination
(fiber, debris, etc.).
b. Sizing used for uncoated paper
consists of a starch applied to the paper
during the paper making process.
Good surface sizing is critical to
achieve good press performance!
Opacity

Relates to the show-

through of the printed
image from the opposite
side of the sheet, or the
sheet under it.
Brightness

Affects the contrast, brilliance,

snap or sparkle of the printed
sheet. It is the percent of
reflectance at a standard single
wavelength.
Don’t confuse “whiteness” with
“brightness”.
Whiteness is the amount of Red,
Blue and Green reflectance.
Gloss
Gloss is the relative amount
of incident light reflected from
a surface.
a. Paper Gloss - Degree to
which a paper surface appears
“shiny”.
b. Printed Gloss - Degree to
which a printed ink appears
“shiny”.
 Whiteness

Whiteness is the ratio of Red, Green

and Blue reflectance. An attribute of a
diffusing surface which denotes its
similarity in color to preferred or standard
white. A psychological attribute of a color
stimulus. A “white” color stimulus is
perceived as void or any hue or grayness.
White can be in many different hues.
Known as “cold” if on the blue side.
Known as “warm” if on the red side.
 Smoothness

Measures texture and

topography. It is necessary:
∙ for continuous, non- mottled
ink film
∙ higher ink gloss
∙ more pure ink color/broader
tonal range
∙ more accurate reproduction
 Strength

Strength of paper is more dependent

on the nature of its fiber than its
thickness.
High bursting strength is achieved by
closely intermingling long pulp fibers
during the forming of the sheet on the
paper machine.
Fibers which are long and tear in the
cross machine direction is always higher
than tear in the machine direction.
 Stretch

The amount of distortion

paper undergoes under tensile
strain. Stretch is generally much
greater in the cross direction than
in the machine direction.
Excessive stretch with web or
sheet fed papers will result in
poor registration or fanning
problems.
 Moisture

Moisture content is the

percent of moisture found in
the finished paper.
It can range from a low of
4.0% to a high of 7.0%.
PAPERMAKING PROCESS
Paper is an important part in our everyday
lives. We use it for communicating,
connecting, and having fun with each
other. But how is paper made? How do we
turn wood into sheets of paper for our use?
Papermaking involves various processes to
turn that wood log into our everyday paper
products. However, there are three key
steps to the process of papermaking.
 Pulping
STEP 1: Debarking and Chipping
The logs are debarked. The bark must be
stripped from the logs since it cannot be used
in papermaking. The water used is filtered on
the spot and reused for other logs, reducing
the amount of water wastage. Together with
other by-products of the manufacturing
process, they are used to generate electricity
to power up the mills and nearby towns. The
debarked logs are then chipped into small
pieces before undergoing a process called
chemical pulping.
STEP 2: Chemical and Mechanical Pulping

This process breaks down the

chemical called lignin, and
the result is, pulp. Pulp is like
a thicker, less refined version
of paper. The Kraft Process
(Chemical Pulping) entails
treatment of wood chips with
a hot mixture of
water, sodium hydroxide,
and sodium sulfide, known
as white liquor, that breaks
the bonds that
link lignin, hemicellulose, and
cellulose. 
STEP 3: Cleaning

After being meshed,

screened, and dried,
the pulp can be used
to make high volume
commodity printing
products, like
newsprint and
magazine paper. But to
be turned into paper,
the pulp needs a little
bit more work.
 Papermaking
STEP 4: Head Box
The pulp is pumped into a large
papermaking machine, which stretches
almost four times the length of an
Olympic-size swimming pool and stands
as high as a three-story building.
Starting at the first section called the
head box, the pulp mass is squirted
through a horizontal slit over a moving
wire mesh to remove excess water.
STEP 5: Wire Section

The liquid falls onto the wire or

forming fabric. Beneath the wire,
foils (short for hydrofoils) remove
water and improve fiber
uniformity, ensuring that the
fibers weave together in a tight
mat. The wire passes over
suction boxes that vacuum out
the water, leaving a soft mat of
pulp that forms the paper sheet,
also known as the paper web. By
now the wire has travelled 30-40
meters. In a couple of seconds,
the water content has dropped to
75-80%, and the web has lost its
wet sheen.
STEP 6: Press Section

Moving at almost 90
km an hour, the thin
mats are fed into the
press section, where
up to 50% of the water
content is squeezed
out, up to 90% of
water in this entire
manufacturing process
is also recycled.
STEP 7: Drying

The paper web now travels through

an enclosed space containing several
steam-heated drying cylinders. They
are warmed up to 130ºC using
steam heat to ensure that the paper
is now 80 to 85% dry. Wet sizing
solution is now applied to the paper
to add a thin layer of starch to the
surface. Starch contributes to
stiffness and the bonding of the
fibers within the sheet of paper.
After the sizing is applied, the paper
passes through another set of
heated drying cylinders. In all, the
paper web may travel 400 meters
through the dry end. In the process,
it will lose roughly 93% of its water.
STEP 8: Paper Finishing

To give the
containerboard a smooth
and glossy surface to
optimize it for printing,
the paper passes
through a set of smooth
rollers, which can be
hard or soft, that press
the paper, embossing a
smooth face on the
paper surface.
STEP 9: Real – time Quality Control

Producing high-quality
paper depends on
maintaining extremely
fine control over the
variables in the
manufacturing process.
The sheet of paper is now
inspected by an
automated measuring
device that detects
imperfections
STEP 10: Paper Winding

After completing its 500-

metre journey, the paper
exits from the paper
machine and is
automatically wound onto a
jumbo reel, which can weigh
60 tons and be over seven
meters long. The jumbo reel
is lifted by crane to a nearby
winder, where the paper is
unwound and cut into
smaller rolls as ordered by
the customer, then labelled
for shipment.
 Paper Manufacturing Process
1. Debarking and
6. Press Section
Chipping
2. Chemical and 7. Drying
Mechanical Pulping

3. Cleaning 8. Paper Finishing

9. Real-time Quality
4. Head Box
Control

5. Wire Section 10. Paper Winding

All paper machines are designed to manufacture paper in a given basis
weight range. Tighter the range, more efficient will be the machine
operation. The standard procedure of measuring basis weight is laid out
in  TAPPI T 410, SCAN P6, DIN53104 & ISO: BSENISO536
Bulk and Density

Typical Grammage Values

Grade g/m2
Newsprint 40 - 50
Cigarette Tissue 22 - 25

Bond 60 -90
Paperboard 120 - 300
Accepted trade tolerance +/- 5%
Thank You for
Listening!