Paper. Origin and evolution

04/06/2024
Paper. Origin and evolution

Paper and its analogues have been known to mankind for several millennia. At once, several civilizations are considered to have invented paper. One of the countries still on the list is the leader in paper production.


Historical information about paper
Egypt

The world story about paper originates from ancient Egypt, where the tomb paintings were transferred to papyrus, about 5,500 years ago. Such "first paper" was lighter, it could be passed from hand to hand, transported, compactly stored.


Chemical composition of papyrus:

  • Cellulose (cyperus papyrus) - 57%,
  • Leginin - 27%,
  • Mineral substances - 9%,
  • Water - 7%.

At the height of its popularity, papyrus was used both for the transmission/storage of information (30,000+ scrolls in the Library of Alexandria) and as a packaging material. Papyrus began to disappear from circulation in the 8th century, it began to be replaced by paper invented in China. So, only the origin of the name Papier in Latin remained from the ancient leaves.

Origin paper

China.

Ancient China gave the world the papermaking technology we know today. A few centuries before our era, the Chinese practiced writing on thin strips of bamboo and varnished silk. Such materials were either extremely inconvenient or very expensive.

According to Chinese annals, the inventor of paper was Cai-Lun. The manufacturing formula was invented in 105 AD. The recipe was as follows: chopped mulberry fibers, wood ash, yarn, and rags were mixed with water. The obtained mass was placed in special forms, dried and beaten with stones.


What is the pulp and paper industry today?

Today, production technologies have evolved, new ingredients, whitening or colored elements have been added to the original recipe. Varieties of paper were developed, depending on the purpose, quality, etc. We have known about paper for writing, printing documents or whatmans since school, but there are specialized sheets. It is worth getting to know some of them in more detail.


What is offset paper?

This is a type of paper for printing, but not just for a home printer, but for professional printers. The peculiarity of this material is the glued base, which absorbs paint more intensively than other types of paper, and therefore the print becomes brighter, the image deeper. Rough to the touch, hard

But the most important difference is the strength of sheets made by the offset method. Flyers, posters, menus, booklets and books are printed on it.


What is coated paper?

Known as chalky. Also widely used in professional printing. The main feature is bright, stable colors. This effect is possible due to special layers of koalin, blancfix and casein, which cover the sheets on one or both sides. Soft to the touch, but shiny in appearance.

They are used for printing glossy magazines, postcards, booklets, presentation catalogs, posters, posters and postage stamps. The difference with the offset one is that it is difficult to make a conventional "plane" from the chalked one, and you can make something out of paper from the offset one.


What is label paper?

Among the special types, you can also single out label paper, the characteristic of which is the specificity of application. This type is used as a sticker on plastic, metal, iron, glass and other containers for goods. Such paper is extremely wear-resistant due to special fibers in the composition.

Paper evolution

World production.

Today, paper production is a huge industry, which is present in most countries of the world. Paper production is measured in tens, hundreds of tons per year. Ukraine is among the top 50 paper-producing countries in the world, but here are the top 10 largest paper-producing countries according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations:

  • China
  • United States
  • Japan
  • Germany
  • Finland
  • Canada
  • Sweden
  • South Korea
  • France
  • Brazil

More and more productions are switching to ecological consumption, re-use of cellulose. It seemed that digital "paper" would eventually completely replace conventional paper, but production volumes are increasing every year. Assortments of stores and printing materials are expanding, so the paper industry still has room to grow.

04/06/2024
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