How paper was created and changed: the history of the development of the material

In many areas of our life today, we cannot do without paper. From household tasks or work to even cooking, where we use parchment paper.

It is this material that is the basis for creating various types of printing products, including such products as cardboard boxes. The basis of cardboard, regardless of its density and characteristics, will be paper itself. So it is not surprising that his invention really changed the history of mankind and significantly simplified our life today.

In fact, the history of paper goes back to ancient times. And the way from its direct creation to maximum distribution was long. Let's figure out who invented paper and how the development of the material took place?

History and stages of paper creation

The first paper did not appear in this millennium, and not even in the past. However, it was preceded by a completely different technology and, accordingly, a different result. As soon as humanity had the need to write down its experience and pass it on to the next generations in the form of writing, a material was needed on which all this could actually be done. And so we got papyrus - these are flat sheets, the basis of which was a swamp plant.

The first traces of the use of papyrus were found in ancient Egypt and date back to the 3rd millennium BC. How was papyrus made? Aquatic plants of the sedge family were divided into layers. The basis for this was the stem, from which the core was previously cut out, cutting it into the thinnest strips. They were placed in water, and then dried. As a result, it was possible to obtain a material on which it was possible to reproduce various images with the help of a special tube and paint. Some of them were able to survive, including until our time, which obviously indicates the high quality of the material.

However, the properties of papyrus were far from the most perfect. And for convenient use, it was necessary to look for another material. In the 2nd century BC, the production of what now resembles paper in its usual state as much as possible began in China. The basis for it was bamboo or silk. The resulting sheets were used for writing, as well as for creating the first books.

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It was this technology that became the most decisive for the further history of the material. And over time, it began to be used by countries neighboring China. Of course, it also had its shortcomings. Bamboo itself is a heavy material, while the lighter silk is quite expensive and considered rare. And therefore not suitable for mass production.

So the improvement of the base began. What was later used to make paper? The main material was the same raw material used by wasps to create their nest. It was mostly recycled wood and some plant fibers. The Chinese saw that such nests can withstand high humidity and do not burn out in the sun. This inspired them to create fairly strong paper from wood and hemp. To which they also added:

• silk fibers;
• old used fabrics;
• ashes after burning a tree.

By mixing everything with water and pressing, it was possible to get really strong dense sheets.

Further development of the material

We have also prepared some interesting facts about paper, which describe how, even after the creation of the material, its development and distribution took place around the world:

1. After gaining popularity in China, the paper made its way to Japan. And in another 100 years to Europe.
2. Gradually, people forgot how to make papyrus and concentrated on improving this very technology of creating the material. How exactly? Additives that increase strength and density were glue, starch, etc.
3. Spain was the first country in Europe to start producing paper itself.
4. The first paper machines appeared only in the 1800s in France and then in Britain. They automated the process of creating a paper base as much as possible.
5. In order to make the paper more resistant to high humidity, it is treated with paraffins and resins.
6. Everything that has an area of up to 150 g/m2 is usually called paper. Higher indicators are a sign that you have cardboard in front of you.

After taking a closer look at where paper was invented and how from a rather rare material it became something that surrounds us in various manifestations and spheres of our lives, you can learn a lot of new and interesting things. Everything: from business cards or cardboard boxes to books, train tickets, parchment for baking has undergone 1000 years of evolution and improvement. Modern technology is great paper molding allows you to vary its density and other characteristics, to carry out further processing of the material: applying images, carvings, embossing, lamination, etc.