The term paper can either be derived from the French word “papier” or from the Greek word “papyrus”, which means papyrus plant.

 

Paper still mainly consists of vegetable fibres. This leads us to the main purpose of paper which is to write and print on it. Beyond that paper has lots of other purposes. It is often used in the packaging industry as packaging or filling material, as hygienic paper (e.g. toilet paper) or special paper (e.g. wallpaper).

 

The usual materials for paper manufacture are cellulose, mechanical wood pulp, the so-called groundwood and recycled paper, whereas the latter plays an important role in Europe meanwhile.

 

Pioneering in the sense of today’s paper manufacture was China. The Chinese Ts’ai Lun 105 AD invented the type of paper we know today. At that time the paper material was made of silk refuse which was mixed with other materials. In China yet in the 2^nd century existed tissue handkerchiefs and in the 6^th century even toilet paper. In the 5^th century the Mayan invented a papery material of pressed bask strands which suited for writing. Concerning Europe the Spanish were the pioneers of paper manufacture. In this field Germany is not mentioned until the year 1389.

 

Nowadays worldwide more than 300 million tons of paper are produced every year. Paper can be manufactured either manually or industrially. Therefore, about 60 work steps are necessary. A first step is the breakdown of the single fibres of the cellulose which is then mixed with a great amount of water and processed to a pulp. This is the so-called material or stuff. After being cleaned several times the compound is carried onto a fine filter on which the larger part of the water drips off. By moving the filter the single are placed on top of each other and form a fibrous web which is called the sheet of paper. Thereby all the fibres lie in the same running direction. Concerning machine-production this direction is mostly along the endless belt, on which the paper pulp lies. In the so-called wet press the paper is dehumidified. Having been dried in the drier section the surface can be closed, that means proved. Usually this happens by dint of starch, modified cellulose or polyvinyl alcohol. This work step is called paste application. The paste makes the paper describable.

 

After the manufacture a refinement can be effected, whereas the coating colour is based on several single components.