The methods used by science to improve paper have achieved an improvement in its quality, characteristics and conditions.
Rigidity, resistance to bending, smoothness, coefficient of static friction and tolerance to shear, have been just some of the results that we can observe today.
The truth is that paper is a fundamental asset in the cultural history of humanity. Man has always had the need to capture his ideas through the written record so that they transcend, and that is what has given paper such an important historical role.
Implemented methods
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the first paper machines and their patents were created. At the same time, the first methods for the production of wood pulp were also developed.
However, these methods began a new modern era that involved the abuse of mechanical abrasion and exaggeration in the application of chemical procedures.
1- Alkaline method
This alkaline method cooks the wood chips in sodium hydroxide. There are two main processes for its realization: the kraft process that uses sodium sulfate and the caustic soda process, it can be said that in both the cooking that separates the lignin is generated.
Lignin is a substance that is part of the organic structure in the plant cells of wood, providing the hardness and resistance of paper.
The advantage of this method is that it combines the good quality in the final result of the paper with a low manufacturing cost. This is achieved thanks to the fact that the pulp obtained has a great resistance given the size and quality of its fibers.
Other similar methods in terms of their pulp production are the sulfite method and the mechanical methods.
2- Method of b
One of the biggest challenges has been maintaining a bright white in the color of the paper. This method works so that your appearance does not deteriorate over the years.
Chlorine bleaching is a stage where the pulp obtained with a combination of various oxidizing compounds such as chlorine dioxide, elemental chlorine, oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, among other agents, is used.
Once the process is finished, the surface of the paper is mechanically smoothed and covered with a layer of chalk.
Generating infinity of forms and types of papers. The result is considered the best in terms of the quality and surface of the paper.
3- Ecological trend
Given the environmental impact that the paper industry has generated, various ecological groups came together to create a new non-aggressive method to offer the consumer a recycled and biodegradable product.
The main objective in addition to providing a solution to deforestation, is to improve the components used in the paper and to use again some of the properties already manufactured.
Thanks to this new trend, a new method was created for the manufacture of paper based on recycled materials. In turn, he started new implements that could use paper for other purposes.
Even the idea of turning paper into a rapidly biodegradable material makes it convenient for the ecosystem and improves even its ability to decompose.
4- New formula
The Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Genoa is developing a new formula to make the paper resistant to water, antibacterial and magnetic.
With this new formula it will be able to be stronger, resistant and in some way, autoimmune to other elements that attempt to deteriorate it.
The proposal is to add iron oxide to various nanoparticles to create a polymer matrix and thus make it magnetic. Under this same principle, they plan to use silver nanoparticles to achieve antibacterial properties.
This technique is expected to be implemented on various types of papers or fabrics. It could serve to keep various documents, valuable or historically important archives intact. This concept is expected to materialize in the near future.
Reference
- Garcia, Jose. (2007). Paper fibers. UPC Editions.
- Hidalgo, Maria. (1997) History of paper. Cuenca, Spain.
- Hunter, Dar. (1978). Papermaking, the history and technique of an ancient craft. New York, USA. Dover Publications.
- Paper (nd). Retrieved on October 8, 2017, from Wikipedia.
- Tapia, Pilar. (2015). Preservation of analog and digital documents. San Sebastián, Nerea.