Pulp is a primary raw material used in the production of paper. To create the paper pulp, a variety of fibers, including cellulose and cotton, are used. Wood pulp is currently the most widely used material for making all types of high-quality paper. It has a sizable amount of cellulose fiber, which has the consistency of thread and serves as the foundation for the finished product. To improve the pulp’s brightness, stability, water or liquid resistance, and capacity to remove impurities, it is blended with various chemicals and papermaking agents.
The raw materials used in the paper industry can be divided into several groups based on their properties and impact on the quality of the paper produced, including pulp, sizing materials, and mineral fillers.
- Pulp
The pulp is the basic and most important ingredient for papermaking. It is the major raw material that is used in the largest fraction with other materials. On the basis of their source medium, the pulp is again categorized as:
- Wood Pulp
There are two sources of wood pulp hardwood trees and softwood trees. More than 90% of the total manufactured paper is made from wood pulp today. Wood pulp is obtained by chemically or mechanically reducing wood fiber into a lignocellulosic fibrous material. The various kinds of paper made from wood pulp are newspapers, magazines, toilet papers, etc. Softwood coniferous trees like pine and spruce are the richest source of wood pulp. As trees are replantable, easily harvested and easy to transport, wood pulp is an environment-friendly and ideal raw material for paper making.
- Non-Wood Pulp
Some pulp consists of vegetable (cellulose) fibers with numerous additives to regulate the physical characteristics, printability, and esthetics of the finished product. the selection of fiber was vital. The high-quality paper is produced from higher strength and sturdy materials like cotton, linen, or hemp fibers. These raw materials are used to give strength and stiffness to the paper. Straw, bamboo, and esparto grass are alternative materials accustomed to manufacture fibers.
- Recycled Paper Pulp
Recycled paper pulp creates the one-third part of the total raw pulp. First of all, by using the deinking process the ink is separated from the recycled paper pulp and then it is mixed with the virgin pulp to produce different grades of recycled paper.
- Sizing Elements
Starch and rosin sizing can be done both internally as well as externally. Rosin is used in internal sizing to provide the paper water-resistance and starch is used for surface sizing to control the absorption of printing ink and reduces the release of surface fibers.
- Fillers Agents
To enhance the paper opacity, smoothness, and color mineral fillers are used. Fillers improves the brightness and whiteness of the paper and provides more pop to printing paper.
- Pigments or Coloring Agents
Pigments are used to provide different colors to the paper in the paper industry. To color paper, soluble pigments are used. Fluorescent pigments are extensively used in the paper coating process to improve its appearance.
Therefore in the formation of a high-quality paper, so many ingredients are used which contributes a lot in its strength and durability. Buy supreme quality chemicals and additives from the best paper and packaging company to get desired results.
