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### 1. Types of Paper Raw Materials
The production process of paper primarily involves two stages: pulping and papermaking. The sources of pulp are extensive, encompassing wood fiber raw materials, non-wood fiber raw materials, and recycled fiber raw materials.
#### Wood Fiber Raw Materials
- **Softwood**: Also known as coniferous wood, it features a softer texture. Common softwood species include spruce, fir, larch, red pine, masson pine, and cypress.
- **Hardwood**: Known for its hardness, this category includes poplar, birch, and maple.
#### Non-Wood Fiber Raw Materials
- **Grass Fiber Materials**: Examples include straw, wheatgrass, reed, corn stalks, bamboo stalks, and sorghum stalks.
- **Bast Fiber Materials**: These include various types of hemp (e.g., flax, jute, hemp) and the bark of certain tree species such as sandalwood.
- **Seed Wool Fiber Materials**: Such as cotton, cotton lint, and rags.
#### Recycled Fiber Raw Materials
Waste paper serves as an essential source of recycled fiber raw materials.
### 2. Characteristics of Paper Raw Materials
The method of pulp manufacturing plays a critical role in converting appropriate wood and plant fibers into fibrous paper sheets. The primary methods include mechanical, chemical, and semi-chemical processes.
- **Mechanical Manufacturing**: Utilizes physical means such as mechanical pressure and grinding to break down raw materials into fine fibers. This method produces paper with high transparency, good drainage properties, strong elasticity, and excellent ink absorption capabilities, making it suitable for high-speed mass production.
- **Chemical Manufacturing**: Involves the use of chemicals to cook wood, facilitating fiber separation. Different chemicals can be added during the cooking process to influence pulp properties, resulting in sulfite pulp, alkali pulp, and sulfate pulp.
- **Semi-Chemical Manufacturing**: Combines both mechanical and chemical methods. It first dissolves the binding force between non-fiber components and fibers, followed by mechanical separation. This method yields paper with high hardness, versatility, and relatively low cost.
### 3. Whiteness of Paper
Whiteness refers to the amount of light reflected by the paper's surface and is a key indicator of its color characteristics. Higher whiteness enhances light reflection, improving color expression and print quality. However, excessively high whiteness may cause visual discomfort in text-based printed materials, necessitating moderate selection. Factors influencing paper whiteness include dyes, fillers, pulp brightness, coatings, adhesives, lignin content, and bleaching permeability.
### 4. Gloss of Paper
Gloss represents the specular reflection ability of the paper's surface, reflecting its proximity to full specular reflection. High gloss enhances color brightness but may cause eye fatigue in text-heavy materials. Ink characteristics, including film thickness, leveling, fluidity, viscosity, transparency, pigment particle size, drying time, and form, significantly impact print gloss. Additionally, printing pressure must be carefully controlled to ensure optimal imprint clarity and gloss.
### 5. Ink Absorption of Paper
Ink absorption refers to the paper's ability to receive and transfer ink during printing. Factors influencing this property include ink composition, paper smoothness, ink acceptability, and printing pressure control. Excessive ink absorption may lead to issues such as tarnish, powdering, transprinting, and reduced ink layer density, while insufficient absorption may cause backside fouling.
### 6. Smoothness of Paper
Smoothness describes the structural characteristics of the paper's surface, specifically its degree of flatness. It affects both the printing process and print quality. Higher smoothness ensures uniform contact between the paper and printing plate, enhancing print quality and gloss. Poor smoothness may result in excessive ink penetration, deteriorating color effects and producing pale prints.
### 7. Quantitative and Basis Weight
Quantitative, also referred to as gram weight, measures the weight of paper per unit area, typically expressed in grams per square meter. Basis weight denotes the total weight of 500 sheets of standard-sized paper. Ream weight, calculated by converting basis weight and paper size into pound units, represents the weight of each ream (500 sheets). Paper thickness, often expressed in strips (1 strip = 0.01 mm), is another important parameter.
### 8. Paper Characteristics and Printability
Each step in the paper manufacturing process, from pulp preparation to final paper formation, influences paper characteristics. For instance, additives introduced during the beating process enhance specific paper performance attributes. Understanding these characteristics is crucial for selecting the appropriate paper for specific printing applications.
### Conclusion
This article provides a comprehensive overview of paper raw materials, characteristics, and their impact on printability. By exploring the intricate details of paper production, we gain a deeper appreciation for the wisdom and craftsmanship involved in creating this essential medium. As the paper industry continues to evolve, it is imperative to prioritize environmentally friendly and sustainable production methods to protect our planet.