Manufacturing process of paper

The manufacturing process of paper primarily consists of the following stages:

Raw material preparation: The principal raw materials for contemporary paper production are plant fibers, including wood, bamboo, and reeds. Taking wood as an example, logs are processed into wood chips, which undergo screening to eliminate impurities and ensure the purity of the raw materials.

Pulping: Pulping is a critical step that can be achieved through two primary methods: chemical pulping and mechanical pulping. Chemical pulping employs chemical agents to dissolve lignin, leaving behind cellulose, while mechanical pulping obtains fiber pulp via mechanical grinding.

Beating and screening: The fibers in the pulp require combing, cutting, and hydration. Additionally, incompletely decomposed impurities and coarse particle fibers must be removed.

Paper sheet formation: The screened pulp is diluted and transported to the paper machine. It passes through a wire mesh, allowing water to gradually drain off. The fibers are evenly distributed to form the paper sheet.