PAPER

Paper is a thin material mainly used for writing upon, printing upon, drawing or for packaging. It is produced by pressing together moist fibers, typically cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets.

Paper is a versatile material with many uses. Whilst the most common is for writing and printing upon, it is also widely used as a packaging material, in many cleaning products, in a number of industrial and construction processes, and even as a food ingredient – particularly in Asian cultures.

Paper spread from China through the Islamic world to medieval Europe in the 13^th century, where the first water-powered paper mills were built.^[3] In the 19^th century, industrial manufacture greatly lowered its cost, enabling mass exchange of information and contributing to significant cultural shifts. In 1844, Canadian inventor Charles Fenerty and German F.G. Keller independently developed processes for pulping wood fibers.^[4] This ended the nearly 2000-year exclusive use of pulped rags.

 

Microscopiv picture of paper under fluoroscent light.

USES OF PAPER:

For representing value: paper money, bank note, cheque, security (see Security paper), voucher and ticket

For storing information: book, notebook, magazine, newspaper, art, zine, letter

For personal use: diary, note to remind oneself, etc.; for temporary personal use: scratch paper

For communication: between individuals and/or groups of people.

For packaging: corrugated box, paper bag, envelope, wrapping tissue, Charta emporetica and wallpaper

For cleaning: toilet paper, handkerchiefs, paper towels, facial tissue and cat litter

For construction: papier-mâché, origami, paper planes, quilling, Paper honeycomb, used as a core material in composite materials, paper engineering, construction paper and paper clothing

For other uses: emery paper, sandpaper, blotting paper, litmus paper, universal indicator paper, paper chromatography, electrical insulation paper (see also dielectrics and permittivity) and filter paper