Papier und Papierherstellung (Paper and Paper Manufacturing)

Historical Writing Materials

Substrates used for writing prior to the invention of paper, including papyrus, parchment, tapa, amatl, wood/bark, stone, and leather.

Cai Lun (T'sai Lun)

The Chinese court official credited with inventing paper in China around the year 105 AD.

Historical Paper Route to Europe

The transmission path of papermaking from China westward along the Silk Road through Samarkand (Central Asia), the Orient, North Africa, Spain, Italy, and finally via trade routes to Germany.

Introduction of Paper in Germany

Paper became available in the German-speaking area during the 14th century, specifically marked by the year 1390.

Raw Materials of Paper

The essential fibrous base substances used to make paper, including cellulose fibers, recovered waste paper (Altpapier), wood, and textiles or rags (Hadern/Lumpen).

Inkrusten

The smallest chemical and structural constituents in paper pulp that bond, layer upon each other, and interlock during sheet formation.

Grain Direction (Laufrichtung / Maschinenrichtung)

The dominant alignment direction taken by cellulose fibers during machine papermaking along the wire.

Grain Direction Test Methods

Manual testing procedures used to determine fiber orientation: bending test (Biegetest / Biegeprobe), tear test (Reißtest / Reißprobe), fingernail test (Nageltest / Fingernagelprobe), and moisture/water test (Feuchttest / Feuchtigkeitsprüfung).

Fillers (Füllstoffe)

Mineral powders added to pulp to increase opacity and surface smoothness, notably kaolin, calcium carbonate (chalk/Kreide), talcum, and titanium dioxide.

Paper Additives (Zusatzstoffe)

Auxiliary chemicals mixed into the pulp suspension, including sizing agents (Leimungsmittel), colorants/dyes, optical brighteners, wet-strength agents (Nassfestmittel), and binders (e.g., casein).

Mechanical Pulp (Holzstoff)

Wood pulp produced purely mechanically by grinding wood chips, which retains natural lignin and causes paper to yellow over time.

Chemical Pulp (Zellstoff)

Wood fibers produced by boiling chipped wood in an alkaline liquor to dissolve and remove the natural plant binder lignin, making paper far less prone to yellowing.

Lignin

The inherent botanical binding agent in wood that is chemically separated during chemical pulping to prevent paper from yellowing.

Pulper

A large industrial mixer that dissolves recovered waste paper (Altpapier) in water during recycling raw material preparation.

Deinking

An English technical term for the recycling stage where printing inks are separated and removed from dispersed waste paper fibers using a flotation process with soap bubbles.

Refiner (Mahlen)