From Paper-mill to PressroomWheelwright, William Bond
Philosophy
From Paper-mill to Pressroom
Wheelwright, William Bond
Papermaking
Agalite and talc, which are silicates of magnesia, are also used. They
are cheaper and less desirable, both on account of color and their
crystalline nature, which is more or less damaging to cutter knives
and printing-plates. These fillers are used widely in the cheaper
book-papers, and can often be detected by holding a sheet against the
light, as the little, translucent crystalline particles then appear
like pinholes.
Sulphate of lime, commercially known under such names as gypsum, pearl
hardening, satinite, etc., is a white, crystalline substance. This is
used to some extent in paper-making, but principally as a coating.
Barium sulphate, prepared chemically, and known as blanc fixe, is used
largely for coating papers because of its brilliancy and purity of
color.
SIZING MATERIALS.--Starch was one of the earliest materials used for
sizing paper, and is used considerably in addition to other materials,
as it adds a hard, tinny character desired by the trade on certain
grades. Silicate of soda is also used to impart similar characteristics.
Gelatine, or animal size, is obtained by boiling down suitable animal
tissues. As a sizing agent, it is applied after the paper is made by
passing the web of paper through a vat containing the hot liquid size.
Casein, which is sometimes used as sizing, is more important in its
functions as an adhesive for the making of coated paper. It is prepared
by treating skim milk with weak acid.
Rosin size, the most widely used size, is produced from rosin by
cooking with soda ash, which produces a soft soap. The soap when mixed
with water by agitation assumes a milky appearance. In this condition
it is poured into the beater after all other ingredients have entered,
and is precipitated by the addition of alum as a resinate of alumina.
IMPURITIES IN PAPER.--Impurities, either chemical or physical, are
sometimes found in paper, owing to lax methods or inferior materials.
Free acid occasionally occurs, and in some cases would be very
deleterious. In papers that are to be bronzed, for example, this
acid would tarnish the bronze. Needle papers, and paper for wrapping
steelware, must be acid-free, otherwise they will cause rusting. The
presence of free acid may only be determined by an analyst.
Sulphur, which may give rise to the formation of sulphuretted hydrogen,
exists sometimes as an impurity in paper. It causes a brownish halo to
appear around printed letters, because of its action on printing-ink.
It would also cause oxidization of jewelry, mounted upon cardboard
containing sulphur residues.
Free chlorine, or chlorine compounds, the result of inadequate draining
of the stock, may cause final disintegration in the paper. It is the
duty of manufacturers to guard against this and the other deficiencies
noted.
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