This paper provides a detailed and in-depth explanation about the papermaking process. It explains the chemical process of how the materials are transformed from wood to paper pulp. A history of this practice is also discussed and and examination of how it has developed over history. The paper looks at the current big players in the market and includes many charts and tables.
From the Paper:
"Papermaking originated in China in around 105 A.D. and its creation is generally attributed to a court official called Cai Lun. The first paper was made from a mixture of nonwood fibers, including mulberry bark. Knowledge of papermaking then spread to the Middle East through central Asia and reached Europe in the 12th century. From there, that knowledge later spread to North America and eventually to the rest of the world. A wide variety of fibers have been used to make paper, but in the years leading up to the 18th century, relatively large quantities were being made from linen rags. At that time, each individual sheet was made separately. The papermaker would dip a mesh known as a forming screen into a vat containing a solution of water and fiber (the stock). A sheet of paper would then be formed on the screen solely through the natural bonding of the fibers as the screen was lifted out of the water/fiber solution and drained. The sheet was then pressed and dried. Traditional papermakers in Japan and Taiwan, as well as papermaking craftspeople in other countries, still make paper using this time-honored process."
Production of Pulp and Paper (2012, January 15). Retrieved February 12, 2012, from http://www.academon.com/Research-Paper-Production-of-Pulp-and-Paper/29236