Paper-Making
an account of paper-making from its earliest
known record down to the present time by
J.W. Butler Paper Company 1901
of a thick, soft and flexible paper with a preparation of glue,
gelatine, and molasses, and covering it with finely ground cork
lightly rolled in. This paper is used for packing bottles, glassware,
etc.
Slate-paper, which takes its name from the fact that it can be
cleansed like a slate, is prepared from the regular product, of the
required thickness and consistency, by the use of benzine,
followed by a preparation made of lead, zinc oxide, turpentine,
seed-oil, copal, and sandarach.
Soft plate-paper is a thick unsized paper, especially adapted to
receive impressions for fine engravings printed from steel and
other plates.
Filtering-paper, much used by chemists and druggists, is simply
unsized open or porous paper. With such paper, of course, the
process of manufacture ceases at the first drying or crushing
rollers, all the finishing or hardening operations being omitted.
Waterproof papers comprise a large and most useful class. It is
practically only within the past twenty-five years that a process
rendering a paper waterproof by
destroying its absorptive properties. At
the present time there are many and
various methods used in waterproofing,
such as soaking the stock in dissolved
shellac and borax. This method is found
especially satisfactory in waterproofing
heavy paper and boards. Another
process is by brushing the surface of
the paper with boiled oil, and paper
thus prepared was formerly used
largely in lieu of bladders and gutskins
for wrapping Dutter, covering fruit-jars,
etc., but it has been almost entirely
superseded by the introduction of
parchment-paper, of which mention will
be made later. Since the invention of
the process of clay coating paper, it has
been found possible to incorporate in
the coating solution certain materials
which render it waterproof. The
application of wax or paraffin to paper
the state of development expected. A great amount of time and money has been spent in the endeavor to perfect the
process, and at the same time cheapen the cost, but so far with only indifferent success, and the experiment has
usually proved very discouraging and expensive to its supporters.
In its simplest form, this method consists in dipping the paper in a bath of melted paraffin, the paper being at a
temperature lower than the melting-point of the paraffin, and promptly removing it from the bath, whereby the
adhering paraffin is prevented from entering the paper to any considerable extent, and forms a thin coating upon its
surface. This paper is odorless, and is used for wrapping meats, fish, butter, candies, etc.
Parchment-paper, which is almost like the real parchment made from the skins of animals, is prepared from unsized
rag-paper by immersing it for a few seconds in a solution of two parts of sulphuric acid, or oil of vitriol, in one part of
water, at a temperature of 60° Fahrenheit, then washing it in cold water and removing any remaining traces of the
acid by dipping it in a weak solution of ammonia. By this treatment it is rendered tough, translucent, glossy, and
almost impervious to water. It is known as vegetable parchment, and is extensively used in wrapping lard, butter,
meats, etc., and also to hermetically seal jars and pots for preserving fruit. Silver tissue, or what is known to the trade
as grass-bleached tissue, is extensively used for wrapping silverware. It is specially treated to remove all chemicals
that would tend to corrode or tarnish silver. The best qualities of this paper are made in England.
Metallic paper is paper washed with a solution of whiting, lime, and zinc. Characters written on this paper with a
pewter pencil are almost indelible.
Test or litmus papers are used in laboratories and factories for indicating the presence of acids or alkalies and
various liquids. It is prepared by treatment with a peculiar coloring matter that gives its name to the paper. It is of a
blue or yellow tint, according to the chemical employed in its preparation, and changes color under the influence of
different chemical agents. The blue litmus paper, for instance, when thrust into an acid solution becomes red, but may
be restored to its normal color by being subjected to the action of an alkali.