papers and boards

• What was paper originally made from?

  Fibres of tree bark mixed in water
• How is lignin related to paper quality?

  Lignin can be broken down for better quality paper
• What is the first step in making paper by hand?

  Rip up old used paper into small pieces
• What happens to the fibres during mechanical pulping?

  Fibres are damaged more than by hand
• What is a characteristic of mechanically pulped paper?

  It tears easily and disintegrates when wet
• What is the purpose of the chemical pulping process?

  To remove lignin without damaging fibres
• What chemicals are used in the chemical pulping process?

  Caustic soda and sodium sulphate
• Why is recycled paper beneficial?

  It reduces the number of trees needed
• How many times can paper be recycled?

  About five or six times
• What is the gsm measurement used for?

  To measure the weight of paper
• What are the physical and working properties of common types of paper?

  • Layout paper: 50 gsm, bright white, smooth, used for tracing and sketching
  • Copier paper: 80 gsm, bright white, smooth, used for printing and photocopying
  • Cartridge paper: 80-140 gsm, textured, used for various drawing techniques
  • Sugar paper: 100 gsm, available in colors, used for drawing with markers
• What is one method of making cardboard?

  Sandwiching and pasting multiple layers of paper
• What is corrugated card made from?

  Three layers of paper with a wavy shape
• What is the thickness of mounting board?

  1.4 mm (1400 microns)
• What are the properties and uses of different types of card?

  • Card: 180-300 microns, used for greetings cards and book covers
  • Cardboard: 300 microns upwards, used for packaging
  • Corrugated cardboard: 3000 microns upwards, used for pizza boxes and larger packaging
  • Mounting board: 1400 microns, used for picture frames
• What is the main characteristic of foam board?

  It is smooth, rigid, and lightweight
• What is Styrofoam made from?

  Extruded polystyrene foam insulation
• What is the ecological impact of making one tonne of paper?

  Seventeen trees and thousands of gallons of water
• How much less air pollution does recycled paper produce?

  73 percent less than raw materials
• What is the role of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)?

  To promote sustainable forest management
• What is the decomposition time for paper?

  Two to four weeks
• How do laminated layers affect decomposition time?

  They take much longer to decompose
• What happens to food-soaked paper and cardboard?

  They can be composted
• What factors affect the selection of materials and components?

  • Surface finishes: affect strength and rigidity
  • Absorbency: impacts print quality
  • Colour: specific colours may be required
  • Texture: rougher textures are better for drawing
  • Flexibility/Rigidity: some products need to bend
  • Water resistance: important for outdoor applications
• What is the main influence on the selection of materials?

  The properties and characteristics of the material
• What is the difference between one-off and mass-produced products?

  One-off products are handmade, mass-produced are not
• What is the life cycle of paper and cardboard?

  Stages from raw material extraction to disposal
• What is the impact of deforestation on paper manufacturing?

  It reduces the number of trees available
• What is the life cycle of a product?

  The stages from raw material extraction to disposal
• Why do papers and cardboard have a similar life cycle to timber products?

  Both are made from trees
• What are the scales of production?

  • One-off products: hand-made by craftsmen
  • Batch produced: small teams with specific skills
  • Mass-produced: production lines with automation
• What are one-off products typically characterized by?

  They are usually hand-made
• What is batch production?

  Producing a limited number of items at once
• What is mass production?

  Using production lines for large quantities
• What factors affect the availability of products?

  Sizes, colours, or textures that are non-standard
• How does deforestation relate to paper production?

  Many manufacturers use trees from managed forests
• What is the impact of water and energy consumption in paper production?

  It can lower water tables and affect wildlife
• How do paper mills manage water usage?

  Many recycle up to 90% of the water used
• What are the environmental effects of air pollution from pulp and paper mills?

  It contributes to global warming and acid rain
• What is exploitation in the context of labor?

  Forcing workers to work in unsafe conditions