What's in my product: Paper
Thursday, December 8, 2011 at 12:53PM 
So what really goes into the products we are designing and manufacturing? Today's edition of what's in my product looks at the paper making process. GreenBlue.org breaks it down for us and the answer is not: trees.
Certainly it starts with trees or other fibrous materials, but form there the fibers are broken down in a solution of water, sodium sulfide, and caustic soda, also know affectionate as "white liquor". Ok that sounds simple...but what exactly is caustic soda? Caustic soda is derived from running electricty through salt water (fresh water mixed with salt.) What about sodium sulfide? Sodium sulfide begins with ground coal. Add to that "salt cake", which is a combination of the mineral marbelite and the byproduct of hydrochloric acid production. If the paper is white, then it has been treated with chlorine. I have to quote GreenBlue on this description: "Chlorine (is) also made from running electricity through salt water, chlorine dioxide, or an alternative combination of ozone (made from running electricity through air) and hydrogen peroxide (don’t even ask how hydrogen peroxide is made. I looked it up, and found phrases like “autoxidation of a 2-alkyl anthrahydroquinone”)".
Ok, lets try this again. So we have "trees, water, salt water, coal, mirabilite, limestone, maybe 2-alkyl anthrahydroquinone. It might contain calcium carbonate (more limestone), kaolinite (clay), talc, or titanium dioxide as a filler. Perhaps a wax emulsion is used as a sizing agent. Formaldehyde could be added to improve its strength when wetted. Some paper is treated with optical brighteners, dyes, pitch control chemicals, and slimicides."
OK, got it?
Paper in Materials, What's in my Product