Pulp is a lignocellulosic fibrous material prepared by chemically or mechanically separating cellulose fibres from wood, fiber crops, waste paper, or rags. Many kinds of paper are made from wood with nothing else mixed into the pulp. This includes newspapers, magazines and even toilet paper. Paperboard is also made from wood pulp. Some types of paper, however, use pulp that has been mixed with other ingredients.
Pulp is mixed with water and other chemicals to make paper. It is then fed into a paper machine where it is pressed and dried to make the finished product.
Pulp can also be used to make other products such as:
-Cellulose insulation
-Filter paper
-Cigarette filters
-Diapers
-Food packaging
-Textiles
The purpose of adding pulp to paper is twofold. First, pulp provides bulk and stiffness to paper. Second, pulp gives paper its unique surface characteristics, such as absorbency, printability, and opacity.
Pulp is made up of cellulose fibers, which are the long, stringy parts of plants that give plants their structure. Cellulose is a type of carbohydrate, and it is the most abundant organic compound on Earth. Plants use cellulose to store energy in the form of glucose molecules. When we eat plants, we are actually eating stored cellulose.
Cellulose is not digestible by humans, but it is a key component of paper. In order to make paper, cellulose fibers must be broken down into small pieces and then reformed into a sheet.
Pulp is a key ingredient in paper making, as it provides the necessary fibers that give paper its strength and structure. Without pulp, paper would be fragile and would not be able to withstand the rigors of printing and other uses. Pulp also gives paper its absorbency, which allows ink and other liquids to be absorbed into the paper without smearing or running. Paper made without pulp would be less absorbent and would be more likely to smear or run when wet.