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Tissue paper

technology Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Tissue paper is a very lightweight type of paper.

Taschentuch
Taschentuch

It is used for many different jobs in our daily lives. We use it for cleaning our faces with soft facial tissues. We also use paper towels to soak up spills. Some tissue is used as packing material to protect fragile items. It can even be used to wrap gifts in stores. Because it is so useful, people use huge amounts of it. North America uses about 21 million tonnes of tissue. Europe uses about 6 million tonnes.

Tissue Paper Production Machine
Tissue Paper Production Machine

Making tissue paper is a very interesting thing that happens on large machines. The process starts with raw material called paper pulp. This pulp goes onto a large, steam-heated drying cylinder. This cylinder is called a Yankee dryer. It has a hot air hood to help the drying. To make the paper stick, the cylinder is sprayed with adhesives. A sharp tool called a doctor blade scrapes the dry paper off the surface. This scraping action creates a crinkle, which is also called creping.

Tissue Paper Production Machine
Tissue Paper Production Machine

People have used paper for hygiene for a very long time. However, the tissue paper we use today is newer. It was not made in the United States before the mid-1940s. In Western Europe, large industrial production began in the early 1960s. The first tissue handkerchiefs were introduced in the 1920s. These were made to be soft and strong for the face. Today, people in Western Europe use about 200 of these handkerchiefs every year.

Box of Scotties tissues
Box of Scotties tissues

There are many different kinds of tissue for specific tasks. Facial tissues are soft and meant for the face. Paper towels are often two-ply, which means they have two layers. These are often used for cleaning and are the second largest use of tissue. Toilet paper rolls have been around since the late 19th century. In Western Europe, people use more than 20 billion rolls every year.

Toilet Tissue Paper Roll 350 Sheet
Toilet Tissue Paper Roll 350 Sheet

Some companies like Andrex or Charmin make these famous brands.

Tissue paper can even be used in surprising ways. In 1970, a man named Fred Muellerleile found a way to use it for roads. Workers put toilet paper over wet road sealant. This stops cars from sticking to the tar. The paper breaks down and disappears after a few days. Some sound engineers even used tissue over speakers to change how they sound. This was a way to tame loud, bright sounds. It shows how a simple paper can do many different jobs.

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🖼️ Images & Media (4)
File:Taschentuch.JPG
Taschentuch.JPG
File:Tissue Paper Production Machine.jpg
Tissue Paper Production Machine.jpg
File:Toilet Tissue Paper Roll 350 Sheet.jpg
Toilet Tissue Paper Roll 350 Sheet.jpg
File:Box of Scotties tissues.jpg
Box of Scotties tissues.jpg
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