Tissue paper

Tissue paper is a lightweight, versatile type of paper or light crêpe paper.

It serves many essential roles in modern life, ranging from personal hygiene to industrial packaging. Because it is so adaptable, different varieties are engineered for specific tasks. These include hygienic tissues like toilet paper, facial tissues, and paper towels. It is also used as a cushioning material for packing fragile goods. The massive scale of its use is evident in developed nations. North America consumes approximately 21 million tonnes, while Europe uses about 6 million tonnes.

The manufacturing process begins with raw material known as paper pulp. This pulp is applied to a specialized paper machine. A key component is the Yankee dryer, which is a single, large, steam-heated drying cylinder. This cylinder is equipped with a hot air hood to assist the drying process. To ensure the paper stays on the machine during production, the Yankee cylinder is sprayed with adhesives. Once the paper is dry, a tool called a doctor blade scrapes it off the cylinder surface. This scraping action creates a crinkle in the paper, a process known as creping. The texture of this crinkle is controlled by the adhesive strength, the blade's geometry, and the machine's speed. For products requiring maximum water absorption, a through air drying (TAD) process is used. This method uses about twice the energy of conventional drying but produces a bulky paper with high wet tensile strength.

There are several distinct types of tissue paper categorized by their intended use. Facial tissues are soft, absorbent, and disposable papers designed for use on the face. They are often sold in boxes to help people expel nasal mucus. Paper towels represent the second largest consumer application. These usually have a basis weight of 20 to 24 g/m2 and are often two-ply, meaning they consist of two layers. Toilet paper is another major category, with rolls having been available since the end of the 19th century. In Western Europe alone, more than 20 billion rolls are used every year.

Other specialized types include wrapping tissue, which is thin and translucent for cushioning items, and table napkins, which vary in quality and ply.

The history of tissue paper shows how it has evolved alongside industrial technology. While paper has been used for hygiene for centuries, modern tissue paper production in the United States did not exist before the mid-1940s. In Western Europe, large-scale industrial production began in the early 1960s. The first tissue handkerchiefs were introduced as early as the 1920s. Since then, they have been refined to improve softness and strength. Today, a person in Western Europe uses roughly 200 tissue handkerchiefs per year. These are used for many tasks, including cleaning hands, spectacles, or treating minor wounds.

The tissue industry is a massive global economic force. In Europe, the market is worth approximately 10 billion Euros annually and grows at a rate of about 3%. The European market represents about 23% of the global market. Within the total paper and board market, tissue accounts for 10%. China is currently a major player, representing 40% of the global tissue market. In 2015, global market growth rates varied, with China growing at 8–9% while Europe grew at 2–3%. Demand for these products often fluctuates due to social factors. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, household demand increased significantly while commercial demand decreased.

Beyond standard household uses, tissue paper has been applied in surprising ways. In 1970, a Minnesota Department of Transportation employee named Fred Muellerleile used single-ply toilet paper for road repair. By placing the paper over crack sealants, workers prevented passing traffic from sticking to the wet tar. The paper eventually breaks down and disappears within a few days. In the field of audio engineering, tissue paper has also played a role. In the late 1970s, engineer Bob Clearmountain used tissue over speaker tweeters to reduce bright treble sounds. This led to scientific debates regarding "comb filtering," where high frequencies are reflected back into the tweeter rather than being absorbed.

Finally, tissue paper connects to specialized fields like art and retail. In the packing industry, custom-printed wrapping tissue is used to enhance the aesthetic appeal of products. This tissue is often thin and translucent, with grammages between 17 and 40 GSM. In the world of origami, specialized tissues are used to create intricate models. Using Methyl Cellulose (MC) coating provides the paper with high strength and "paper memory," which helps it hold complex shapes. This allows artists to use inexpensive paper to create highly detailed and malleable structures.