Papermaking
Papermaking forms a coherent sheet from dispersed fibers, usually by draining water through a screen and drying the retained fibers.
Paper pulp: A suspension of separated fibers in water or another liquid, prepared for forming paper. Its fibers are dispersed in water before they collect on the forming screen.
Cellulose: A structural polysaccharide made of glucose units and the main component of plant cell walls. Plant papermaking fibers consist chiefly of cellulose.
Cai Lun: A Han dynasty court official traditionally credited with improving papermaking in China around 105 CE. His reported contribution anchors the traditional account of papermaking's early history.
Newsprint: A low-cost, lightweight paper grade traditionally used for newspapers. Its short-lived, high-volume use illustrates a paper grade optimized for economy.
Paper history: The history of paper's invention, manufacture, trade, and use across societies. Papermaking changed as paper moved between regions and production systems.
Paper machine: A machine that continuously forms, presses, dries, and finishes paper from pulp. It carries out papermaking in a continuous sequence rather than one sheet at a time.
Wood pulp: Fibrous material separated from wood by mechanical or chemical processing for use in paper. It supplies most fibers used in modern paper production.
Paper in China: The development and use of paper in China, where papermaking emerged in antiquity. Chinese craft traditions established early methods of making sheets from plant fibers and other materials.
Printing paper: Paper manufactured or finished for receiving printed text and images. Surface and absorbency must suit the printing process.
Printing press: A machine or device that transfers ink to a surface, enabling repeated reproduction of text and images. Reliable paper supply made printing at scale practical.