Cotton paper
Encyclopedia
Cotton paper is made from cotton linters or cotton from used cloths (rags) were the primary material source, hence the name rag paper. Cotton paper is superior in both strength and durability to wood pulp-based paper
, which may contain high concentrations of acids.
better.
Cotton paper is typically graded as 25%, 50%, or 100% cotton. Usually it can be checked by holding the cotton paper up to the light and looking just below the watermark for a number. 100% Cotton paper may contain small amounts of acids and should be tested or certified before use for archival documents.
Second-cut cotton linters have a normal average fibre length of 1.45 µm and have similar properties as a short softwood
pulp
.
. Other materials may also be used and still be known as Currency paper.
Cotton bond paper can be found at most stores that sell stationery and other office products. Though most cotton paper contains a watermark
, it is not necessary for it to have one.
Higher quality art papers are often made from cotton.
to make paper called carta bombycina. In the 1800s, fiber crop
s such as linen
fibres or cotton from used cloths (rags) were the primary material source. By the turn of the 20th century most of the paper was made from wood pulp, but cotton is still used in speciality papers. As cotton rags now often contain synthetic fibres, papermakers have turned to second-cut cotton linters as raw material sources for making pulp for cotton papers.
Paper
Paper is a thin material mainly used for writing upon, printing upon, drawing or for packaging. It is produced by pressing together moist fibers, typically cellulose pulp derived from wood, rags or grasses, and drying them into flexible sheets....
, which may contain high concentrations of acids.
Properties
Certain cotton fibre paper is known to last hundreds of years without appreciable fading, discoloration, or deterioration; so it is often used for important documents such as the archival copies of dissertations or theses. As a rule of thumb, for each percentage point of cotton fibre, a user may expect one year of resisting deterioration by use (the handling to which paper may be subjected). Legal document paper typically contains 25% cotton. Cotton paper will produce a better printout than copy paper because it is able to absorb inkInk
Ink is a liquid or paste that contains pigments and/or dyes and is used to color a surface to produce an image, text, or design. Ink is used for drawing and/or writing with a pen, brush, or quill...
better.
Cotton paper is typically graded as 25%, 50%, or 100% cotton. Usually it can be checked by holding the cotton paper up to the light and looking just below the watermark for a number. 100% Cotton paper may contain small amounts of acids and should be tested or certified before use for archival documents.
Second-cut cotton linters have a normal average fibre length of 1.45 µm and have similar properties as a short softwood
Softwood
The term softwood is used to describe wood from trees that are known as gymnosperms.Conifers are an example. It may also be used to describe trees, which tend to be evergreen, notable exceptions being bald cypress and the larches....
pulp
Pulp (paper)
Pulp is a lignocellulosic fibrous material prepared by chemically or mechanically separating cellulose fibres from wood, fibre crops or waste paper. Wood pulp is the most common raw material in papermaking.-History:...
.
Uses
Cotton paper is used in banknotes. Modern banknotes are typically made from 100% cotton paper, but can also be made from a mixture of 75% or less flaxFlax
Flax is a member of the genus Linum in the family Linaceae. It is native to the region extending from the eastern Mediterranean to India and was probably first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent...
. Other materials may also be used and still be known as Currency paper.
Cotton bond paper can be found at most stores that sell stationery and other office products. Though most cotton paper contains a watermark
Watermark
A watermark is a recognizable image or pattern in paper that appears as various shades of lightness/darkness when viewed by transmitted light , caused by thickness or density variations in the paper...
, it is not necessary for it to have one.
Higher quality art papers are often made from cotton.
History
Cotton was first used with a mixture of silkSilk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
to make paper called carta bombycina. In the 1800s, fiber crop
Fiber crop
Fiber crops are field crops grown for their fibers, which are traditionally used to make paper, cloth, or rope. The fibers may be chemically modified, like in viscose or cellophane...
s such as linen
Linen
Linen is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant, Linum usitatissimum. Linen is labor-intensive to manufacture, but when it is made into garments, it is valued for its exceptional coolness and freshness in hot weather....
fibres or cotton from used cloths (rags) were the primary material source. By the turn of the 20th century most of the paper was made from wood pulp, but cotton is still used in speciality papers. As cotton rags now often contain synthetic fibres, papermakers have turned to second-cut cotton linters as raw material sources for making pulp for cotton papers.