Water-Soluble - Article Example

Water Soluble Paper Water Soluble Paper is one of the materials that amount to extensive everyday usage without which several functions of routine life may be hampered. From making grocery lists to using the restroom, paper is required everywhere. In the modern world, the utilization of paper has grown so extensive, that plant resources are continuously used in order to provide for more. Paper can essentially be of two types, one that is water soluble and soft in consistency: such as tissue paper etcetera, and one that is hard in consistency and is often water insoluble such as paper that is used to make calendars (Holik, 2013).This research essay aims to highlight the differences between paper that can be dissolved in water and paper that cannot be dissolved in water, highlighting the usage, formation and cost of both. There are several types of paper manufactured by the paper industry and used by the people all across the world. These essentially include newsprint – paper that is used in the newspaper industries; coated papers which are printed and written upon; uncoated papers which are printed and can be written on; papers used as tissue and for sanitary purposes; papers used for packaging and as industrial reagents, and lastly paper in the form of board (Roberts, 1991). Of these, newsprint, tissue paper and paper used for sanitary purposes, as well as certain uncoated forms of paper are deemed to be water soluble. The papers made from cellulose are prone to adsorbing water the most (Roberts, 1991). These include a variety of tissues as explained further. Water soluble types of tissue papers include paper napkins that are used in the kitchen, toilet paper that is used in the bathroom, and often sanitary wrapping paper and miscellaneous wrapping papers (United States & Ingels et al., 1932).Thus, these papers absorb water more readily than other papers due to the fact that they attract water particles toward their intrinsic components. Paper is made by the paper machine and includes both chemical and mechanical pulp (Holik, 2013). It also includes chemical additives that are often added after the fibers are interlaced and is known as starch, or other wet-strength additives (Holik, 2013). The purpose of wetting the paper over and over again is so as to make it soft and promote easy recycling (Holik, 2013). Although there have been various chemicals involved in the manufacture and the processing of paper, the standard procedure remains the paper making machine. The prerequisites for this machine are for the material and the direction of the machine to be the same. The material is inserted so as to use the full potential of the machine. It is then pressed so as to remove water molecules, then dried using a dryer. Finally it is sized, and then shipped (Holik, 2013). The essential components of water soluble paper, especially tissue are cellulose which is not used in its usual state as it is insoluble in water (Williams, 2007). Therefore it is converted to other chemical derivatives, whereas the water soluble pigment that is used in it comprises of the chemical resin, often in the form of polyvinyl alcohol, water based adhesive (Williams, 2007). Both are plant derivatives, thus it can be said that paper in itself is essentially made from plants. Tissue products are often two products which are held together and laminated into one (Bouchard, 2004). In ordered to be used to the optimum capacity, tissue papers as well as other water-absorbable papers need to have the properties of wet strength as well as the ability to absorb. These properties are mediated by the physical characteristics of the paper such as its thickness (Bouchard, 2004). Moreover, its dainty physical details such as the color and designs on it are also equally important features (Bouchard, 2004).However, the features of important water-absorbable tissues do not end here. The packaging part is an equally important characteristic of the features of the tissue paper, as aesthetics do matter (Bouchard, 2004). The laminated tower which is positioned on the hanging line then undergoes an extensive operation, during which the tissue would be wrapped around a parent role (Bouchard, 2004). It thus turns into a tissue towel with the ability to absorb more than usual amounts of water, in a crepe thin corrugated paper (Bouchard, 2004). Hence the tissue paper, or any other water soluble paper is not only very soft but also attracts water molecules and is thin and dainty in appearance. Materials comprising of cellulose and fibers ten to be more porous than those made out of plastic derivatives (Holik, 2013). Plastic on the other hand, along with plastic lamination of the paper is therefore non-porous. Therefore, it can easily be postulated that plastic will not be able to absorb water in; therefore it is not of a consistency that is water soluble. On the other hand, tissue papers are not only soft and pliable, but also extremely light and tissues and napkins etcetera are required at all times – whether at home or working and especially while travelling. It can not only easily absorb water. But can also be used in various other places for example hospitals, wedding, certain people make it a habit to keep their hand kerchiefs or tissues in their pocket. It is also very light paper so people often draw or write on it for leisurely activities. It is also beneficial as it removes all sorts of stains from tissue usage as well as is used because of its portability. The winding of tissue also makes it more portable and easy to carry. The porous, water soluble sachets are used maximally in order to make tea. That is why the benefits of water absorbable tissues. The prime benefit is the amount that water-soluble tissue can hold, which is why thick liquids get retained better than in other types of paper that are used. Water soluble papers and those that are not water soluble vary in their particulate nature. Light scattering tests are often done to discriminate one from the other (Holik, 2013). Other subtle differences include how well the paper can absorb water, how soon it can dry its thickness, its physical appearance etcetera. The most prominent difference between tissue paper and paper which is not soluble or absorbable is its strength. While tissues appear to be very soft, they possess a great amount of strength due to its adhesive nature. Dry papers are therefore hard and brittle to touch, they also tear easily. Those that provide wet strength to soluble papers are known as polyvinyl alcohols (Ek et al., 2009). Often, it is also the chemical composition of the paper which is what makes it water soluble or not soluble in water. For instance, cations are more capable of attracting anionic materials, due to which water is adhered to the product alongside (Ek et al., 2009).Furthermore, the difference lies between which is more polymeric, as polymeric absorbs water readily due to greater amount of tissues, it is contingent upon the molecules used in the making of the tissue paper (Ek et al., 2009). Since paper is used every day and has become a necessity of life, it is extremely necessary for it to be cost-friendly (Holik, 2013).The breakthrough reduction in cost of paper is due to recycling. Recycled newsprints, for example can be reused, thus they reduce the cost of production as well(McKinney, 1995). Apart from recycling, more cost-friendly methods involve utilization of resources that opportunity provides with such as using plants and other natural resources once a while in order to meet the increasing demand for paper with cheaper methods. Such methods include using starch as a paper binder (Holik, 2013) and the usage of synthetic material if the overall cost of machine maintenance and paper dying is more than its usage. Moreover, mineral fillers used can also lower the cost of production rather than substitute for the usual fiber that comprises paper. This would lead to betterment in papermaking industry (Holik, 2013). Recycling does not only conserve money but also energy and utilizes the finite resources that the world has to its best – perhaps that is the reason why more people are adopting it. In conclusion, it would suffice to point out that water-soluble paper possesses a bit of an edge over dry paper, in terms of strength, appearance etcetera. However, both have their own merits and de-merits and both are useful on their own terms. Moreover, the cost efficacy as well as the materials used may range from very expensive to very inexpensive, in which case often expired products result, Thus, in both the respects the tussle over which paper is better, it is better to accept the fact that even though tissue paper has more strength due to its adhesiveness to water, paper that is not water soluble has its own uses. For instance, papers for magazines cannot be like tissue paper or it will have greater spread of ink. Even the cost production of the paper is contingent on which one you buy; however both the soluble and those not soluble in water have substitutes of the chemicals used in creating them, which provide cost efficiency and same results. References Bouchard, R., Castell, J., Desaulniers, M., Janssen, W., & Landry, V. (2004).U.S. Patent Application 10/819,481. Ek, M., Gellerstedt, G., & Henriksson, G. (2009). Pulp and paper chemistry and technology: Volume 4. Berlin: Walter de Gruyter. Holik, H. (2013). Handbook of paper and board. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH. McKinney, R. W. J. (1995). Technology of paper recycling. London: Blackie Academic & Professional. Roberts, J. C. (1991). Paper chemistry. Glasgow: Blackie. United States., Ingels, C. W., McAllister, A. S., Hoover, H., United States., United States., & United States. (1932). National directory of commodity specifications: Classified and alphabetical lists and brief descriptions of specifications of national recognition. Washington, D.C: U.S. Dept. of Commerce, Bureau of Standards. Williams, P. A. (2007). Handbook of industrial water soluble polymers. Oxford: Blackwell Pub. Read More