1. General

Paper was probably invented in China in the first century AD. Through the Mongols and then the Arabs, paper manufacturing techniques spread throughout the Middle East and the West. For over 500 years, paper was essentially made from linen and hemp rags. It wasn't until the 17th century that wood was considered as a potential source of paper fiber. With the rise of industrialization in the 19th century, and the increase in production and consumption, paper was essentially made from wood, using the various processes we'll look at below.

Pulp, paper and board preparation technology has come a long way since its invention. From the manual form, commonly used by papermakers, to the modern paper machine producing a sheet at more than 1000 m/min over a width of more than 8 m, the evolution of technology has been considerable,...