Papermaking, Rag Paper Machine, 19th Century

Rotary digester to process rags by boiling caustic soda (sodium hydroxide, lye). Cotton paper is made from cotton linters or cotton from used cloths (rags) as 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. It was not until the introduction of wood pulp in 1843 that paper production was not dependent on recycled materials from ragpickers. To expedite the pulping process the rag engine was invented in Holland in the late 17th century. No artist credited, undated, color-enhanced

Restrictions Only for Ireland and United Kingdom

Chemical Digester Figuier Grandes Inventions Letterpress Mechanics Papermaking Processing Rags Recycled Rotary

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