Paper making

Science Fair Project Final Report
Paper Making

Abstract:
This project uses several alternative, renewable sources of fiber to make paper, and compares the resulting papers for strength and writing quality. We have decided to make a project about paper making or paper recycling because paper is a material that is used by a lot of people in the everyday life and sometimes in very big amounts.We researched about the processes of making paper and we realized that a lot of trees have to be cut down in order to obtain the fiber needed to make it. And the cut of trees is something that contributes to the global warming, which is a very important issue nowadays, so if in the country an industry is developed to recycle paper, or produce it in a way that is not polluting the environment, abig step will be taken for the economy of the country and for taking care of the environment.
In this project we want to experiment and analyze what is better for both the environmental and the economical aspect of the country, if making or recycling paper.
Processes and costs will be considered according to the area of San Luis Potosi and in general to Mexico, because materials and procedurevary in a minimum aspect from country to country.
In papermaking a dilute suspension of fibers in water is drained through a screen, so that a mat of randomly interwoven fibers is laid down. Water is removed from this mat of fibers by pressing and drying to make paper. Most paper is made from wood pulp, but other fiber sources such as cotton and textiles may be used.

Table of contents:
1.Questions, variables and hypothesis
2. Background Research
3. Materials list
4. Experimental procedure
5. Data analysis and discussion
6. Conclusions
7. Ideas for future research
8. Acknowledgements
9. Bibliography

Questions, variables and hypothesis:
1. What is better for the environment and in the economical aspect, making or recycling paper?
2. What partof a plant do "bast fibers" come from?
3. What are the primary sources of cellulose fiber for manufacturing paper today?

Hypothesis
If you make recycled paper, it will be a lot cheaper and better for the environment than if you produce it from fibers, although the quality may be different.
Variable Dependence:
The quality of each material which is going to be used.
The time which isneeded to produce the paper.

Variable independence:
The place or country in which the paper is going to be made.
The machines which are used to produce the paper.
The temperature during the work.

Background Research:
Paper was first made in China before Christ. Nowadays, there are a lot of machines specially designed for paper making. Several experiments have already been made to try tofind ways of making paper without using so much Wood fiber. As our goal is to find if in the region there is a suitable plant or tree with th fiber needed for papermaking. Experiments like this one hava alreary been made, but not in this region.
Looking for similar experiments we found that their pulp had excellent strength, that from second-growth wood being stronger than that from old-growthwood in all properties. Douglas Fir pulp improved tearing resistance through the lower lignin content and higher density of the latter.

Materials list:
1. Recycled paper
* plant material: stem fibers, leaf fibers, bast fibers
* plain gelatin (for "sizing")
2. Preparing plant fibers:
* rubber gloves to protect the hands
* safety goggles
* apron or lab coat
* largestainless steel or enamel cooking pot
* wood ash, or soda ash (sodium carbonate)
* net bag to hold pulp while rinsing
* litmus paper to test pH of rinse water
* blender or wooden mallet for processing fibers after cooking
3. Making paper from pulp:
* mold and deckle
* staple gun or hammer and tacks
* large plastic box (dishpan or storage box)
* stack of absorbent cloths...