There are papers for all purposes, for personal hygiene, for studies and for transmitting information, like the one used in newspapers, for example. In fact, this type is what we are going to clarify in this context.
Newsprint paper is not very resistant, over time it becomes yellowish, not to mention that is easily torn, just by putting a minimum of force to be able to split a sheet of the same.
The paper used in newspapers is a little different, its preparation is done in a more “rough” way compared to traditional paper. The cellulose pulp in this case contains impurities that are not removed before entering the process. The raw material is cheaper, but the contaminating materials accelerate the decomposition of the cellulose. Finished paper becomes more vulnerable to weathering and is therefore less durable.
Of course, all this saving is justified, considering the amount of demand for this paper every day, as there are hundreds of thousands of newspapers distributed daily around the world.
But it is not just newsprint that has a fragile characteristic: old documents present in museums turn yellower due to the low quality paper that they are made of. Some time ago, papers were made from scraps of old clothing, not wood.
By Líria Alves
Graduated in Chemistry