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This process separates the pure cellulose fibers from the lignin and other substances. The pulping process cooks the wood chips under pressure in a variety of ion solutions to break the chemical bond of the lignin (the organic polymers that form the cell walls and support tissue in plants). The first step in the papermaking process is converting the trees into pulp (the fibrous raw material used to make paper). When logs arrive at the paper mill, they are completely debarked and sent to chippers, where they are cut into pieces for mechanical or chemical pulping. Once the trees are grown to a specific size, the virgin timber is felled, stripped of its branches and twigs, and cut for transport. Glassine is made from hardwood trees, primarily varieties of aspen, oak, birch, and gum. Because it is made from wood pulp, glassine is fully recyclable and biodegradable – making it a sustainable material choice. And it’s resistant to moisture, air, and grease.
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As a result of the manufacturing process, glassine is pH neutral and acid free. Glassine allows what’s inside or behind the paper to show through. But glassine is a smooth, glossy paper that is transparent. When you think of paper, transparency may not immediately come to mind. And it’s not! Let’s take a closer look at glassine’s manufacturing process to see how each step contributes to the final product.
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Because of its unique look and feel, it may not seem like regular paper. Glassine is a pulp-based material that has been mistaken for other substrates, such as wax paper, parchment, even plastic. Unlike its name, glassine is not glass – but it does have some glasslike features.
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