Why Are Paper Towels More Absorbent?
Paper towels are one of the most used tissue paper products. They are mostly used in the kitchens or bathrooms. People choose to use paper towels specifically in these places because of their special absorbent structure that differs them from other tissue paper products.
Type of Materials Used in Paper Towel Production
Paper towels can be manufactured by using virgin or recycled paper pulp which is sourced from wood or fiber crops. The pulp can be bleached during the production process to lighten the paper’s color and for a better-wet strength a substance called “resin size” is used.
Based on the consumption habits and preferences of customers, the types of pulps that are used in the production may vary. Even though the most used type is virgin pulp, there is a rising trend of using more eco-friendly options such as recycled pulp or bamboo pulp.
What Does Differentiate Paper Towel?
There are tiny pores and holes at the surface of a sheet of paper towel that resembles a sponge. This special structure helps them be more absorbent. Many highly absorbent paper towels are designed to imitate the shape of a sponge so that the paper towel can resemble in absorbency to a sponge too.
Another thing that makes paper towels stand out is the loosely woven structure. This special structure allows liquid to travel between the paper fibers in the towel. It makes the product more absorbent than other tissue paper products. Creping and embossing processes help achieve this structure.
Creping and Embossing Paper Towels
Creping creates more open areas in the paper for the liquid to enter by using a blade and disrupting the fiber-to-fiber bonds in the paper. It forms a folded structure within the sheet of paper towel.
During the embossing process, the surface of the paper towel is decorated. Any type of shape can be transferred onto the paper by specially designed embossing rolls. Other than making the product look nice, this process also creates space between the layers of a sheet. It helps the towel absorb and hold large amounts of liquid.
