Specialty Papers in Daily Life

Paper is ubiquitous in our daily lives, and while most people think of cartons and toilet paper, there is a wide variety of specialty papers designed for specific uses, crafted through unique processes or from specialized materials.

Thermal Paper:

Bank receipts and shopping receipts are made from thermal paper, a type of information paper that records data when exposed to heat. This paper has a special coating containing colorless dyes and color developers. Beyond receipts, thermal paper is used in fax machines, POS thermal label printers, electrocardiographs, computer output terminals, and various medical and thermal detection instruments.

Carbonless Paper:

Carbonless copy paper, or carbonless paper, is used for bank business contracts, payment receipts, and express delivery orders. Known as pressure-sensitive recording paper, it allows for direct writing and color development without the need for carbon sheets. It's widely used in commercial subpoenas, delivery orders, corporate reports, cash receipts, airline tickets, and hospital prescriptions.

Food Paper:

Food-related papers come in many forms, including greaseproof paper for fast food, cake trays, baking paper, noodle bowl paper for instant noodles, barbecue paper, and salt bag paper. Each type has distinct performance indicators and technical specifications. For instance, greaseproof paper is lightweight, while noodle bowl paper is heavier.

Anti-counterfeiting Paper:

Anti-counterfeiting paper includes various types, with banknote paper being the most common. This paper, which cannot be privately produced, boasts high strength, exceptional folding endurance, and water resistance, making it ideal for gravure printing.

Tea Filter Paper:

Tea filter paper is made from synthetic fibers like polypropylene or polyester, and plant fibers. To ensure food safety, it minimizes the use of wet-end chemical additives.

Fruit Bag Paper:

Fruit bag paper is used to create bags for fruit cultivation, producing smooth, brightly colored fruits with uniform shapes and low pesticide residues. This paper needs to be highly water-resistant, have high wet strength, and be highly breathable, with specific fiber compositions and additives.

Photo Paper:

Photo paper, used for printing photographs, must have specific thickness, hardness, and color retention properties. It is coated with a special layer on top of regular paper, making it glossy and capable of quickly absorbing and solidifying ink with very fine particles, thus preserving vibrant colors. The paper is also relatively hard, preventing ink penetration and enabling high-resolution printing.

These specialty papers highlight the diverse and essential roles that different types of paper play in our everyday lives.