Tissues, commonly known as facial tissues, are made from paper pulp processed on specialized machinery. The process begins with sustainably sourced wood pulp. This pulp undergoes several steps before becoming the soft tissues we use daily.
The Manufacturing Process
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Pulp Preparation: Wood pulp is the primary raw material. This pulp is treated and refined to achieve the desired softness and absorbency.
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Paper Making: The prepared pulp is fed into a paper machine. A crucial component of this machine is a large, heated cylinder known as a Yankee dryer. This cylinder, along with a hot air hood, dries the pulp as it forms a continuous sheet of paper. Adhesives are sprayed onto the Yankee cylinder to ensure the paper sticks properly.
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Creping: The paper is then creped, a process that creates the characteristic softness and texture of tissues. The creping process involves embossing the paper sheet.
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Cutting and Folding: After creping, the continuous sheet is cut into individual tissues and folded into convenient packs.
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Packaging and Distribution: Finally, the tissues are packaged and shipped to stores for consumer purchase.
Different Types of Tissues
While facial tissues are the most common type, the manufacturing process is similar for other tissue products like paper towels and toilet paper. The main differences lie in the type of pulp used, the level of softness, and the final dimensions and packaging.
Historical Context
The history of commercially produced tissues dates back to the early 20th century. Kimberly-Clark played a significant role, initially developing crepe paper for gas masks during World War I and later adapting the technology to create the first commercially available tissue product, Kotex sanitary pads, in 1920. The Kleenex brand, also from Kimberly-Clark, emerged from this innovation. The development of "cellucotton" by Kimberly-Clark also played a role in the mass production of disposable tissues.
Note on Tissue Engineering
It's important to distinguish between the everyday consumer tissues discussed above and the field of tissue engineering. Tissue engineering uses laboratory techniques to create tissues and organs for medical purposes. This process involves creating scaffolds and seeding them with cells, a significantly different process than the production of paper tissues.
