Paper and Ink Challenge Glossary
Cellulose - A carbohydrate forming the main constituent of plant cell walls.
Amount varies between plants - Cotton and flax have high cellulose contents, as do trees. Some plants have very little cellulose content making them unsuitable for papermaking.
Lye (NaOH) - Can be used to break down insoluble fat into fatty acids and glycerol, which are both soluble in water.
Lime (CaOH) - Formed from calcium carbonate in sea shells. Sea shells were put on the kiln and when hot were ground to a powder.
Potassium carbonate (K2CO3) - Was contained in ashes from the fire.
Tannic Acid - A natural organic compound of a yellowish colour used as a mordant and astringent.
Iron sulfate was made by dissolving iron filings in sulfuric acid from a car battery and warming to precipitate iron sulphate.
Tannin - We experimented using tea and logwood as a source of tannin.
This black pigment is called ferrogallotannate or ferrotannate.
Content last updated: 14/09/2006
