Origin and Production of Facial Tissues
The origin of facial tissues dates back to 17th-century Japan, where people used small soft papers to blow their noses. Modern facial tissues were first marketed in the 1920s as a disposable cloth for removing cold cream.
Today, facial tissues are made from recycled paper, specifically used computer printer paper, which produces soft tissue due to its short, flexible fibers. The production process involves several stages:
- Pulping: Breaking down the paper into fibers and mixing them with water to create pulp.
- De-inking: Injecting air into the pulp to detach the ink from the fibers, which then rises to the top and is drained off.
- Rolling and squeezing: Feeding the ink-free pulp through rollers to squeeze out dirty water and then rinsing it with clean water.
- Forming tissue: Injecting the pulp onto a screen conveyor belt, pressing out water, and drying it with hot air to produce a thin sheet of paper.
- Converting to tissues: Transforming the paper into tissues through a series of stations, including unwinding, mating, cutting, folding, and interlocking the sheets.
The finished tissues are then packaged in boxes, with automated machines compressing and sliding the tissues into the box, gluing the flaps closed, and applying a removable tab with clear plastic film underneath.
Grammatical Structures in the Activity
- Passive voice: Used to describe the production process, e.g., “the paper is broken down into fibers” and “the ink is detached from the fibers”.
- Imperative mood: Used in instructions, e.g., “injecting air into the pulp” and “feeding the pulp through rollers”.
- Complex sentences: Used to describe the production process, e.g., “the machine breaks up the paper into fibers and mixes them with water, and then injects air into the pulp”.
- Technical vocabulary: Used to describe the production process, e.g., “pulper”, “pulp”, “de-inking”, and “converting machine”.
Key Vocabulary
| Term | Definition | Example Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Pulping | The process of breaking down paper into fibers and mixing them with water to create pulp. | The first step in making facial tissues is pulping, where used paper is turned into pulp. |
| De-inking | The process of removing ink from paper fibers by injecting air into the pulp. | De-inking is a crucial step in the production of facial tissues to ensure they are ink-free. |
| Rolling and squeezing | The process of feeding pulp through rollers to squeeze out dirty water and then rinsing it with clean water. | After de-inking, the pulp undergoes rolling and squeezing to remove excess water. |
| Forming tissue | The process of injecting pulp onto a screen conveyor belt, pressing out water, and drying it with hot air to produce a thin sheet of paper. | The pulp is then formed into tissue through a process of pressing and drying. |
| Converting to tissues | The process of transforming paper into tissues through a series of stations, including unwinding, mating, cutting, folding, and interlocking the sheets. | The final step in production is converting the paper into individual tissues. |
| Passive voice | A grammatical structure where the subject of the sentence receives the action of the verb. | The paper is broken down into fibers, illustrating the use of passive voice in the production process. |
| Imperative mood | A grammatical structure used to give instructions or commands. | Inject air into the pulp to detach the ink, demonstrating the imperative mood in instructions. |
| Complex sentences | Sentences that contain one independent clause and at least one dependent clause. | The machine breaks up the paper into fibers and mixes them with water, and then injects air into the pulp, illustrating a complex sentence. |
| Technical vocabulary | Specialized words and phrases used in a particular field or industry. | Terms like “pulper” and “de-inking” are examples of technical vocabulary used in the production of facial tissues. |
Watch The Video
Vocabulary Quiz
1. What does “pulping” refer to in the context of facial tissue production?
A) The process of injecting air into the pulp to detach the ink from the fibers
B) The process of breaking down the paper into fibers and mixing them with water to create pulp
C) The process of transforming the paper into tissues through a series of stations
D) The process of packaging the finished tissues in boxes
2. What is the primary material used to make facial tissues?
A) New wood fibers
B) Recycled computer printer paper
C) Cotton fibers
D) Silk fibers
3. What is the result of “de-inking” in the production process?
A) The ink is mixed with the fibers
B) The ink is detached from the fibers and rises to the top
C) The fibers are broken down into smaller pieces
D) The pulp is dried with hot air
4. What is the purpose of “rolling and squeezing” in the production process?
A) To inject air into the pulp and detach the ink from the fibers
B) To feed the pulp through rollers and squeeze out dirty water
C) To transform the paper into tissues through a series of stations
D) To package the finished tissues in boxes
5. What is the final step in the production process?
A) Converting the paper into tissues
B) Packaging the finished tissues in boxes
C) Breaking down the paper into fibers
D) De-inking the pulp
Answer Key:
1. B) The process of breaking down the paper into fibers and mixing them with water to create pulp
2. B) Recycled computer printer paper
3. B) The ink is detached from the fibers and rises to the top
4. B) To feed the pulp through rollers and squeeze out dirty water
5. B) Packaging the finished tissues in boxes
Grammar Quiz
1. Which grammatical structure is used in the sentence “The machine breaks up the paper into fibers and mixes them with water”?
A) Imperative mood
B) Passive voice
C) Complex sentence
D) Simple sentence
2. What is the purpose of using the passive voice in the sentence “The paper is broken down into fibers”?
A) To give instructions to the reader
B) To describe the production process in a more formal tone
C) To emphasize the doer of the action
D) To create a sense of urgency
3. Which sentence is an example of the imperative mood?
A) The machine breaks up the paper into fibers and mixes them with water
B) Inject air into the pulp to detach the ink from the fibers
C) The paper is broken down into fibers and mixed with water
D) The production process involves several stages
4. What is the function of a complex sentence in the context of the production process?
A) To give instructions to the reader
B) To describe a single step in the production process
C) To describe the production process in a detailed and nuanced way
D) To emphasize the importance of a particular step
5. Which grammatical structure is used in the sentence “Feed the pulp through rollers to squeeze out dirty water”?
A) Passive voice
B) Imperative mood
C) Complex sentence
D) Simple sentence
Answer Key:
1. C) Complex sentence
2. B) To describe the production process in a more formal tone
3. B) Inject air into the pulp to detach the ink from the fibers
4. C) To describe the production process in a detailed and nuanced way
5. B) Imperative mood
