Exam Style Questions: Performance Characteristics of Paper And Boards

Question 1

Give the remaining four main characteristics that papers and boards are 
categorised by (4 marks)

Cost – strength -

Answer 1

• Whiteness
• Opacity
• Fininsh
• Absorbency

Question 2

What is the name of the natural compound found in wood that needs to be
removed from the cellulose fibres to make paper pulp? (1 mark)

Answer 2

Lignin

Question 3

Name a chemical that is used to remove the compound found in wood (1 mark)

Answer 3

• Acetic acid
• Caustic soda
• Sodium sulphite
• Sulphurous acid
• Formic acid
• Hydrogen peroxide
• Sodium hydroxide

Question 4

Name two other additives, other than water, that can be used during the paper making process (2 marks)

Answer 4

Brightening agents: 
            - bleach
            - chlorine
Sizing agents:
            - PU
            - clay
Surface finishes:
            - metal foil 
Fillers:
            - calcium carbonate
            - clay
Coating agents:
            - dyes

Question 5

Describe how the absorbency of paper is reduced (3 marks)

Answer 5

Award 1 mark for naming sizing and up to two further marks for basic descriptions
of internal and external sizing, up to a maximum of 3 marks.

• Internal sizing (1) is added to the pulp and affects paper quality and the paper’s ability to run smoothly through machines (2)
• Surface sizing (1) is added to improve strength, reduce absorbency, and hence improves printability (2)

Question 6

Explain the process of making A4 photocopy paper from tree to finished sheet. (8 marks)

Answer 6

• Source cellulose fibres capable of being made into bright white pulp for use as photocopy paper
• Debark tree, prepare, chip the source of fibre
• Heat to 140°C with 98% water to make pulp
• Add acetic acid or other chemicals to remove lignin
• Add bleaching agents needed for bright white paper
• Add internal sizing to create a smooth paper capable of being rolled flat and flowing through the machinery
• Enter the papermaking machine where most of the moisture/water is removed and the pulp is formed into a sheet
• Enter the calendaring process to dry out the pulp and begin to thin and smooth the paper
• Add external fillers/sizing to make it smoother and give a printable surface
• Cut finished rolls of paper to standard sizes ready for transport

Question 7

A graphic designer has created a promotional A1-sized poster for a live concert at the local arena. She wants to have 750 copies printed in full colour. The commercial printer uses SRA size paper for the print run.

Why does the printer not use A-series paper for printing the posters? (2 marks)

Answer 7

There needs to be a bleed to the images on the poster which needs to be 
trimmed off (1). A series paper is too small, and SRA allows room for trimming (1).

Question 8

State the main use for the following ISO paper series (2 marks)

(a) C series
(b) SRA series

Answer 8

a) Envelopes to fit A series

b) Commercial untrimmed paper

Question 9

Which performance characteristic do layout paper and tracing paper
have in common? (1 mark)

Answer 9

A level of transparency / low level of opacity

Question 10

This question is about types of paper and board. For each scenario name an
appropriate paper or board product and explain your answer. (9 marks)

(a) A graphic designer is rendering design ideas with solvent-based marker pens.

    Name of paper or board:
Reason: (b)	A company wants to make takeaway containers for noodles.

    Name of paper or board:
    Reason: (c)	A company wants a low-cost and recyclable packaging material to hold fragile items in a specific place within a box.

    Name of paper or board:
Reason:

Answer 10

a) Name: Bleed proof paper (1)
Reason: It is sized with a coating (1) that stops the solvent marker pens
bleeding through the paper giving a sharper image on the surface (1).
b) Name: Duplex board
Reason: It is food safe (1) can be coated to increase printability / resistance to
water/grease (1).
c) Name: Moulded paper pulp (1).
Reason: It can be moulded into a specific form to hold the items in place (1)
it is recyclable / low-cost (1).

Question 11

Evaluate how the performance characteristics of corrugated cardboard make it
a suitable material for the packaging and transporting of delicate items (6 marks)

Answer 11

Positive characteristics:

• A variety of different wall thicknesses and structures allow for different strengths of packaging products
• The fluted/corrugated board is directionally strong giving it good rigidly and when folded and boxed, the strength is fairly uniform
• Good strength to weight ratio, so does not add too much weight to a consignment
• Able to withstand small/medium knocks often associated with the storage and transportation
• Extra layers can be added e.g. box within a box for extra protection or double/triple wall
• Good compressive strength along the corrugations
• Available in single face board which is flexible and can be wrapped around items for added protection
• Often available in cheaper brown colour if a printed image is not important
• A printable white external liner can be added for identification or advertising if required
• Low-cost packaging
• Readily available in a wide range of sizes
• Can be made from recycled materials and is recyclable

Negative characteristics:

• It does not have uniform strength due to the fluting
• It is not resistant to moisture and can be compromised in damp or wet conditions or if liquids leak from contents
• It is not good for holding very heavy items and can tear
• It is not good for stacking heavy items as it can crumple under load

Question 12

List and explain the benefits of buying paper and board products made from sustainable sources and who benefits from the actions taken by the PEFC and FSC organisations (4 marks)

Answer 12

• It protects forests from illegal logging reducing demand for illegal products
• Protects wildlife and animals
• Provides welfare for communities linked to forestry and indigenous tribes
• Ensures trees are replanted to replace those used creating an efficient supply
• Supports the development and expansion of protected forests
• Reduces the impact of deforestation and reduced the effects over-harvesting has on global warming
• Provides a paper trail for auditing the provenance of paper and board sources
• It provides secure work and a fair wage to workers around the world
• Accept other correct responses

Question 13

Which oil-based polymer is most commonly used as a protective layer
and combined with paper board and aluminium foil in drinks containers? (1 mark)

Answer 13

Polyethylene

Question 14

Name one other use that this polymer has in a laminated drinks container (1 mark)

Answer 14

As an adhesive bonding the layers together

Question 15

Add clearly explained definitions for the four types of paper listed.

(a) Recycled paper
(b) Recyclable paper
(c) Biodegradable paper
(d) Non-recyclable paper

Answer 15

a) Paper which has been used and recycled (1) and turned
back into another paper or board product (1).
b) Paper which can be recycled (1) and turned back into
another paper or board product (1).
c) Paper which can be decomposed (1) by bacteria
and other living organisms (1).
d) Paper which cannot readily be reclaimed due to
additives or contamination (1) low-grade paper where the fibres are too
short to bind together (1).

Question 16

Analyse the environmental impact of using recycled paper and board sources over those made from the virgin pulp (6 marks)

Answer 16

• Virgin pulp is more expensive to make into paper and uses more energy
• Using recycled paper saves trees from being felled for paper production
• Higher demand for recycled products increases the price paid for recycled paper which drives businesses to improve collection points and rates of recycling
• Buying recycled paper products give consumers/businesses a ‘green credential’ and a sense of supporting the environment
• Recycled paper has a lower carbon footprint
• It can be difficult to get high-quality recycled paper due to contamination of non-recyclable sources which lowers the overall quality
• Fibres can be shorter than virgin pulp making weaker products
• Recycled pulp still needs to be bleached to become white
• Much recycled paper needs to be de-inked and refined to reduce contaminants

Question 17

Evaluate the use of aluminium foil in the production of foil-lined board used by
the food industry to package food and beverage products (8 marks)

Answer 17

• Aluminium foil is used in beverage containers as a light barrier meaning that foodstuffs contained are better preserved
• Less spoilage means less waste and longer shelf life
• The foil layer creates a barrier to microbes and bacteria preserving the content
• The foil layer is thermally insulative keeping content hot or cold for longer this is beneficial for takeaway lids
• The foil layer is bonded to the paper board with adhesive polymer making it difficult to recycle
• If sent to a landfill, the polymer encased foil takes many years to degrade
• Aluminium foil is recyclable, but it is normally mixed with the polymer and used for injection moulding or energy from waste recovery
• Aluminium is extracted from bauxite, an abundant material, but it uses a lot of energy to make
• Special recycling plants need to be produced to recycle foil laminated board with is expensive
• These recycling plants are not available in all parts of the country and in some parts of the world there is little or no recycling, meaning lots of long-term landfills