Graff "C" stain

Description

A chemical stain used for general analysis of paper fibers using optical microscopy. The stain can help distinguish common types of pulping methods due to the range of colors presented. Stain color can range from vivid yellow with high Lignin pulps such as Mechanical wood pulp, to red with high Alpha cellulose pulps such as Cotton. "C" stain is a solution prepared from aluminum chloride, Calcium chloride, Zinc chloride, and Potassium iodide. "C" stain can be used as a spot test for the presence of lignin.

Synonyms and Related Terms

"C" Stain

Authority

• J. H. Graff "Color Atlas for Fiber Identification" The Institute of Paper Chemistry, Appleton, WI, 1940.

• TAPPI Official Standard T401 om-08. Fiber analysis of paper and paperboard. 2008. http://www.tappi.org/Downloads/Test-Methods/UNTITLED-0104T401pdf.aspx