Rag

Description

A scrap or small piece of cloth. In Western papermaking, rag refers to cloth scraps used for paper pulp. Historically, the preferred rags for papermaking were Linen and Cotton, but other textile scraps such as Wool and rope made from Jute or Hemp were also used. Recycled cloth scraps obtained from clothing and household furnishings are called old rag. New rag refers to excess cuttings from the textile industry. Rag produces long Cellulose fibers that make a strong durable Paper. High proportions of rag were used for artists' papers as well as ledger, blueprint, map, and currency papers. Currently many rag papers actually contain Cotton linters instead of rag.

Synonyms and Related Terms

rag pulp

Additional Images

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  Cotton rag paper pulp stained with Graff "C" stain

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  Hemp paper pulp stained with Graff "C" stain

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  Flax paper pulp stained with Graff "C" stain

Resources and Citations

• D. Hunter, Papermaking – The history and technique of an ancient craft, Dover Publications, New York (1978)