Lab Report on Paper Towels
Which Paper Towel is Stronger and
Has More Absorbency?
Decorator or Sparkle?
Introduction
Paper towels are made from softwood trees which contain long fibers. The tree goes thru several processes before it is actually turned into a paper towel. The paper towel is made from pulp in which the water is removed and the fibers then bond into sheets. Also, resin is added to the process to give the paper towel strength (Union). Several layers are then put together with adhesive and then formed into a paper towel (Choudhury). Some paper towels are embossed to form air pockets which help to absorb more liquid and help to add more strength (Union).
The purpose of this experiment is to find out which brand of paper towel, Decorator or Sparkle, is stronger and more absorbent. Of the two brands that will be tested, the Sparkle brand will absorb the most liquid because it has the “thirst” pockets and will be the strongest because it feels thicker.
Materials and Methods
For the first experiment we did the test for strength. We used a 600 mL beaker which we placed the sample paper towel over the opening of the beaker. The size of the sample towel was .234 m2. The paper towel was held it in place with a standard rubber band that was wrapped around the top of the beaker one time. We then took 5 mL of water and poured onto the paper towel. The weights that we used were 27 g each. The weights were placed on the paper towel one weight at a time until the paper towel ripped. The total amount of weight that it took to rip the paper towel was recorded. The process was then repeated for the second brand of paper towel.
For the second experiment we did a test for absorbency. We used a graduated cylinder which was filled with 100 mL of water. The paper towel, which was .234 m2, was immersed into the water for 15 seconds. The paper towel was removed from the water and allowed to drip until the drips were 25 seconds apart. At that time, the amount of water that was left in the
Has More Absorbency?
Decorator or Sparkle?
Introduction
Paper towels are made from softwood trees which contain long fibers. The tree goes thru several processes before it is actually turned into a paper towel. The paper towel is made from pulp in which the water is removed and the fibers then bond into sheets. Also, resin is added to the process to give the paper towel strength (Union). Several layers are then put together with adhesive and then formed into a paper towel (Choudhury). Some paper towels are embossed to form air pockets which help to absorb more liquid and help to add more strength (Union).
The purpose of this experiment is to find out which brand of paper towel, Decorator or Sparkle, is stronger and more absorbent. Of the two brands that will be tested, the Sparkle brand will absorb the most liquid because it has the “thirst” pockets and will be the strongest because it feels thicker.
Materials and Methods
For the first experiment we did the test for strength. We used a 600 mL beaker which we placed the sample paper towel over the opening of the beaker. The size of the sample towel was .234 m2. The paper towel was held it in place with a standard rubber band that was wrapped around the top of the beaker one time. We then took 5 mL of water and poured onto the paper towel. The weights that we used were 27 g each. The weights were placed on the paper towel one weight at a time until the paper towel ripped. The total amount of weight that it took to rip the paper towel was recorded. The process was then repeated for the second brand of paper towel.
For the second experiment we did a test for absorbency. We used a graduated cylinder which was filled with 100 mL of water. The paper towel, which was .234 m2, was immersed into the water for 15 seconds. The paper towel was removed from the water and allowed to drip until the drips were 25 seconds apart. At that time, the amount of water that was left in the
Cited: "Georgia Pacific." Sparkle. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Sep 2012. www.gp.com Choudhury, A. (2012, January 25). Paper towels facts. Retrieved from http://www.buzzle.com/articles/paper-towels-facts.html Union, J. (n.d.). Paper towels information. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/about_6195970_paper-towels-information.html