# is rubber really used in paper production or is wikipedia full of it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 14, 2011, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rubber-really-used-in-paper-production-or-is-wikipedia-full-of-it/581910 "2011-05-14T17:38:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![code\_grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@code\_grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/code_grey)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rubber-really-used-in-paper-production-or-is-wikipedia-full-of-it/581910/1 "2011-05-14T17:38:57Z")
from [Natural rubber - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber#Manufacturing:) > [@](#): > > Significant tonnage of rubber is used as adhesives in many manufacturing industries and products, although the two most noticeable are the paper and the carpet industries. do they really use it in making paper? Is it for all paper or only for some particular types of it? Is it a significant component in the final cost of the product or does the cost of the wood pulp drown it out? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rubber-really-used-in-paper-production-or-is-wikipedia-full-of-it/581910/2 "2011-05-14T17:46:28Z")
> [@code\_grey](#): > > from [Natural rubber - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rubber#Manufacturing:) > > do they really use it in making paper? Is it for all paper or only for some particular types of it? Is it a significant component in the final cost of the product or does the cost of the wood pulp drown it out? It’s probably, based on the statement given, only used in paper that has adhesives in it. Either things like post-it notes or paper that’s bound at the top with a strip of gum. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rubber-really-used-in-paper-production-or-is-wikipedia-full-of-it/581910/3 "2011-05-14T17:50:30Z")
Except for specialty papers I don’t think rubber is actually used in the slurry; however vast quantities of rubber products are used for binding, especially for tablets and Post-it style pads. ETA: Joey P. beat me to it. ---
**Author:** ![code\_grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@code\_grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/code_grey)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rubber-really-used-in-paper-production-or-is-wikipedia-full-of-it/581910/4 "2011-05-14T19:52:36Z")
ok, I do know what Post-it notes are. But what are the “tablets” and “paper bound at the top with a strip of gum”? ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rubber-really-used-in-paper-production-or-is-wikipedia-full-of-it/581910/5 "2011-05-14T20:03:14Z")
> [@code\_grey](#): > > ok, I do know what Post-it notes are. But what are the “tablets” and “paper bound at the top with a strip of gum”? “Paper bound at the top with a strip of gum” is exactly what it sounds like; it’s a pad of paper bound at the top edge with gum. I wouldn’t know how else to describe it. You can buy such pads at practically any stationer. See, for example, [this product on Amazon.com](http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006JNKW/ref=asc_df_B00006JNKW1544121?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&tag=shopzilla_rev_330-20&linkCode=asn&creative=395093&creativeASIN=B00006JNKW). ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rubber-really-used-in-paper-production-or-is-wikipedia-full-of-it/581910/6 "2011-05-14T20:12:32Z")
> [@code\_grey](#): > > ok, I do know what Post-it notes are. But what are the “tablets” and “paper bound at the top with a strip of gum”? [Here’s](http://images.bizrate.com/resize?sq=250&uid=1638373746) an example of a pad of paper bound with gum. ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rubber-really-used-in-paper-production-or-is-wikipedia-full-of-it/581910/7 "2011-05-14T20:58:37Z")
Notepad the small text editor got its name from a notepad (small pad of paper bound with gum). ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rubber-really-used-in-paper-production-or-is-wikipedia-full-of-it/581910/8 "2011-05-14T21:34:33Z")
> [@johnpost](#): > > Notepad the small text editor got its name from a notepad (small pad of paper bound with gum). I doubt that. Notepads can have a variety of bindings other than gum. As I recall, the icon used to represent Notepad in Windows has always been depicted a spiral-bound notepad. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2011, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rubber-really-used-in-paper-production-or-is-wikipedia-full-of-it/581910/9 "2011-05-14T21:43:57Z")
I don’t think the specific type of notepad was relevant to the product name. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rubber-really-used-in-paper-production-or-is-wikipedia-full-of-it/581910/10 "2011-05-15T19:05:49Z")
**Joey P** , that image is too low quality to see the gum. And **psychonaut** ’s doesn’t resolve for me. Here is a different type of notepad using adhesive. [http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://1.bp.blogspot.com/\_gOqMqNyYVQk/S761N7XFCOI/AAAAAAAAC8A/XEzd5-bBDuI/s400/kraft\_notepad&imgrefurl=http://soolip.blogspot.com/2010/04/unusual-linens.html&usg=\_\_\_Pt5a02JVet1CNnABjGkqVL0eyc=&h=400&w=268&sz=13&hl=en&start=11&zoom=1&tbnid=\_bXlELFaNa2dUM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=83&ei=nyLQTYbYHuLY0QGHjaHoDQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dnotepad%2Bpaper%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D902%26bih%3D443%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gOqMqNyYVQk/S761N7XFCOI/AAAAAAAAC8A/XEzd5-bBDuI/s400/kraft_notepad&imgrefurl=http://soolip.blogspot.com/2010/04/unusual-linens.html&usg=___Pt5a02JVet1CNnABjGkqVL0eyc=&h=400&w=268&sz=13&hl=en&start=11&zoom=1&tbnid=_bXlELFaNa2dUM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=83&ei=nyLQTYbYHuLY0QGHjaHoDQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dnotepad%2Bpaper%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D902%26bih%3D443%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1) > **[Unusual linens](http://soolip.blogspot.com/2010/04/unusual-linens.html)** > > I love the simple aesthetic of these kraft notepads over at Anthropologie ! They reminded me of our own gauze covered sketchbooks that are... (Same link, one google) ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rubber-really-used-in-paper-production-or-is-wikipedia-full-of-it/581910/11 "2011-05-15T20:38:56Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > **Joey P** , that image is too low quality to see the gum. > > And **psychonaut** ’s doesn’t resolve for me. > > Here is a different type of notepad using adhesive. > > [http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://1.bp.blogspot.com/\_gOqMqNyYVQk/S761N7XFCOI/AAAAAAAAC8A/XEzd5-bBDuI/s400/kraft\_notepad&imgrefurl=http://soolip.blogspot.com/2010/04/unusual-linens.html&usg=\_\_\_Pt5a02JVet1CNnABjGkqVL0eyc=&h=400&w=268&sz=13&hl=en&start=11&zoom=1&tbnid=\_bXlELFaNa2dUM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=83&ei=nyLQTYbYHuLY0QGHjaHoDQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dnotepad%2Bpaper%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D902%26bih%3D443%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1](http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_gOqMqNyYVQk/S761N7XFCOI/AAAAAAAAC8A/XEzd5-bBDuI/s400/kraft_notepad&imgrefurl=http://soolip.blogspot.com/2010/04/unusual-linens.html&usg=___Pt5a02JVet1CNnABjGkqVL0eyc=&h=400&w=268&sz=13&hl=en&start=11&zoom=1&tbnid=_bXlELFaNa2dUM:&tbnh=124&tbnw=83&ei=nyLQTYbYHuLY0QGHjaHoDQ&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dnotepad%2Bpaper%26hl%3Den%26biw%3D902%26bih%3D443%26gbv%3D2%26tbm%3Disch&itbs=1) > > [s o o l i p: Unusual linens](http://soolip.blogspot.com/2010/04/unusual-linens.html) > > (Same link, one google) That one uses staples, you can see them under the canvas. I just assumed with mine the OP would recognize the “While you were out” pads and understand what I we were trying to explain. I thought it was a pretty good example. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2011, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rubber-really-used-in-paper-production-or-is-wikipedia-full-of-it/581910/12 "2011-05-15T20:45:24Z")
I know this is a strange example, but [this](http://www.curiobot.net/images/resized/0000365.jpg) is a gummed pad of paper. The gum being red in this example. Another good example would be a prescription pad. ---
**Author:** ![mac\_bolan00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@mac\_bolan00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mac_bolan00)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2011, 9:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rubber-really-used-in-paper-production-or-is-wikipedia-full-of-it/581910/13 "2011-05-16T09:24:57Z")
you must make the distinction between a paper miller and a paper converter. your miller is what you’re thinking of. he get pulp, whether freshly milled wood pulp or recylcled paper, and produces continuous sheets and rolls from these. there’s hardly any rubber used here. paper converters are those who produce your reams of bond paper, folders, notebooks, boxes, envelope and logbooks. their scope of work may cover only one or two of different processes or include all, plus some printing work (cutting, folding, glueing, assembling, molding, packing, printing.) ---
**Author:** ![jasonh300](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/46a35a/32.png) [@jasonh300](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jasonh300)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rubber-really-used-in-paper-production-or-is-wikipedia-full-of-it/581910/14 "2011-05-17T02:30:49Z")
I bind paper into pads in my print shop using the red binding glue as shown in the pictures of pads linked above, but I don’t think it has any rubber in it. Whatever the stuff is, it’s completely water soluble. Even once it’s dried, and has the appearance of dark red rubber, it’ll eventually dissolve in water. ---
**Author:** ![Disheavel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@Disheavel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disheavel)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rubber-really-used-in-paper-production-or-is-wikipedia-full-of-it/581910/15 "2011-05-17T05:26:04Z")
Also, in glossy paper (like for packaging or glossy magazine ads) there has been some rubber used for binding of the latex to the paper surface. ---
**Author:** ![dracoi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/90db22/32.png) [@dracoi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dracoi)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rubber-really-used-in-paper-production-or-is-wikipedia-full-of-it/581910/16 "2011-05-17T22:20:11Z")
For the OP: Cardboard is going to be a major contributor for the use of adhesives. You have to glue the top and bottom layer to the corrugated layer. The heavier duty cardboards may have multiple corrugated layers. I suspect the production of cardboard makes the gum used on note pads look insignificant. In many cases you take your cardboard sheets and then glue them together into rigid boxes. And then there’s toilet paper: the tube is usually multiple layers of paper glued together, with the TP itself glued to the roll. Or paper shopping bags. I could keep going. My father sold paper for years. I’m not sure how much of the cost the adhesive really represents, but I can say that every step in manufacturing adds a lot of cost - you have to buy more machines, move material from one machine to another, and you always lose some of the product at each stage due to defects. For example, folding and embossing paper uses no material, but adds significantly a lot to the cost of production. > [@jasonh300](#): > > I bind paper into pads in my print shop using the red binding glue as shown in the pictures of pads linked above, but I don’t think it has any rubber in it. Whatever the stuff is, it’s completely water soluble. Even once it’s dried, and has the appearance of dark red rubber, it’ll eventually dissolve in water. As for this, some of those glues are latex-based. And many people lump latex in with rubber, though I’ve been told there’s a distinction for those who care. ---
**Author:** ![code\_grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@code\_grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/code_grey)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rubber-really-used-in-paper-production-or-is-wikipedia-full-of-it/581910/17 "2011-05-17T22:36:32Z")
**dracoi** , thank you for your reply. Question - so is the use of rubber as adhesive for making cardboard the dominant and best way of doing it? Or are there also kinds of cardboard made using various other synthetic glues? Do you know the pros and cons here? Or is the short answer that “the real cost is in the manufacturing process and not in what we use as glue”? ---
**Author:** ![mac\_bolan00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@mac\_bolan00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mac_bolan00)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2011, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-rubber-really-used-in-paper-production-or-is-wikipedia-full-of-it/581910/18 "2011-05-17T23:40:58Z")
from my own experience, mucilage glue is the most used type of adhesive for paper and cardboard.