Pulp and Paper Merit Badge

Pulp and Paper
Merit badge requirements
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  1. Tell the history of papermaking. Describe the part paper products play in our culture and economy.

  2. List the trees which are the major sources of papermaking fibers

    1. Tell what other uses are made of the trees and of the forest land owned by the pulp and paper industry.
    2. Describe ways the industry plants, grows, and harvests trees.

  3. Describe two ways of getting fibers from wood.

    1. What are the major differences?
    2. Why are some pulps bleached? Describe this process.

  4. Describe how paper is made. Make a sheet of paper by hand using the process described.

  5. What is coated paper, and why is it coated? Describe the major uses for different kinds of coated paper. In what other ways are papers changed by chemical or mechanical means to make new uses possible?

  6. Make a list of 15 pulp or paper products in your home. Show samples of 10 such products.

  7. Do ONE of the following:

    1. Visit a pulp mill. Describe how they convert wood into cellulose fibers.
    2. Visit a paper mill and get a sample of the paper. Describe the processes used for making this paper. Tell how the paper will be used.
    3. Visit a container plant or box plant. Describe how the product was made.
    4. Visit a printer or newspaper plant to learn how they use paper. Describe the visit. Explain why particular types of paper were used.

  8. Describe six of the major jobs in the pulp and paper industry.

Merit badge requirements courtesy of Troop 586 Farmington