What is Synthetic Paper?
What is Synthetic Paper?
Although there is no precise definition of synthetic paper, it is generally understood to be.
"a product manufactured using synthetic resin derived from petroleum as its primary material, which while maintaining the characteristics of the material, offers several qualities similar to that of paper made primarily from wood pulp,
most typically its white and opaque appearance as well as its printing and processing capabilities.”
Many kinds of synthetic papers have the following characteristics based on the history of their development.
- The primary raw material is a synthetic resin derived from petroleum, and has characteristics similar to "plastic films"
(typical characteristics: strength, water resistance, etc.) - Its appearance is very similar to ordinary "paper", and synthetic paper also has physical properties similar to "paper"
(typical characteristics: opacity, printability, etc.)
In recent years, however, synthetic paper that surpasses the above definition has emerged. For example, products that combine regular paper and plastic film are known as synthetic paper within the printing industry, and the definition of synthetic paper has become extremely imprecise.
As a result, it has become common to refer to individual product names rather than to use the catch-all term synthetic paper.