hemp fiber

Ingredients

hemp fiber, starch, calcium carbonate

Preparation Steps

Original Recipe Text

The paper was manufactured from hemp fibers (Section 3.2, p. 61). Microscopic investigation (PLM) identified transverse knots, thick fibrous cell walls, and smooth surfaces characteristic of hemp (Section 3.2, p. 61). The paper was surface-sized with starch on both sides (Section 3.4, p. 63). Sizing and paper fibers form a 'three sandwich like' layer structure (p. 63). Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) or calcite was used as an inorganic filler material (Section 3.3, p. 61).

Evidence

"The paper leaves of the manuscript were composed of hemp fiber. Starch was used as a sizing material in the manuscript."

Remarks

The average thickness of the written sheet was measured at 0.23mm (Section 3.1.1, p. 59). Chain lines in the paper are organized in threes, which is typical for Islamic papers from Egypt and Syria (Section 3.1.1, p. 59). There are 15 laid lines on average per 20 millimeters (Section 3.1.1, p. 59). EDX spectra revealed a relatively high calcium content (11.92 intensity), attributed to either calcium oxalate inherent in hemp or the intentional usage of calcium carbonate as a filler (Section 3.3, p. 63).