This Is Why Paper Towels Have Those Weird Patterns
Have you ever noticed the weird designs or patterns on paper towels? I thought they were there for flair, but it turns out there’s actually some complicated engineering going on.
The process is called embossing, and it’s designed to make the paper towels hold more water.
Paper towels started being embossed in the early 1920s because it made them feel thicker and softer. And then when two-ply came along in the 1950s, embossing also helped hold those two layers together.
All those dots, swirls, and other designs that you see create tiny pockets between the layers, which gives water more places to go. But there’s a trade-off. If you emboss too much, it will make the paper towel weaker.
That’s why manufacturers are always testing different patterns before choosing one. So, those little flowers and squiggles aren’t just your paper towel trying to look fancy. They’re hard at work.
Photo by <a href=”https://unsplash.com/@msaimakin?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText”>Mustafa akın</a> on <a href=”https://unsplash.com/photos/a-textured-white-paper-towel-with-a-repeating-pattern-txI3TmMb8Fo?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText”>Unsplash</a>
