What is rag mat board?
A. “Rag” is a papermaker’s term dating back to the 15th century when cotton rags and trimmings were the principal raw materials used for papermaking. The term continues to be used to describe papers and boards made of 100% cotton fiber pulp. Q. What is the difference between Crescent’s rag mat board and their regular acid-free mat board? A. Regular mat board is made from wood pulp which is buffered (pH balanced) during manufacture. The core and back of the board are acid-free, but not the surface paper. Rag mat board is made from cotton. The core, backing and surface paper are acid-free. Rag mat boards come in 2 thickness – 2 ply and 4 ply. 4 ply is roughly the same thickness as regular mat board. Q. What does acid-free actually mean? A. Paper having a pH factor of 7 or higher. Acid-free paper can be produced from any cellulose fiber if measures are taken during manufacture to eliminate (or buffer) active acid from the pulp. Q. What is buffering (or alkaline reserve)? A. Calcium carbon
