The latter, which gives the paper its name, is a carbon pigment that also contains traces of sulfur, hydrogen, and oxygen.įor about 150 years, carbon paper was the standard for creating copies. After all, the name defines itself by what it changes from the original, and it makes little sense without that context.Ĭarbon copy paper is a thin sheet of paper coated with a mixture of various ingredients, including paraffin wax, mineral oil, and something called carbon black. To have a true understanding of what carbonless copy paper is, you should first learn about the type of paper that it serves to replace. Here is some information on carbonless copy paper.

The most convenient way to create these copies is with an invention that powers much of society without most people ever giving it a thought. All of these documents require multiple copies for the main recipient, the signee, and any other parties that need access to the documents. Examples of such occasions include filling out receipts, writing out checks, or signing legal papers. This can be most clearly seen any time someone needs to make a copy of a document or form. Thinking on a larger scale, reprography is essential to the functioning of society as we know it. According to the Wikipedia article on the subject, “reprography is the reproduction of graphics through mechanical or electrical means.” The two examples they give are xerography - i.e. Have you ever heard of reprography? Even if the term is completely unfamiliar to you, you have almost certainly engaged in it, likely even recently.

Carbon paper pads