Paper Towel Absorbency

| Paper Towel Absorbency | INT Task 3 – Mardy Hodge-Wilson| | | | | Paper towels were introduced for kitchen use in 1931 by the Scott Company and are one of the most versatile paper products. They are made from wood pulp which is then bleached to make them white. Resin is added to increase the paper’s strength and the implicated water is then removed, allowing the fibers to bond and form paper sheets. Two layers are combined to create moisture-absorbing air pockets, and shapes are pressed into the paper to further improve absorbency.

Some additional steps used to increase absorbency are creping and embossing. Creping gives the towel extra flexibility and creates more openings for liquid to be absorbed and embossing helps to develop a “void area” between the two separate tissue plies, allowing the towel to retain more liquid. (Union, 2011) The paper towel has become a staple in most American homes since their introduction by the Scott Company in 1931. They are used and they are used for many different purposes. Its main purpose is for cleaning and absorbing spilled liquid.

There are many different brands of paper towels available to consumers, all of which claim to be the most absorbent. How do we determine which paper towel is the most absorbent? The absorbency of a paper towel can be measured by the volume of liquid it can absorb. We are going to conduct an experiment that test the absorbency of two brands, one national brand Viva and a store brand Kroger by measuring the amount of water that each can absorb. We will answer the question: Which paper towel is more absorbent Viva or Kroger Value (store brand)? In my research I have found that the national brands are known for their absorbency.

Bounty, a national brand, claims to be “the strongest, most absorbent paper towel on the market” according to their website. It also notes that it is three times stronger than a store brand”. (Gamble, 2011) In an experiment conducted by NCSSM Leadership Institute, there was a comparison of Bounty to Viva and the results showed that Viva and Bounty were extremely close in the amount of liquid absorbed. (Unknown, 2009) The purpose of this experiment is to see to compare the absorbency properties of two brands of paper towels by measuring the amount of water each can absorb.

I became interested in the absorbency because of all the advertisement wars on paper towel absorbency. My hypothesis is that Viva will absorb more liquid then Kroger Value. I base my hypothesis on research that has been conducted by others and the claims made through advertising. The materials that will be used in this experiment are: a) one roll of Viva, b) one roll of Kroger Value, c) one stop watch, d) one measuring cup, and e) one beaker. Independent Variables: Brand A – Viva Paper Towel Brand B – Kroger Value Paper towel

Dependent Variables: The amount of water left in the measuring cup. Controlled Variables: Measurement of liquid (60mil) The size of each paper towel Experiment: Put 60mil of water in a measuring cup. Submerge a folded towel in the water for 10 seconds. Remove the towel. Measure the amount of water remaining in the measuring cup to determine the amount of water removed from the measuring cup by the paper towel. The greater the amount of water removed from the measuring cup, the more absorbent the towel. Results:

This experiment was conducted to see which paper towel Viva or Kroger Value would be the most absorbent. The results of the experiment show that Viva was the most absorbent. It absorbed on average 44. 5mil where Kroger Value absorbed on average 42. 5mil of water. My hypothesis was that Viva would be the most absorbent. The results indicate that my hypothesis was correct. I performed this test because I wanted to know if Viva was more absorbent that the local store brand to determine if the extra cost was worth it.

My findings will help other consumers make a decision based on absorbency as to which paper towel to purchase. If I were to conduct this experiment again I would use more test groups. I would use additional store brands and additional national brands. Bibliography Gamble, P. ;. (2011). Bounty . Retrieved Sep 18, 2011, from Bounty: www. bountytowels. com Union, J. (2011, May 5). Paper Towels Information. Retrieved Sep 18, 2011, from eHow: http://www. ehow. com Unknown. (2009). Experimental Design. Retrieved Sep 18, 2011, from NCSSM: http://courses. ncssm. edu/math/Stat_Inst/PDFS/PaperTow. pdf