Vulcanized Fibre is made from a number of plies of paper, depending on the thickness required. The plies are passed through a bath of Zinc Chloride, an acid. The Zinc Chloride bath makes the surfaces of the individual fibers, which make up the paper, gummy and sticky. These gummy plies of paper are then pressed together.

The gelatinous fibers create both a stronger bond within each ply of paper and a stronger bond between the plies of paper. They bind together to form Vulcanized Fibre, a chemically pure product of unmatched physical and electrical properties, and unique bond strength.

Once the fibre plies are bonded together, the Zinc Chloride is gradually leached out of the fibre in a series of water baths. The fibre is then dried and cut into its final form: sheets, rolls, coils or strips.

The resulting fibre is almost completely pure cellulose, free from any artificial glues, resins or binders. Other than trace elements, it contains entirely natural components.

Vulcanized Fibre is primarily used for electrical applications as it has a high dielectric strength.  It is also used in military applications as a liner in artillery shells.

This paper was made in the USA and was plentiful, but as the EPA started cracking down on the chemicals used to make the fibre.  This caused the main company, NVF, to struggle and eventually go out of business.  This was 10 years ago..

A small portion of today's Vulcanized Fibre is made in the USA.  Most of the material is made in China and Japan. 

As the government puts restraints on imports and taxes these items, it raises cost.  Also, this material travels across the big pond by ship.  The government has increased taxes and fees on shipping also.  Fuel prices have increased in the last year, as we have all seen at the gas pump, this adds to the final product.  All these things have made importers group their orders and buy larger quantities, less often.  Now there is a shortage and the paper is at a premium due to a 90~120 day lead time to get material ordered and shipped into the states.  Nobody wants to sit on a large amount of inventory that is not making them money.  So, they order what they need with little extra sitting on the floor. 

Now it has to be processed and slit into useable widths so we can make it into tubes.  Companies in the US have rising cost due to..you guessed it, the government adding more taxes to small business raising their operating cost.  Next is health care which will cause a whole new blow to small business and adding to overall prices to increase, again.