A Novel Talc Pigment for Paper Coatings, 2005 TAPPI Coating Conference

ABSTRACT AND POWERPOINT ONLY

Paper industry consolidation, along with a changing printing industry landscape and a renewed focus on the improvement of paper mill profitability, is forcing paper makers to increase productivity. Unable to pass on increased costs to customers, paper companies are responding by optimizing machine efficiency and reducing paper waste. Talc, as a functional pigment, continues to gain momentum in paper coatings as a viable approach to achieve necessary productivity improvements.

Talc’s combination of platyness, softness, organophilicity, hydrophobicity, and chemical inertness makes it unique among all minerals. Talc provides opportunities to improve profitability by utilizing these properties in several niche paper coating applications, such as rotogravure, matte offset, barrier, and labels.

In rotogravure grades, coating talc reduces crepe wrinkles and core bursts, and allows for the production of “jumbo” rolls by lowering the coefficient of friction. The resulting benefit is an increase in productivity from reduced paper waste. In matte offset grades, talc properties help to improve matte effect (lower sheet gloss, higher print gloss), reduce ink-scuff, and provide a silky feel. In barrier coatings, talc’s platyness and hydrophobicity allow for an improvement in barrier properties (moisture/grease barrier). Talc also eliminates anti-blocking during unwinding, while substituting for expensive materials such as mica. In label grades, talc improves productivity by extending the life of the die, therefore reducing downtime.