Optimising Ink Setting Properties On Double Coated Woodfree Papers, 2004 Coating and Graphic Arts Conference

Today’s requirements for print-press runnability and print quality demand an optimised absorption and adhesion of printing ink on the paper surface. Modern coating concepts for high glossing offset grades use ultra fine pigments, whereas binder level has continuously been decreased to a minimum in recent years to achieve the highest possible sheet gloss development and for economical reasons. Both the ultra fine pigments and the reduced binder levels lead in many cases to a faster ink setting rate. On the other hand, matt paper grades use relatively coarse pigments leading to a slow ink setting compared to the high glossing papers. Both too fast and too slow ink setting properties implicate drawbacks in print quality and print press runnability. The mechanisms behind the interactions between ink and coating have been presented in many previous publications. The purpose of this study was to determine and quantify how the ink setting rate is influenced by a selected pigment system (GCC and GCC / Clay blends), SB latex level and SB latex properties in the topcoat of double coated sheet fed offset paper. The roles of binder level and type in the precoat were also assessed. The resulting ink setting characteristics were tested using three different laboratory testing instruments. The correlation amongst the different laboratory testing methods is discussed.

The results show that by varying the latex properties, the pigment system and/or latex addition level, the ink tack development of ink applied to a topcoat pigment system can be significantly influenced. It can be slowed down as often desired with ultra fine pigments or speeded up in the case of coarse pigments. There was no visible effect on the ink setting rate by using different binder systems in the precoat.