Improving the Performance of Alkaline Paper on the IBM 3800 (R) Laser Printer, 1991 Papermakers Conference Proceedings

Advantages in cost, environmental impact, paper quality, and paper permanence are fueling a rapid conversion of the fine paper industry to alkaline papermaking. A significant barrier to conversion has been the performance of alkaline paper in converting applications. Thus, operating problems on high speed forms presses, envelope and tablet machines, and performance on the IBM 3800 (R) laser printer have been barriers to alkaline conversion. Resolution of the performance problems associated with each of these applications is an important aspect of the accelerating trend toward alkaline fine paper.

Paper tracking behavior of alkaline paper on the IBM 3800 has been the specific subject of this work. Major factors found to impact runnability are pulp type, reactive size furnish, and filler type and loading. Maintaining the reactive size furnish below an empirically determined level is the critical factor in performance. Inclusion of clay as a component of a mixed filler system improves performance at any reactive size level, and is required for some pulp furnishes. Incorporation of these conditions has assisted in the successful conversion of a large segment of the register bond industry.