Influence of the coating formulations and base papers on inkjet printability

At the coating were used two substrates, commercial base paper and base paper produced in pilot experimental paper machine. The printing quality varied at both base papers. The coating colours contain commercial silica and precipitated calcium carbonate pigments. As a binder was used polyvinyl alcohol and cationic starch combined with high-cationic polymer SMAI 1000. Colour gamut significantly improved when the inkjet ink contact angle decreased below 14° independently of the base paper. The order of coating colours effect on the base papers was similar. Application of silica pigment in the coating colour provided papers with the largest inkjet ink wetting, the best colour gamut area, print sharpness and smoothness. By using of polyvinyl alcohol, a high colour gamut area was reached but it resulted in a markedly low print sharpness in comparison with cationic starch. Coating of base paper produced in pilot experimental paper machine introduces papers with higher colour gamut and also print sharpness.

The effect of pigments and binders on inkjet print quality

The effect of silica and calcium carbonate pigments, polyvinyl alcohol and cationic starch binders combined with high-cationic polymers on physical-chemical and printing properties of coated papers were studied. The best printing properties were obtained with coating colour based on silica. Colour gamut significantly improved when the inkjet ink contact angle decreased below 15°. The water fastness was influenced with specific charge density of coating colour. Application of silica provided papers with the largest inkjet ink wetting, colour gamut area, print sharpness and surface roughness. By using of polyvinyl alcohol a high colour gamut area was reached but it resulted in a low print sharpness in comparison with cationic starch. High-cationic polymer poly-DADMAC showed a more significant effect on all printing properties of coated paper in comparison with SMAI 1000. The final inkjet print quality depends on structural and chemical properties of coating.