engleski

Cellulose Nanocrystals Coating – A Novel Paper Coating for Use in the Graphic Industry

The rising concern of the printing material impact on the environment is pushing the graphic industry to turn towards the use of materials derived from abundant, renewable resources. The result would be replacement of conventionally used printing materials that are often derived from unsustainable resources. The aim of this study was application of a novel type of sustainable coating that might eliminate use of synthetic coatings. In the application of any new coating it is important to keep the same special properties, for instance, barrier properties, mechanical properties, and printability properties. The selected coating was prepared from cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) suspension that was derived from cellulose fibres on the laboratory scale. The cellulose nanocrystals coating was applied to the paper surface in a coating process. The goal of the research was to examine printability properties of cellulose nanocrystals coating and therefore possible application in the graphic industry. Cellulose nanocrystals coating formulation examined in this paper was not yet used on the industrial scale. An experimental research was carried out in the form of preliminary laboratory printability tests for offset printing application using IGT test methods ink transfer and set-off. Cellulose nanocrystals coated paper was used as a printing substrate, while vegetable oil-based ink was used as a printing ink in order to stay in line with environmentally preferred choice of printing materials. The measurement results indicated increase in surface gloss on cellulose nanocrystals coated paper, as well as in print gloss on printed cellulose nanocrystals coated paper. Downside of cellulose nanocrystals coating was prolonged drying time of ink. Further research should be dedicated to improve cellulose nanocrystals coating as formulation used in this research caused undesirable cockling and waviness on the selected paper grade.

Cellulose Nanocrystals (CNC); Paper Coating; Vegetable Oil; Printing Ink; Printability Tests

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