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Printing and control of printing surfaces

Competence

Our key competence is analysing and understanding the factors affecting ink transfer in printing processes and, correspondingly, to measure and understand the factors related to the formation of print quality. Test printing can be done on a laboratory scale with gravure, flexo (IGT F1), offset (IGT AIC2-5), and ink-jet (Dimatix DMP-2800) methods. One-colour roll-to-roll printing can be done with gravure and flexo on a 20 cm wide web using a TAPIO LPM. 4-colour inkjet printing can be done with an Apollo II with Spectra/FUJIFILM Dimatix printheads. Interactions of paper surface and offset inks can be studied using an ISIT (Ink Surface Interaction Tester) and various methods using an IGT AIC2-5. The surface properties of paper are measured, and they can be modified depending on the needs of a given application. The surface properties include measurement of surface chemistry by the contact angle of five model liquids. The physical characteristics of paper surface such as roughness, air permeability and topography can also be measured. One of our key competences is in novel and renewable paper surface treatment materials and the properties they provide for paper surface. VTT’s special expertise is in using biopolymers for paper surface modification. Various intelligent functionalities can also be incorporated on the print substrate or in the paper structure by means of printing or coating methods. These functionalities can be, e.g., electrical, chemical, or biosensing functionalities.

Challenges

• Development of the print substrate’s surface to meet requirements of certain application
  
• Development of print materials for certain applications
  
• Adding high-value functionalities to paper
  
• Increasing the amount of biodegradable materials in paper coatings
  

Solutions

• Use of tailored (bio)polymers to modify the paper surface chemistry
  
• Fine-tuning of ink properties
  
• Inks compatible with functional components
  

Intelligent functionalities and biopolymers can be incorporated on print substrate or in paper structure by means of printing or coating methods.