Abstract
This work concerns the suitability of atmospheric plasma activation for
the modification of paper and polymer surfaces and its ability to improve
inkjet print quality of conventional non-inkjet printing papers and polymer
films. In this work pigment coated and surface sized papers, PE and PP films
were modified using two kinds of atmospheric plasma equipment; one at the
pilot scale and one at the laboratory scale. The pilot scale plasma activation
was also compared to conventional corona treatment. The changes in the
surface chemistry were measured using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS)
and attenuated total reflectance infrared spectrometry (FTIR-ATR). In
addition, the surface energy was estimated by contact angle measurements. The
topographical changes were measured using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The
substrates were printed with different ink types with an inkjet printing
system simulating industrial production and print quality and rub resistance
were measured. Furthermore, the correlation between surface property changes
and inkjet print quality are presented and discussed. The treatments oxidized
the surface of the substrates increasing the base and the polar components of
the surface energy. The conventional corona treatment gave higher surface
energy and oxidation level than the nitrogen and helium plasma activations.
The laboratory scale plasma activation was the most efficient one, because of
the longest treatment time. Inkjet print quality of PE film clearly improved
due to treatments. On the contrary, print quality of PP film worsened.
Treatments for the paper substrates lead to relatively small changes.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | 23rd International Conference on Digital Printing Technologies: Digital Fabrication 2007 |
Subtitle of host publication | Technical Program and Proceedings |
Place of Publication | Springfield, VA |
Publisher | The Society for Imaging Science and Technology, IS&T |
Pages | 404-409 |
ISBN (Print) | 0892082739 |
Publication status | Published - 2007 |
MoE publication type | A4 Article in a conference publication |
Event | 23rd International Conference on Digital Printing Technologies: Digital Fabrication 2007 - Anchorage, United States Duration: 16 Sept 2007 → 21 Sept 2007 |
Conference
Conference | 23rd International Conference on Digital Printing Technologies |
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Country/Territory | United States |
City | Anchorage |
Period | 16/09/07 → 21/09/07 |