Effects of atmospheric pressure plasma activation on inkjet print quality

M. Pykönen, Liisa Hakola, Kim Eiroma, J. Lahti, Henna Sundqvist, Otto-Ville Kaukoniemi, M. Tuominen, J. Järnström, J. Peltonen, P. Fardim, M. Toivakka

    Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference article in proceedingsScientificpeer-review

    1 Citation (Scopus)

    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 languageEnglish
    Title of host publication23rd International Conference on Digital Printing Technologies: Digital Fabrication 2007
    Subtitle of host publicationTechnical Program and Proceedings
    Place of PublicationSpringfield, VA
    PublisherThe Society for Imaging Science and Technology, IS&T
    Pages404-409
    ISBN (Print) 0892082739
    Publication statusPublished - 2007
    MoE publication typeA4 Article in a conference publication
    Event23rd International Conference on Digital Printing Technologies: Digital Fabrication 2007 - Anchorage, United States
    Duration: 16 Sept 200721 Sept 2007

    Conference

    Conference23rd International Conference on Digital Printing Technologies
    Country/TerritoryUnited States
    CityAnchorage
    Period16/09/0721/09/07

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