Inkjet Printing Substrates Rafi Bronstein Rafi BronsteinHP com

Inkjet Printing Substrates Rafi Bronstein Rafi. Bronstein@HP. com Rafi Bronstein

Inkjet ink n An inkjet ink is a low viscosity liquid containing various pigments and/or dyes and some other components. It is used for coloring a surface to produce an image n Spreads faster than it dries/cures Rafi Bronstein

Inkjet Inks n Inkjet inks are absorbent substances and require specially coated paper for optimum results. n “Photographic" inkjet papers “work” with the characteristics of the ink to reproduce photo-quality images. n Inkjet paper should have excellent ink adherence, high scratch and kink resistance, bleed control for sharp edges and high densities for more vibrant colours. Rafi Bronstein

Types of Inkjet Printing Substrates n Substrate is a term used in industrial printing to describe the base material onto which images will be printed. Base materials include (though are not limited to): u films, u foils, u textiles, u fabrics, u plastics, u any variety of paper and others Rafi Bronstein

Substrate Requirements n Runnability - the ability of the paper to be transported smoothly through the print engine; n Printability - the ability of the media, interacting with the marking material, to produce an image of the desired quality; n Usability - a variety of characteristics such as overall look and feel, freedom from curl, cockle and bleed-through, image permanence, and readiness for finishing operations such as folding, creasing and binding. n Lightfastness - ultraviolet or UV stability is a very important feature that is completely determined by the inks and media. Rafi Bronstein

Substrate Requirements n Porosity – special coating providing fast ink absorption n Gloss – type of finishing/coating that ensures special image quality n Minimal delta E Rafi Bronstein

Inkjet Paper n Inkjet paper is paper designed for inkjet printers, typically classified by its weight (gram/m 2), brightness and smoothness, and sometimes by its opacity. n Inkjet printing requires the paper to have exactly the right degree of absorbency to accept the ink but prevent its sideways spread. Rafi Bronstein

Coated paper properties n - Limits and controls dot size and shape n - Holds colorant on surface, control the absorption rate n - Provide brilliant and neutral reflective background n - Reduces "curling" n - Provide various textures, and appearance Rafi Bronstein

Examples of Substrate Caused Print Defects Puddling Curl Rafi Bronstein

Examples of Substrate Caused Print Defects Banding Mottling Rafi Bronstein

Examples of Substrate Caused Print Defects Bleed Rafi Bronstein

Types of coatings n Barrier coating (prevents saturation) n Reflective coating n Sealer coating n Texture/Finish coating n Gloss coating Rafi Bronstein

Ink Receptive Coatings n Base substrate: u paper, PE film, fabric, vinyl … n Fiber based: coated n Photo based: glossy coating n Synthetic base: coated Rafi Bronstein

Inkjet Receptive Coating PAPER CROSS SECTION Top coating Control coat Cellulose fibers Back coat Rafi Bronstein

Inkjet Receptive Coating Functions n Before printing: u Tactile properties improvement (smoothness, stickiness), optical properties (brightness, whiteness), mechanical properties (curl, coefficient of friction) n In course of printing u Control the movement of ink vehicle on the surface, to affect image quality and ink absorption rate n After printing: u Durability, handleability Rafi Bronstein

Receptive Coating Components n Polymer coating u Improves strength, affects wettability, holds colorant at the surface, improves smoothness n Pigment coating u Increases stiffness, affects porosity, absorbs water, increases brightness and opacity n Additives u Improves manufacturing conditions Rafi Bronstein

Types of Inkjet Receptive Coating n Porous coating SUBSTRATE H 2 O/Solvent evaporation SUBSTRATE Rafi Bronstein

Types of Inkjet Receptive Coating n Swellable coating SUBSTRATE H 2 O/Solvent evaporation SUBSTRATE • Hybrid coating Rafi Bronstein

Porous Coating n Absorbs ink via capillary pressure n Fast ink absorption n Limited ink holding capacity n Potentially high water resistance n Low lightfastness with dye inks n Colorant penetration n Limited substrate choice Rafi Bronstein

Swellable Coating n Absorbs ink via solvation and diffusion n Slow ink absorption n Large ink holding capacity n Potentially low water resistance n High lightfastness with dye inks n Suitable for a variety of substrates Rafi Bronstein

Hybrid Coating n A subclass of swellable coating n Requires large amount of coating pigment Rafi Bronstein

Photographic inkjet paper Rafi Bronstein

Film substrates n TRANSPARENCY FILM u Special surface to hold the ink n SILVER REFLECTIVE FILM u u Excellent special affects; Applications include marketing, certificates, crafts, business cards n WINDOW DECAL u Clear film with an adhesive backing n Backlit film u Is a unique translucent flexible sign face material, Rafi Bronstein

Film substrates n Mesh - A unique open-weave flexible sign face material. u u u u n Bright white background for accurate colors Material consistency for image quality Strong lightweight flexible material Stretch-free for long-term mechanical stability Semi-gloss finish for luminescent graphics Resists scratches, punctures, wrinkles and folds Seamable Canvas - An environmentally friendly polyester fabric. Coated for optimized ink adhesion and color reproduction u u u u Bright white background for accurate colors Unique texture for optimized print results Stretchable fabric for framing Optimized tensile strength for Matte finish for indoor application Sewable Repels pollution and washes clean in water Tolerates repeated rolling and unrolling Rafi Bronstein

Polyester Substrate Image printed on uncoated (left) and coated (right) polyester films Imaged polyester with cracked coating in printed area Rafi Bronstein

Finishing n Hem n Seaming n Sewing n Pole Pockets n Grommets n In panels n No finishing Rafi Bronstein

New substrates drives n Digital printing n New applications enabled Rafi Bronstein

Ink jet Printing Substrates Paper Mylar Paper Wall Covering Paper Fabricated products Textile GA Paper Rigid Floor covering Wide Format Signage CAD Security Printed glass POP 1985 Rafi Bronstein 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010

Q&A n Do you have any questions? Rafi Bronstein

Thank you Rafi Bronstein