Investigation of ink-substrate adhesion in LEP printing

Abstract

Understanding of ink-paper adhesion in LEP printing through interface investigation is presented. Relationship between macroscopic time dependent work of adhesion measurement, polar content of paper and ink surfaces, and interfacial acid-base interaction is revealed. Direct observation of the ink-paper interfacial interaction through ATR-FTIR measurement is described and C-O stretching band around 1152 cm-1 is shown to indicate acid-base interaction. Papers with high polar content exhibit strong intensity as well as reduction in the band location of the C-O stretch. Intensity ratio of C-O stretch around 1152 cm-1 and a neighboring C-C stretch at 1168 cm-1 is shown to have a linear relationship with the total work of adhesion immediately after printing.