Impact of binder composition on inkjet printing paper

Abstract

This article is focused on the impact of different binder mixtures on the performances of paper surface and printability. The coating properties were studied with the chosen silica pigment, and the binder consisted of vinyl acetate copolymer and polyvinyl alcohol with different ratios, followed by the measurement of smoothness, whiteness, and surface strength. The inkjet image quality was assessed using water-based inks. The print density, dot gain, and line quality were analyzed. The results showed that the surface performance and printability were affected by the composition of the binder. With the decrease of vinyl acetate copolymer and the increase of polyvinyl alcohol, the surface smoothness and strength decreased, and the penetration and diffusion of the ink changed as well. When the binder mixture was used with proper ratio, a larger solid density, smaller dot gain, and higher definition can be achieved, which were better than using either one of them alone.