The doctoral dissertations of the former Helsinki University of Technology (TKK) and Aalto University Schools of Technology (CHEM, ELEC, ENG, SCI) published in electronic format are available in the electronic publications archive of Aalto University - Aaltodoc.
Aalto

Studies on Fastness Properties of Ink Jet Prints on Coated Papers

Katri Vikman

Dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Science in Technology to be presented with due permission of the Department of Forest Products Technology for public examination and debate in Auditorium V1 at Helsinki University of Technology (Espoo, Finland) on the 26th of November, 2004, at 12 o'clock noon.

Overview in PDF format (ISBN 951-22-7276-8)   [684 KB]
Dissertation is also available in print (ISBN 951-22-7275-X)

Abstract

Novel low-cost coatings intended for ink jet printing have been developed recently. Studies on their print quality have mainly focused on the optical and geometrical properties of the image, whereas their effect on long-term print quality has been largely ignored.

The objectives of this thesis were to evaluate the applicability of vibrational spectroscopic methods for studying ink jet prints and to clarify the mechanisms contributing to the permanence of small-scale ink jet prints on coated papers. Light and water fastness in the time-scale of the print's end use were of particular interest. These were studied using experimental inks and coatings with known compositions.

The first part of the study concerned the applicability of vibrational spectroscopic methods for studying ink jet prints. According to the results, differences between the samples originating from changes in exposure to light could be detected with both FTIR and Raman spectroscopy. The most suitable techniques were the FTIR-ATR, confocal NIR-Raman, UV resonance Raman and Kerr gated resonance Raman methods.

The second part of the thesis detailed the issues related to the mechanisms contributing to print permanence. The results suggested that the light and water fastness of ink jet prints were affected by both the physical properties of the coatings and the chemical paper-ink interactions. The latter played the dominant role, whereas the significance of physical paper properties depended on the type of ink and the coating. As a rule, the stronger the chemical paper-ink interactions were, the less relevance the physical properties of the coating had. Results also indicated that light and water fastness could be markedly influenced by the type of colorant, but also by choosing the right coating ingredients.

This thesis consists of an overview and of the following 6 publications:

  1. Vikman K. and Sipi K., 2003. Applicability of FTIR and Raman spectroscopic methods to the study of paper-ink interactions in digital prints. Journal of Imaging Science and Technology 47, number 2, pages 139-148. © 2003 The Society for Imaging Science and Technology. By permission.
  2. Vikman K., 2003. Fastness properties of ink jet prints on coated papers – Part 1: Effect of coating polymer system on light fastness. Journal of Imaging Science and Technology 47, number 1, pages 30-37. © 2003 The Society for Imaging Science and Technology. By permission.
  3. Vikman K., 2003. Fastness properties of ink jet prints on coated papers – Part 2: Effect of coating polymer system on water fastness. Journal of Imaging Science and Technology 47, number 1, pages 38-43. © 2003 The Society for Imaging Science and Technology. By permission.
  4. Vikman K. and Vuorinen T., 2004. Water fastness of ink jet prints on modified conventional coatings. Journal of Imaging Science and Technology 48, number 2, pages 138-147. © 2004 The Society for Imaging Science and Technology. By permission.
  5. Vikman K. and Vuorinen T., Light fastness of ink jet prints on modified conventional coatings. Nordic Pulp and Paper Research Journal, to be published. © 2004 by authors.
  6. Vikman K., Iitti H., Matousek P., Towrie M., Parker A. W. and Vuorinen T., Kerr gated resonance Raman spectroscopy in light fastness studies of ink jet prints. Vibrational Spectroscopy, to be published. © 2004 by authors and © 2004 Elsevier Science. By permission.

Errata of publication 1

Keywords: ink jet printing, light fastness, water fastness, coating, FTIR, Raman, resonance Raman, Kerr gate

This publication is copyrighted. You may download, display and print it for Your own personal use. Commercial use is prohibited.

© 2004 Helsinki University of Technology

Last update 2011-05-26