Available Services - Coating
The demand for pigment-coated papers exceeds the growth rate of total paper demand. Technical research in the development of materials and processes is necessary for continued improvement. The University of Maine may be able to assist the industry in this area through the use of our Process Development Center.
An industry consortium, the Paper Surface Science Program, under the direction on Dr. Douglas Bousfield, seeks to develop fundamental and applied knowledge about paper surface treatment processes (sizing, coating, printing, gluing...) and structure-performance relationships in the products. Its objective is to train graduate students in performing scientific research on projects of value to the sponsoring industries.
Capabilities
Coating
The Cylindrical Laboratory Coater (CLC 6000) provides an ideal means to evaluate coating formulations, as well as basestocks and process operating conditions. It can operate at speeds up to 6,000 fpm with pigmented coatings of up to 70% solids.
Calendering
For most paper grades, the dried sheet is passed through a stack of heavy metal rolls where it is pressed under high pressure. Calendering improves printing properties, particularly roughness and gloss. The values attained depend on the speed, pressure and temperature of calendering, the base sheet, the average moisture content, and the composition of the coating. An on-machine calender is located prior to the reel on our paper machine. An off-machine, sheet fed supercalender is also available to observe gloss development of coated papers.
Printing
Printing is an old process dating back to 1500 BC by the Greeks and used by the Chinese and Koreans before that. Modern printing was introduced in 1450 AD by Johann Gutenberg. All printing processes uses an inked printing image carrier to produce numerous reproductions on paper. Paper is very difficult to change after it has reached the printer. Therefore, testing of the paper is important to both the papermaker and the printer.
A KRK Universal Printability Tester allows for the testing of the pick, gloss and mottle. An IGT Printability Tester is also available.
Available Equipment:
* Cylindrical Laboratory Coater
* Softnip Calender
* On-machine Size Press / Transfer Roll Coater
* Starch Jet Cooker - 30 gal
* Variable Speed Kady Mill
* Hercules Viscometer
* Brookfield Viscomete
* Supercalender - 16-inch face
* KRK Universal Print Tester
* IGT Printability Tester
* Hunter Gloss Meter
* Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope
* BET Nitrogen Adsorption
* Mercury Porosimeter
* Mechanical Stylus Device
* Contact Angle Measurement