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
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