Abstract
This study is intended to clarify gloss development mechanisms in electrophotographic printing in comparison with offset printing technology. In the present work, the influence that some fusing parameters and toner penetration have on the formation of the printed surface topography while the toner fuses between heated rolls and matte-coated paper was discussed.
The relationship between pre-printing and post-printing surface topographies was compared among three different parameters;the load and temperature of the nip and the passing speed of a sheet. For all the parameters, as the fusing energy given to the toner is reduced, the printed surface topography was formed to be influenced greatly by the paper surface topography. In addition, it was confirmed that the paper surface with unfused toner has a characteristic roughness distribution in the same frequency range with that of the paper surface. These results suggest that the transfer of toner maintains the paper surface topography, but the printed surface topography is formed by applying heat and pressure and becomes different from paper surface topography. The relationship between pre-printing and post-printing surface topographies was compared using coated papers with different levels of liquid absorbency. Fused toner penetration by capillary force hardly influenced printed surface formation.
