Special Reviews: Technical Trend of Press Room Chemicals

Paper Coating Varnish

Abstract

Commercial and technical trend of paper coating varnishes are reviewed. Health and safety legislation and environmental requirements have been becoming critical in development. Water-based system and UV curable system are being tried to substitute for solvent -based products, which contain flammable organic solvents including toluene and methylethylketone. Though so-called water-based coatings are more safe in terms of flammability, they generally contain alcohol and glycolether to give good print quality. The alcohol and glycol free type is also developed for practical use. One of the most environmentally friendly solutions in the application of coatings is UV curable system. Acrylic monomers formulated in UV-curable coatings as reactive diluents can be cured with UV irradiation. Commercial and technical trend of paper coating varnishes are reviewed. Health and safety legislation and environmental requirements have been becoming critical in development. Water-based system and UV curable system are being tried to substitute for solvent-based products, which contain flammable organic solvents including toluene and methylethylketone. Though so-called water-based coatings are more safe in terms of flammability, they generally contain alcohol and glycolether to give good print quality. The alcohol and glycol free type is also developed for practical use. One of the most environmentally friendly solutions in the application of coatings is UV curable system. Acrylic monomers formulated in UV-curable coatings as reactive diluents can be cured with UV irradiation.