Non-Contact Printing of Linerboards

摘要

This paper reports on preliminary laboratory investigations into the inkjet printing of linerboards. Using inkjet printing as a replacement for flexographic printing of corrugated packaging offers a number of benefits. Printing defects common with flexographic printing of corrugated boards (notably washboarding) can be eliminated. Customised printing is readily achievable with digital printing, and the possibility of printing the linerboard prior to gluing to the fluting can be considered. The work reported here compares the laboratory evaluation of a number of linerboard samples, both in terms of wetting and adsorption characteristics, and in terms of print quality. Dye and pigment inkjet inks have been used, and comparable colour gamuts can be obtained with each type of ink. Further investigation will centre on the modification of pigment inks to reduce the volume of water printed onto the linerboard in order to minimise the possibility of warp or twist of the board.