Influence of dwell time and temperature on the measured gloss of printed UV-inks containing aluminum pigments

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between measured gloss and the microstructure of printed UV-inks containing aluminum pigments. Using a laboratory flexo printing machine, UV-inks containing leafing-type vacuum metallized pigments were printed onto Chromolux paper and primed MultiArt Gloss paper. The time between printing and curing of the ink (dwell time) was varied between the experimental runs. For some samples, hot air was applied onto the uncured UV-ink during the dwell time. The influence of heat (hot air) and dwell time on gloss and the topography of the pigment layer as well as the influence of the substrate was investigated. Roughness and waviness data were obtained using a confocal microscope (Sensofar PLu Neox), gloss measurements were obtained using an IQ-S gloss meter.