Adsorption of Flexography Ink on Inorganic Particles Patched with Cationic Polymer

Abstract

The flexography ink has disadvantage in a deinking process because it tends to form too fine particles in alkali condition to be removed in flotation deinking. The influence of pH conditions on the particle size of phthalocyanine cyan ink used for flexo-printing was investigated to see the effect of pH conditions on flexography ink dispersion. Flexography ink particles prepared by grinding dried ink films were used in this experiment. Greater reduction of the ink particle size was noticed under alkaline pH condition, which was attributed to dissolution of resin component of the ink. Adsorption behavior of flexography ink onto pigment particles was examined using clay and talc as substrate pigments. Pretreatment of inorganic pigments with a cationic poly-DADMAC increased the surface adsorption of flexography ink particles, which improved the removal of the inks by centrifugal sedimentation of inorganic pigments. Most efficient removal of the ink particles was achieved when an optimal addition level of the cationic polymer was used for pretreatment of inorganic pigments, and this optimal addition level corresponds to the surface saturation point of the polyelectrolyte. Adsorption of flexography ink particles onto inorganic pigments improved the ink removal in flotation deinking since the pigment particles has the optimal particle size for flotation deinking.