Effects of Non-Wood Fibres in Printed Paper Substrate on Barrier and Migration Properties

Abstract

Nowadays, there is a strong initiative to use recycled or biodegradable materials in all aspects of production including the graphic industry. In this study, paper was used as a material fulfilling the two of mentioned properties. Under laboratory conditions, papers were made of 70% pulp from recycled wood fibres with an addition of 30% straw pulp (wheat, barley or triticale). Considering the importance of the possibility of printing such media based on their end use, the influence of fibre type on vapour barrier properties was studied and overall migration to hydrophilic and fatty food simulants was measured. Analyses were performed on digital, flexographic, and offset prints obtained by printing laboratory papers with UV-curable black ink. It was found that prints produced using the offset technique, in which the ink remains on the surface of the paper, had lower overall levels of migration compared to other printing techniques. The paper produced appears to have the potential to be used as a secondary food packaging material.