The durability of UV ink-jet prints on special papers upon accelerated ageing

Abstract

The aim of research work was to investigate the influence of accelerated ageing on unprinted and UV ink-jet printed special papers. Prints with CMYK color fields were made by UV ink-jet printer Océ Arizona 250 GT on three types of special papers; a fiber synthetic paper, a woodfree paper with included invisible security fibers and multitonal watermarks and another woodfree paper with security elements. On unprinted and CMYK printed special papers the moist heat treatment at 80°C and 65% relative humidity was performed. Samples were aged according to the standard ISO 5630:3 for 1, 2, 3, 6 and 12 days. Attention was focused on the investigation of the optical properties of papers (i.e. whiteness, opacity and yellowness) and colorimetric properties of CMYK prints during moist heat treatment. The properties of CMYK prints were determined with the measurements of CIELAB values before and after accelerated ageing and on the bases of those measurements the color differences have been calculated. The analysis revealed some deviations between CMYK prints and papers. The best durability upon accelerated ageing obtained the fiber synthetic paper and the black ink prints at all three types of paper.