The Price of Cost Savings in Matte Ink-jet Coatings

Abstract

High Pore Volume, controlled texture synthetic silica gels have been the product of choice for formulators of high quality matte ink-jet coatings since their onset (1). They have been typically used at 70% w/w concentrations in high quality matte coatings, representing the most influential raw material on the total formula cost. As volumes of coated matte ink-jet paper grow world wide and expectations for high quality ink-jet printing increase, price pressure mounts urging formulators to propose alternative, cost effective coatings. As a result, alternative lower cost pigments are normally investigated such as low pore volume silica gel, precipitated silica and precipitated calcium carbonate. In this paper, the impact of replacing high pore volume silica gels with alternative pigments is investigated. The degradation of dry-time, color and print quality is not the only consequence of replacing high pore volume silica gel with cheaper counterparts. Final material costs are higher due to increased coat weights required to achieve a minimum print quality. These are hidden costs that are often overlooked.