The era of synthetic paper is coming soon

In the United States, the use of synthetic paper is increasing rapidly. In commercial printing, the usage is about 30,000 tons.
Synthetic paper, like paper, is manufactured using an extension device that pushes the plastic in the direction of running, but does not use water. Synthetic paper is mainly composed of polypropylene and polyethylene. Due to the coating layer composed of clay and adhesive, the price is higher than that of plain paper. In order to ensure benefits, the quality requirements are high.

Almost all synthetic papers use oxidative polymerization desiccant inks, generally requiring an ink with a Tack value of 16 or higher. Drying time varies depending on the surface coating and surface material of the product, and the coverage of the ink. Generally, the prints are dried within 1 to 2 hours, and if they are left overnight, they will be thoroughly dried.

Synthetic paper is used for ink jet and care must be taken. It is best for the printing operator to know in advance what should be paid special attention to the manufacturer. Such as light resistance, heat resistance, alkali resistance, soap, alcohol and other chemical properties. Most synthetic papers can be used in food packaging, but in advance we should understand the reaction of synthetic paper with acidic foods such as fruit and vegetable juices.

The use of synthetic paper in laser printers is a topic of the future. At a high temperature where the toner is fixed, the synthetic paper shrinks, curls, and changes in size. Even decompose the bonded structure. New copiers and laser printers have introduced a fuser roller with temperature-regulating properties to solve this problem.

Another drawback of synthetic paper is electrostatic problems. Any untreated plastic layer can easily generate static electricity with surrounding objects. During printing, the static electricity accumulated in the plastic layer affects post-processing. Therefore, the surface of the synthetic paper containing a clay coating layer must be coated so as to prevent the paper from being overlapped and transported during operations such as printing and post-press processing.
Synthetic paper is used in more demanding environments. In the additive of the coating layer, cracks occur due to direct sunlight on the fluorescent whitening agent and other materials. Therefore, the synthetic paper for outdoor use is almost beige or off-white.