Full Coverage
August 2004
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Coating is paperboard's key to functionality and printability.
STRONG, BRIGHT, AND value-added is the composition of many a woman's dream man. It's also what consumer product companies (CPCs) are looking for in their paperboard packaging. And for the most part, that's what they're getting—a resilient substrate that's brighter and more functional than ever.
Improved paperboard materials continue to hit the marketplace, spurring and supporting a slow but steady growth of the substrate. While it's still rebounding from a low base in 2002, the growth is expected to climb steadily at 2.8 percent per year to more than $35 billion in 2007, according to Corrugated & Paperboard Boxes, a study published last year by The Freedonia Group Inc.
Already, developments have made paperboard brighter, whiter, stronger, smoother, and more printable. Most of these advances have come by way of better coatings and raw materials. The styling and printability of paperboard are the two areas where coatings have contributed the most.
Styling: Getting the look
Styling refers to the combination of color, whiteness, and brightness of paperboard, according to Bryan Ortman, segment manager of MeadWestvaco Packaging Resources Group. Styling is one of the biggest differentiators to paperboard and is influenced by coatings and coating ingredients.
"Coating is a key driver in achieving brightness," Ortman said. "Three factors impact the styling and brightness of the coated surface: the type of pigments used in the coating, the amount of dyes added to the coating, and the amount of fluorescent whitening agents added."
In the last five-to-seven years, paperboard producers have revamped their coating recipes to achieve maximum brightness. Mills now use more calcium carbonate (CaCO3) pigments, the main ingredient to obtaining higher brightness, said Quintin Parker, senior technical service advisor at BASF.
Advances in latex, a binder, also has helped increase brightness. Latex, of which there are several kinds, holds the white pigment to the paper, said John Kelly, Dow Chemical Co. technical service and development engineer.
"Typically, we see each of the different latex chemistries having key performance criteria that recommend them for various applications," Kelly said. "For instance, S/B (styrene butadiene) latex is a great choice for high strength, especially in a beverage carrier where water resistance is important. S/B/AN (styrene butadiene acrylonitrile) latexes typically improve offset printing quality compared to S/B latexes, but may not be as strong in pick performance. S/A (styrene acrylate) latexes are great for high brightness, resistance to fading, and good offset printing performance. As you would expect, there is a price/performance balance when choosing a latex for your coating."
STRONG, BRIGHT, AND value-added is the composition of many a woman's dream man. It's also what consumer product companies (CPCs) are looking for in their paperboard packaging. And for the most part, that's what they're getting—a resilient substrate that's brighter and more functional than ever.
Improved paperboard materials continue to hit the marketplace, spurring and supporting a slow but steady growth of the substrate. While it's still rebounding from a low base in 2002, the growth is expected to climb steadily at 2.8 percent per year to more than $35 billion in 2007, according to Corrugated & Paperboard Boxes, a study published last year by The Freedonia Group Inc.
Already, developments have made paperboard brighter, whiter, stronger, smoother, and more printable. Most of these advances have come by way of better coatings and raw materials. The styling and printability of paperboard are the two areas where coatings have contributed the most.
Styling: Getting the look
Styling refers to the combination of color, whiteness, and brightness of paperboard, according to Bryan Ortman, segment manager of MeadWestvaco Packaging Resources Group. Styling is one of the biggest differentiators to paperboard and is influenced by coatings and coating ingredients.
"Coating is a key driver in achieving brightness," Ortman said. "Three factors impact the styling and brightness of the coated surface: the type of pigments used in the coating, the amount of dyes added to the coating, and the amount of fluorescent whitening agents added."
In the last five-to-seven years, paperboard producers have revamped their coating recipes to achieve maximum brightness. Mills now use more calcium carbonate (CaCO3) pigments, the main ingredient to obtaining higher brightness, said Quintin Parker, senior technical service advisor at BASF.
Advances in latex, a binder, also has helped increase brightness. Latex, of which there are several kinds, holds the white pigment to the paper, said John Kelly, Dow Chemical Co. technical service and development engineer.
"Typically, we see each of the different latex chemistries having key performance criteria that recommend them for various applications," Kelly said. "For instance, S/B (styrene butadiene) latex is a great choice for high strength, especially in a beverage carrier where water resistance is important. S/B/AN (styrene butadiene acrylonitrile) latexes typically improve offset printing quality compared to S/B latexes, but may not be as strong in pick performance. S/A (styrene acrylate) latexes are great for high brightness, resistance to fading, and good offset printing performance. As you would expect, there is a price/performance balance when choosing a latex for your coating."
Companies Mentioned:
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