PCL-TiO2 nanocomposite to improve ageing of offset prints

UV radiation or sunlight can affect the printed sample by fading the ink surface and therefore the product losses it's decorative purpose and becomes less desirable to the customer. To create the efficient protective coating, titanium dioxide (TiO2) will be used as a well-known compound that should lower the effects of UV radiation. TiO2 should lower the colour fade after UV radiation and this will be determined by densitometric and colorimetric (CIE L*a*b*) measurements. In addition, measurement of print gloss will also be conducted to evaluate visual appearance of the sample. Biopolymer Polycaprolactone (PCL) was the base of the PCL-TiO2 composite in which TiO2 nano sized. To determine influence of the amount of TiO2, three composites were prepared by adding different weight ratio of the TiO2. The prepared nanocomposites were then applied onto the offset prints on gloss art print paper and on the uncoated paper. The results have shown that TiO2 coating does affect ink’s density, colorimetric properties and print gloss after initial coating. The change in chroma due to the accelerated ageing is most visible on yellow ink, cyan and magenta proved to be the more stable. Accelerated ageing caused change in the L* of black. On all colours, increase of the TiO2 weight ratio improved resistance of colour to change. Coated gloss paper was more resistant to density change where uncoated had lower change in chroma. It could be concluded that TiO2 has the ability to protect the prints in the measured time interval but it has to be noted that concentration of the TiO2 particles also causes colour difference and must be observed when defining composure of the nanocomposite.