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Summary:
A quantitative model of the interactions between latex variables and the end-use properties of coated paper is useful for engineering a latex to provide particular printing characteristics. The type of latex used in the coating formulation not only affects the strength of the coating, but also affects the pore structure and absorbency characteristics of the surface. These coating characteristics determine the rate of ink tack-build on the press and impact ink transfer and water interference problems. In this work, a response surface design was created to predict the impact of acrylonitrile (ACN) level, butadiene level, particle size and degree of crosslinking on the ink tack-build and ink transfer characteristics of coated paper. A series of polymers were carefully synthesized according to this design. Each latex was evaluated as the sole binder in model offset coating formulation that was applied to a woodfree basesheet with a wire wound rod. The coated papers were tested and a commercial statistical software program was used to generate the response surfaces for printing characteristics. The resulting models showed the addition of acrylonitrile reduced paper and ink stability slope, increased the number of passes-to-fail and increased printed gloss. The addition of acrylonitrile also reduced the unprinted gloss of the paper. The response surface models successfully predicted the printing properties of coated papers finished under similar conditions.