Effect of Plasma Surface Modification on Print Quality of Biodegradable PLA Films
PLA films, as non-absorbent materials, require modification of the surface before the printing process in order to improve the wettability of the substrate and to obtain proper ink adhesion to the substrate. In this paper, the surfaces of two kinds of PLA films were modified using plasma activation...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Applied Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/17/8245 |
| _version_ | 1797521602698543104 |
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| author | Joanna Izdebska-Podsiadły |
| author_facet | Joanna Izdebska-Podsiadły |
| author_sort | Joanna Izdebska-Podsiadły |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | PLA films, as non-absorbent materials, require modification of the surface before the printing process in order to improve the wettability of the substrate and to obtain proper ink adhesion to the substrate. In this paper, the surfaces of two kinds of PLA films were modified using plasma activation with parameters enabling high surface free energy (SFE) values, and then the films were printed on using different kinds of flexographic inks. Two gases, oxygen and argon, were used for activation, as these make it possible to obtain good hydrophilicity and high SFE values while having different effects on the roughness, or the degree of surface etching. Plasma-activated films were subsequently subjected to the measurements of: contact angle with water, diiodomethane and three printing inks, roughness, weight change, strength properties, color and gloss change, and SFE was determined. Unmodified and activated films were flexographically printed in laboratory conditions and then the quality of obtained prints was analyzed. The results showed a strong effect of activation with both oxygen and argon plasma on the SFE value of the films and the contact angles of water and inks, with the gas used for plasma activation and the type of film significantly influencing the thickness of the fused ink layer and the resultant color. Moreover, plasma activation had a especially favorable and significant effect on the quality of prints made with water-based inks, while it had little effect when printing with solvent-based inks. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:15:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a570063952224649be36be7ee6282ed3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:15:52Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-a570063952224649be36be7ee6282ed32023-11-22T10:23:54ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172021-09-011117824510.3390/app11178245Effect of Plasma Surface Modification on Print Quality of Biodegradable PLA FilmsJoanna Izdebska-Podsiadły0Department of Printing Technology, Institute of Mechanics and Printing, Faculty of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Warsaw University of Technology, Konwiktorska 2, 00-217 Warsaw, PolandPLA films, as non-absorbent materials, require modification of the surface before the printing process in order to improve the wettability of the substrate and to obtain proper ink adhesion to the substrate. In this paper, the surfaces of two kinds of PLA films were modified using plasma activation with parameters enabling high surface free energy (SFE) values, and then the films were printed on using different kinds of flexographic inks. Two gases, oxygen and argon, were used for activation, as these make it possible to obtain good hydrophilicity and high SFE values while having different effects on the roughness, or the degree of surface etching. Plasma-activated films were subsequently subjected to the measurements of: contact angle with water, diiodomethane and three printing inks, roughness, weight change, strength properties, color and gloss change, and SFE was determined. Unmodified and activated films were flexographically printed in laboratory conditions and then the quality of obtained prints was analyzed. The results showed a strong effect of activation with both oxygen and argon plasma on the SFE value of the films and the contact angles of water and inks, with the gas used for plasma activation and the type of film significantly influencing the thickness of the fused ink layer and the resultant color. Moreover, plasma activation had a especially favorable and significant effect on the quality of prints made with water-based inks, while it had little effect when printing with solvent-based inks.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/17/8245plasma activationPLA filmsbiodegradable polymerswater-based inkssolvent-based inksflexographic printing |
| spellingShingle | Joanna Izdebska-Podsiadły Effect of Plasma Surface Modification on Print Quality of Biodegradable PLA Films Applied Sciences plasma activation PLA films biodegradable polymers water-based inks solvent-based inks flexographic printing |
| title | Effect of Plasma Surface Modification on Print Quality of Biodegradable PLA Films |
| title_full | Effect of Plasma Surface Modification on Print Quality of Biodegradable PLA Films |
| title_fullStr | Effect of Plasma Surface Modification on Print Quality of Biodegradable PLA Films |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of Plasma Surface Modification on Print Quality of Biodegradable PLA Films |
| title_short | Effect of Plasma Surface Modification on Print Quality of Biodegradable PLA Films |
| title_sort | effect of plasma surface modification on print quality of biodegradable pla films |
| topic | plasma activation PLA films biodegradable polymers water-based inks solvent-based inks flexographic printing |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/17/8245 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT joannaizdebskapodsiadły effectofplasmasurfacemodificationonprintqualityofbiodegradableplafilms |