Abstract
Papermakers wish to increase the filler content of printing and writing grades because it allows saving in production cost through fiber replacement and improving the formation, and optical and printing properties of the paper. However, high filler loading in the base paper has negative side effects. It reduces the mechanical properties of paper and induces cracking at the fold after coating process. Fold cracking is one of the most frequent quality complaints for magazines, high quality books, etc. Two approaches were examined as methods to reduce fold cracking. One approach was to use preflocculated fillers, which was expected to reduce the fold cracking because it would decrease the interfiber bonding. The other approach was to use a new coating binder that gives greater binding power and thereby provides an opportunity of reducing the fold cracking of coated paper. When filler preflocculation was employed in producing the base paper, fold cracking becomes more severe than conventional filler loading condition. On the other hand, use of nano sized binder in coating improved the tensile properties of the coating layer and thereby decreased the crack area. It was shown that tensile properties of coating layer played an important role in fold cracking of coating.
