Studies on the Printability Improvement of Hanji by Surface Sizing with Mixed Agents

Many researches for extensive uses of Hanji have been performed. With the advent of an information-oriented age, the development of Hanji which is printable has been considered as a new field of study. Since Hanji has many drawbacks in comparison with common printing papers, that is, rougher surface, huger absorption of ink and lower physical properties and printabilities. Improving the properties and printabilities of Hanji is therefore the most important work to deal with. This study was conducted to find out useful mixed agents for surface sizing suitable for printable Hanji. Four surface sizing agents (CMC, corn starch, PYA, AKD) were applied for mixture in this study. The physical properties of surface sized Hanji were measured. Results obtained were as follows. Based on designated agents according to concentration, each of the mixed agents was prepared. The kinds of mixture were corn starch (3%) and PVA (5%), corn starch (3%) and AKD (0.1%), corn starch (3%) and CMC (1%), AKD (0.1%) and CMC (1%), AKD (0.1%) and PVA (5%), CMC (1%) and PVA (5%). Each mixed surface sizing agents was included with these ratios (100:0, 90:10, 70:30, 50:50, 30:70, 10:90, 0:100) respectively. All the mixed agents improved the physical properties and printabilities of Hanji. Among them, mixed agent of CMC (1%) and corn starch (3%) with 90:10 ratio is superior to the others for not only smoothness but also ink printability. In view of the result achieved, it is regarded that it can be fit for using Hanji as a printing paper and turned out to be a good contribution to Hanji industry.