IMPROVING PRINTING AND WRITING PAPER PROPERTIES BY COATING WITH NANOCLAY MONTMORILLONITE (K10)

The present study aimed to improve the surface features of mechanical printing paper manufactured by the Mazandaran Wood and Paper Company. Inorganic materials, including nanoclay (in 6 different amounts) were used in different weight percentages of latex and applied by the blade coating method. Structural studies, such as SEM and XRD, were performed, and the mechanical and optical properties of the paper samples were evaluated. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the coverage achieved with the method used was relatively good. X-ray diffraction analysis indicated that an intercalation structure was formed. Moreover, the results of the mechanical tests showed that the enhancement of the nanoclay amount up to 25% can increase the air resistance, opacity and yellowness of the samples by 423.6, 4.1 and 59.5%, respectively, while decreasing their tensile strength, tear resistance, burst strength, stiffness, softness and brightness by 12.2, 12, 5.5, 6.5, 2.2 and 13.4%, respectively, in comparison with the values recorded for the control samples.