Effect of ash content in base paper on fold cracking of coated paper

High loading of base paper is regarded as one of reasons to aggravate fold cracking of coated paper. But the relationship between the ash content of base paper and fold cracking of coated paper has not been shown yet. We investigated the effect of ash content in base paper on the fold cracking of coated paper. Handsheets with three different ash contents (19.5-23.5%) were prepared, and double layered coating were applied on the top side of the handsheets. A gravimetric water retention meter (AA-GWR) was employed to fold the paper with a uniform pressure after solid printing on the coated surface. The fold cracking was digitized by calculating the cracked area by means of an image analysis technique. Results suggested that high ash content in the base paper increased the fold cracking of the outer surface of coated papers. In the case of inner surface greater fold crack areas were obtained, and the number of cracks decreased because long and wide cracks were formed. Reduction in tensile strength and thickness appeared to give greater fold cracking for highly loaded papers.