Coated paper is paper that is coated with a mixture of materials or a polymer to add certain properties, such as smoothness, surface gloss, weight, or reduced ink absorbency. Moreover, the paper coating is the process of laminating a paper with an agent to improve gloss or printing properties. Several materials such as adhesive, pigment, PCC, or china clay are used for paper coating. The coating is done to improve the aesthetics, durability, and print quality of the paper. The coating process involves different levels of coating providing desired paper properties. They are classified into high coated, medium coated, light coated, and art papers.
Polymers, such as polyolefin and polyethylene, are used to add waterproofing and tear strength characteristics. Furthermore, the material used for coating is mixed with chemical additives, such as dispersants and resins, to increase the UV resistance and wet strength. Moreover, coated paper products are processed with clay, latex, and plastics, which increases longevity and an aesthetic appearance by imparting sterility and improved recyclability. The coating makes the base paper less porous, making it ideal for printing applications.
In Japan, a fine chemicals company introduced a highly recyclable water-based coating varnish that boasts excellent resistance to water, oil and heat when coated on paper. Furthermore, a Belgium-based paper manufacturer acquired a Germany-based manufacturer of laminated and metalized inner liners to expand its product portfolio and increase R&D facilities. Moreover, supporting the growing niche packaging marketplace in Latin America, an Indonesian pulp and paper company announced three new expanded partnerships across Mexico and the launch of a new label paper. Coated papers are widely used for catalogs, book covers, photographs, printing magazines and journals, and other promotional materials. Considering print production efficiencies and product longevity, coated paper is more cost-effective than uncoated paper.
