Alternative methods to evaluate the surface energy components of ink-jet paper

The surface free energy is an essential paper property affecting liquid/ink interaction with the ink-jet paper surface. Different ways of calculating surface energy components for ink-jet papers is introduced. The results given by the very useful van Oss–Chaudhury–Good (vOCG) bi-bidentate model are compared with simpler mono-bidentate and mono-monodentate models. The unbalance in the acid–base (AB) values of the vOCG-model is compensated for, and occasional negative roots obtained are removed when applying the simpler mono-bidentate- and mono-monodentate models. The simple and elegant mono-monodentate model produces comparable values with the other models, and is thus recommended. The calculated percent work of adhesion between the probe liquids and substrates correlates well with surface energy component values. Also the percent work of adhesion between the inks and substrates correlates with surface energy values.