Refer to our Glossary of Terms for common waterbased coating definitions. Please contact our customer service professionals with questions at (603) 863-2410 or by email at roymal@roymalinc.com.

 

Abrasion Resistance

Ability to withstand the effects of repeated rubbing and scuffing.

 

Acrylic

A synthetic resin made from polymers of acrylic acid or acrylates

 

Adhesion

The state in which two surfaces are held together by interfacial forces. The measure of the strength with which one material sticks to another.

 

Ambient Temperature

A term used to denote the temperature of the surrounding air.

 

Angle of Slide (AOS)

The angle of minimum slope usually measured from the horizontal at which any coated surface goes into motion.

 

Anilox Roll

A cylinder that’s mechanically engraved and used to deliver a controlled amount of ink or coating to the substrate. Alternately the cylinder can be constructed of a steel or aluminum core which is coated by a ceramic coating and laser engraved.

 

Anti-skid Coating

A coating formulated to retard slippage during handling and stacking.

 

Applicator Roll

Coating roll, print roll, lacquer or varnish roll.

 

A.S.T.M.

American Society for Testing Materials.

 

Block test

An undesired coating transfer of surface-to-surface sticking upon separation, damage will be visible on one or more of the surfaces. Blocking can occur when the roll experiences pressure, high heat or humidity (this can also occur in storage). Coatings are tested for this during formulation/ trials, these tests are known as a block test.

 

Catalyst

A substance that alters [initiates or accelerates] the time needed for two or more substances to react.

 

Coating

A continuous outer covering on a film, foil or paper.

 

Coefficient of Friction [COF]

Measure of the slip properties between two surfaces.

 

Doctor Blade

A bar or plate affixed across a roller designed to remove excess coating from being transferred to the substrate.

 

Evaporation

The changing from a liquid to a gaseous or vapor state, as when the solvent leaves the printed coating film.

 

Extended Delivery

The delivery is the portion of the press after the last print unit or coating unit.

 

Film Former

A type of resin with qualities of forming a continuous film at room temperature.

 

Gloss

A term that indicates the amount of light that is reflected back when looking at a printed sheet. The gloss characteristics of the printed sheet are a combination of the stock, the inks and coating.

 

Gloss Meter

An instrument used to determine the reflected light, or gloss, of a printed sheet. The unit sends a beam of light at a specified angle to the piece being tested, and the unit then reads the amount of light reflected back to it. The higher the reflection, the higher the gloss reading.

 

Heat Seal Coating

A formulation of high molecular weighted thermoplastic copolymers. They are designed to give good adhesion and heat sealing capabilities to substrates such as paper, foil, film and other popular substrates.

 

Matte

A dull finish, very low in gloss or reflectance, less gloss than satin.  

 

Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate (MVTR)

Is a measure of the passage of water vapor through a coating.

 

Nonvolatile

The portion of a coating formulation which does not evaporate.

 

Offsetting

Undesired transfer of ink and/or coating from one sheet to another in the delivery pile.

 

OPP (Orientated Polypropylene)

A low cost all purpose film ideal for packing bakery products, cakes, confectionery, stationary etc. Its versatility makes it easy to use on many different types of packaging machinery.

 

Oxygen Transmission Rate(OTR)

The steady rate at which oxygen gas can permeate through a coating.

 

pH

The degree of acidity, usually of an aqueous liquid. Measured on a scale from 1 to 14, with 7 as the neutral point. Values below 7 are considered “acidic” while values over 7 are considered “basic.”

 

Picking

The lifting of any portion of a printed surface.

 

Polyamide (Nylon)

A tough, lightweight, elastic synthetic polymer with a protein like chemical structure, able to be produced as films.

 

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)

A polyester film made from stretched polyethylene terephthalate, it’s known for its high tensile strength, chemical stability and transparency.

 

Polyurethane

A synthetic resin in which the polymer units are linked by urethane groups, used chiefly as constituents of coatings, varnishes, and adhesives.

 

Satin

A level of sheen that is in-between Matte and Gloss.

 

Soft Feel

A coating with a matte appearance and velvet like/ haptic feel.

 

Sutherland Rub Tester

The most widely used test for checking the abrasion resistance and durability of a coating. The unit consists of a stationary table with a moving weighted arm, usually 2 or 4 pounds attached to it.

 

Ultraviolet (UV) Cure

Is a photochemical process in which high-intensity ultraviolet light is used to instantly cure or “dry” ink, coatings or adhesives.

 

Viscosity

As applied to coatings, it is a value that describes the thickness of a material.