Digital prints : a survey of the various deinkability behaviors

Digital printing is being used more and more. Several of these prints end up in the recovered paper collection from households, offices and industry, becoming part of the raw material to be recycled by papermakers. Most printing technologies are well accepted but pose some difficulties with respect to deinkability and paper recycling. Worldwide ; approximately 50 % of the paper is recycled ; Digital printing should not be a determinating factor in reducing or stabilizing this number. The paper reviews the deinkability of various digital prints : dye and pigment based inkjet, normal toners (high speed B/W and colour, liquid and dry) and UV curable technologies (overcoats, inks and toner). During the last 3 years, a project performed by Centre Technique du Papier, sponsored by INGEDE (International Association of the Deinking Industry) and ADEME (French Agency for Energy & Environment) with some interested digital print actors allows to point out which prints lead to significant deinking difficulties.