Spectroscopic examination of layered coating failures in flexographic printing

Pollard Banknote总部位于马尼托巴省的温尼伯，目前在加拿大有三家工厂，在美国有两家工厂，生产柔性版印刷产品。柔性版印刷广泛用于在软性衬底上创建图像，包括纸板、塑料、金属薄膜、玻璃纸和纸张。结构的完整性(层的化学成分、界面之间的结合)对产品质量至关重要。Pollard纸币产品必须满足安全性和耐用性的高标准。在这个项目中，我们将使用傅里叶变换红外(FTIR)和衰减全反射(ATR)显微镜来获取来自不同地点生产的产品的曝光透明层的二维图像。这些信息将在旨在探索层和界面化学的受控实验中收集。对这些产品的研究质量光谱分析将有助于更好地了解制造过程。这些信息将提高他们理解看似相同的投入和过程的结果的能力，并导致改进制造和质量保证过程，以减少浪费和提高效率。因此，该公司将实现更大的生产能力，增强他们在更广阔市场上竞争的能力。总之，确定层的组成和应用中的关键因素将有助于改进制造参数，开发有效和高效的测试方法，用于分层应用中的质量控制，提高产品质量和增加销售。给加拿大带来的直接好处包括提高了这家加拿大制造商的市场适销性、生产率和盈利能力；以及相关学术和工业人员之间更多的知识和理解。从长远来看，这个Engage项目的成功结果将使PI和共同申请者更好地了解Pollard钞票的需求，加强我们的关系，并提供开发I2I项目的机会。

Pollard Banknote, headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, currently has three facilities in Canada and two in the United States for the manufacture flexographic printed products. Flexographic printing is widely used to create images on flexible substrates, including cardboard, plastic, metallic films, cellophane, and paper. The structural integrity (chemistry of layers, bonding between interfaces) is critical to product quality. Pollard Banknote products must meet high standards for both security and durability. In this project, we will use Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) with Attenuated Total Reflection (ATR) microscopy to obtain two dimensional images of exposed transparent layers, from products manufactured at different sites. This information will be collected in controlled experiments designed to explore the chemistry of the layers and interfaces. Research quality spectroscopic analysis of these products will lead to a better understanding of the manufacturing process. The information will increase their capacity to understand the outcomes of seemingly identical inputs and processes, and lead to refinement of manufacturing and quality assurance processes that can reduce waste and improve efficiency. The company will thereby achieve greater production capacity, enhancing their ability to compete in a broader marketplace. In conclusion, determination of the critical factors in layer makeup and application will facilitate improvement of manufacturing parameters, enable the development of effective and efficient testing methods for quality control in layered applications, improve product quality and increase sales. The immediate benefits to Canada include increased marketability, productivity and profitability for this Canadian manufacturer; and greater knowledge and understanding between the academic and industrial personnel involved. In the longer term, a successful outcome to this Engage project will give the PI and co-applicant a better understanding of Pollard Banknote's needs, strengthen our relationship and open opportunities to develop an I2I project.