A very thin layer of a fumed silica based coating (0.5-1.0 g/m2) applied to plain paper at the size press improves inkjet printing performance. The silica coating behaves as an inorganic sponge with a well defined void and channel structure to absorb ink rapidly for enhancing color qualities, print uniformity and image resolution.The rapid drying of a print and immobilization of the ink colorant improves many performance aspects when using today's modern high speed printers. A paper with a size press treatment of fumed silica is a novel approach and a cost efficient solution to meet the requirements of tomorrow's printer design. The successful development of both cationic and anionic fumed silica dispersions at high solids content are an essential advancement towards this goal.
Leo M. Nelli, "Improving Inkjet Print Performance with Fumed Silica at the Size Press" in Proc. IS&T Int'l Conf. on Digital Printing Technologies and Digital Fabrication (NIP23), 2007, pp 603 - 607, https://doi.org/10.2352/ISSN.2169-4451.2007.23.1.art00024_2