Metallographic / Optical Microscopy / SEM:
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Examine surface texture and gloss
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Fiber thickness, orientation, and density
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Detect the presence of foreign particles
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Examine particles added to brighten the paper
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Check for evidence of an organic or polymer coating
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Examine whether an organic or inorganic material is distributed evenly on the paper
XPS:
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Determine the surface elemental composition and surface chemistry
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Identify the causes for printing and collating problems
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Identify the causes for adhesive bonding problems
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Determine the chemical nature of stains or aging and degradation
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Analyze surface coatings and surface treatments
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Analyze materials adsorbed onto the surface (adsorbants)
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Identify surface brightening particles
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Identify and measure surface contaminants
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Identify lubricants and anti-static coating materials
FTIR Analysis:
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Fingerprint matching of papers
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Determine if an organic coating or binder is present
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Identify an organic coating, whether for printing, tack, water-retardation, separation, or adhesive purposes
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Identify an ink
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Identify the fibers of high performance papers which may be glass, alumina, ceramic, asbestos, carbon, vinylon, aramid, fluorocarbon, polyester, polyolefin, or cellulosic fibers
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Identify lubricants or waxes as surface coatings and treatments
Profilometry:
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Measure surface roughness and waviness
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Surface integrity
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Surface texture
Thermogravimetric Analysis or TGA:
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Measure water content
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Measure weight of coating
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Measure outgassing as a function of temperature
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Measure drying time
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Measure weight loss due to high temperature to characterize paper heat resistance
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Measure inorganic solids content, such as weight of calcium carbonate, Kaolinclay, titanium dioxide, silica, etc.
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Concentrate inorganic solid particles for XPS analysis by burning paper in air
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Distinguish starch and latex copolymer binders, where latex is usually combined with styrene, butadiene, acrylic, and vinyl acetate monomers
Differential Scanning Calorimetry or DSC:
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Measure glass transition temperature of organic coating
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Measure melting temperature and heat of fusion of organic coating
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Characterize paper heat resistance and aging
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Measure exothermal heat of combustion
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Distinguish starch and latex copolymer binders
Thermomechanical Analysis (TMA) or Dilatometry:
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Measure thermal expansion or CTE
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Measure glass transition temperature of organic coating
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Measure melting temperature of an organic coating
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Measure crystallization melting temperature & determine amount of crystallization
Dynamic Mechanical Analysis or DMA:
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Measure the elastic or storage modulus as a function of temperature
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Measure the viscoelastic property or loss modulus or damping as a function of temperature
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Measure the glass transition temperature of polymer coatings
RGA Mass Spectroscopy:
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Measure outgassing as a function of temperature
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Measure desorbed vapors
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Measure combustion products
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