Problem Summary

The term linting and dusting is used to describe a tendency of Newsprint to cast off loosely bound material (either fiber which is responsible for linting or filler which is responsible for dusting) during the printing process.  In the lithographic or offset printing process loose material and debris from Newsprint contaminates the printing blankets, disturbing the successful transfer of the printing inks from the blanket to the paper surface. As a result of this phenomena there is an associated deterioration of the printed copy and the press must be stopped to clean the blankets, which results in high paper wastage and reduced pressroom efficiency.

Linting and dusting can therefore impact on several areas of pressroom performance from reduced copy quality to high wastage and is potentially therefore the most serious Newsprint related problem today.  Although there are many theories put forward to explain the causes of linting and dusting, the widely held view is that it is the lack of inter-bonding strength of the paper combined with the tacky ink film splitting that is the most probable mechanism.  If this is correct, then the external forces exceed those holding the fibers together and this results in the removal of fibers and dust from the surface of the Newsprint.

Recommended Solutions

The linting and dusting problems cannot be solely regarded as a papermaking problem as several press settings and variables can also contribute to these phenomena to a lesser or greater degree.  However, for the papermaker there is the possibility to increase the inter-bonding strength of the fibers utilizing Hercobond® Strength Technology.  This technology minimizes the linting and dusting of Newsprint, at lower overall cost, compared to both wet end starch and proprietary strength aids which are commonly used to try to control linting and dusting.

Key benefits of Hercobond® Strength Technology are:

Improved strength properties
Reduced linting and dusting
Improved drainage and/or reduced steam consumption
Reduced pressroom breaks
Improved retention
Reduced anionic trash in wet end system (i.e. replace or reduce the need for a fixative)