Radial spreading of inks and model liquids on heterogeneous polar surfaces

Novel models are developed and previously published simple models characterizing the spreading of probe liquids and inks on solid surfaces are evaluated with water and ethylene glycol. The aim is to determine the most appropriate models which would be suitable to describe liquid and ink spreading on both chemically and structurally heterogeneous paper surfaces. The surface energy and its components (Lifshitz-van der Waals, acid and base) for the paper samples have previously been characterized at semi-equilibrium conditions. The equilibrium work of adhesion and work of spreading is found to be linearly related to the maximum print tack force of model inks. The dynamic spreading are found to be determined by coupled spreading mechanisms, being related both to the surface structure and surface chemistry.