Synthetic Paper from buzai232's blog

Synthetic Paper

In 2005, Label & Narrow Web’s associate editor at the time, Talar Sesetyan, wrote an article titled “Synthetic Paper: What is it?” This was nearly 12 years ago, and of course much has changed over that span of time – and I’m not referring to label substrates.Get more news about Synthetic Paper Label,you can vist our website!

The back issues of L&NW are archived on our website, and they go back as far as 2004. Using Google Analytics, we have the opportunity to see which articles get read the most. We can not only see what stories garner the most interest but also how long readers stay on a given page, and how they got there – whether it’s the words they typed into Google or a link they clicked on a social media site, for example.

We get monthly reports on what’s being read on the L&NW website, and sure enough, time and time again, “Synthetic Paper: What is it?” from 2005, makes our top ten list of most viewed articles. In fact, without even using the words “label” or “narrow web,” a Google search of the two words “synthetic paper” brings up Talar’s article on the very first results page, listed eighth out of nearly eight million landing spots. As we put our 2017 editorial calendar together, we decided that an update on the topic was long overdue. So, here it is.

By Definition
Per the Global Market Insights 2016 research report, the global synthetic paper market size is projected to grow to 209.7 kilotons by 2023, an estimated gain of 6.1%. “Label market growth is estimated to be the highest, with gains at 6.3% up to 2023 and is predicted to exceed 80 kilotons,” says Alan Harsey, print technologist at Arjobex America.

We know it’s an area of growth, but what is it? The definition of synthetic paper is somewhat fluid, and the answer to the question is largely dependent on what supplier you ask, and what their company offers the label industry. For this article, we’ve reached out to a few experts, and their definitions vary.

Jason Depner, PPG global segment manager, Teslin Substrate Products, explains that synthetic paper is any printable material that isn’t made from wood pulp or natural fibers. He says, “While synthetic papers are typically polymer-based, not all are equal in composition. Different polymers or polymer blends offer different benefits, so users need to define the right composition that fits ideally with their application.”

According to Jack Smith, senior vice president of Hop Industries Corp., “Synthetic paper is a white opaque plastic that is made from either polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) plastic that has been modified with a calcium carbonate coating (CaO3) or clay filler (CaO3) to enhance its dyne level for better ink adhesion and brightness for printing durable tags and labels.”

Cecily Randall, international sales at Channeled Resources Group, gives it to us in layman’s terms. She says, “Synthetic paper is a cross between paper and film. Synthetics are resin-based, so they share some appealing characteristics of film such as tear resistance, water resistance and grease resistance. While synthetics don’t feel like paper to the touch, they emulate paper’s bright white, printable surface.”