Pattern of surface energy (tension) change after coating/printing on a pretreated ( <scp>Low Density</scp> / <scp>Linear Low Density Poly Ethylene</scp> ) co‐extruded plastic film surface and its consequences on lamination and overprinting

Abstract This study embodies the characterization of corona‐treated co‐extruded transparent polyethylene films at different voltages after printing with five different colors to inspect whether variations in surface polarities have any influence on the behavior of the ink coatings. The variation in the coating weights of the differently colored inks' was studied as a function of surface energies of the films and found to lie within the range of 0.925–2.7 g/m 2 (GSM), irrespective of surface energies of the films. The surface energies of the respective ink coatings were also determined separately, which were then compared with the surface energies of the corona‐treated co‐extruded plastic films under study. Additionally, the force of adhesion of the ink films over the treated film, at any particular wattage was determined, which varied as white &gt; magenta &gt; cyan &gt; yellow &gt; black. Other surface characteristics of the ink coatings, such as contact angle, coefficient of friction, scuff resistance, were also investigated. The barrier properties, mechanical, and ageing characteristics of the ink coated‐treated plastics films were found not to get impacted upon much by the influence of coating on their surfaces. Highlights Subsequent Processing like lamination and overprinting. Corona Pre‐treatment LD/LLDPE co‐extruded film. Scuffing characteristics of the printed (with different colored inks) pre‐treated (corona) LD/LLDPE films. Interlocking through its chemisorptive/ adsorptive forces. For all colored films, the kinetic C.OF. suffered a small increase with surface treatment level.