Issue 8 Printing and Graphics Science Group Newsletter

By Anna Fricker

Exciting new developments are taking place in graphic arts technology and printing applications.

This newsletter, #8, was edited by Anna Fricker (also listed as author) of the London College of Communications and formatted as an Ebook by Roy Gray for The Printing and Graphics Science (PGS) Group of The Institute of Physics (IOP). There are two earlier editions, #7 & #6, published as E books.

The digital revolution initiated a whole range of new ways of reproducing and displaying images and information: physics is involved in forming and measuring the image and how it is perceived. Inkjet and other printing and deposition processes are being used in many novel applications such as visual displays, flexible electronics, smart packaging, lighting and photovoltaics based on organic and polymer electro-optic materials. Physicists are actively involved in developing the processes, designing and characterising the products, and developing the new materials.

The UK has a world-leading position in these technologies, and the Printing and Graphics Science Group promotes the application of physics in these fields. We will bring together scientists working in industry, academy and elsewhere, and develop links with other active professional societies, such as the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, Institute of Paper, Printing and Publishing, Royal Society of Chemistry, Royal Photographic Society and the Colour Group. Research in our areas is multi-disciplinary, often carried out in departments not called “physics”, by scientists whose original discipline is often not physics. Our activities include this wider community, wherever physics is being developed and brought to bear.

The PGS Group is affiliated to the Applied Physics and Technology Division of the Institute of Physics. This ensures strong links with IOP Groups in related subject areas, such as Polymer Physics, Materials and Characterisation, Engineering Physics, Tribology, and Ion and Plasma Surface Interactions. We participate in the Division Conference, as well as maximising the opportunities for joint meetings with other Groups. The PGS Group is a relaunch and renaming of the Printing, Packaging and Papermaking (PPP) Group, which was formed in 1985 to promote physics in these subject areas. We maintain an interest in the manufacture and properties of paper as a key substrate for printing, and in the physics of packaging.

Our objectives are:

To promote the application of physics in graphics arts technology, printing, packaging and papermaking
To promote the development of innovative printing in new markets such as displays, lighting and printed electronics
To promote a recognition of the importance of physics in those industries, and to promote physics in these industries as a career choice to graduates
To act as a forum for communication within the scientific community in these industries

Our activities include:

An annual one-day group meeting on a current application of physics to technology. Following earlier successful events on "Dynamics of Printed Drops" a meeting on "Science of Inkjet and Printed Drops" was held in 2013

Technical meetings and visits to companies, laboratories and other venues
An annual Student Conference to enable postgraduate researchers to present their work and network
Encouraging student participation by awarding two presentation prizes and making travel funds available through the RSCF

A newsletter published at least annually
A website covering the Group’s activities is on the Institue of Physics Website Activities/Groups pages

• Language: English
• Publisher: Roy Gray
• Release date: Oct 13, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310116193

Book preview

Printing and Graphics Science Group Newsletter.

Issue #8, September 2014

Timsons T-flex 508 flexographic press for functional printing at the Welsh Centre of Printing and Coating, Swansea University. Image credit: Alan Hodgson

http://pgs.iop.org

CONTENTS

Welcome

Message from the Chair

Committee Membership 2013-2014

Reports from Recent Group Events

Science of Inkjet and Printed Drops

UK Plastic Electronics Research Conference 2013

Forthcoming Group Events

Advances in Photovoltaics

Ultra-High Barriers for Plastic Electronics

Science of Inkjet and Printed Drops

Advances in 3D Printing Technology for Medical and Biological Applications

UK Plastic Electronics Research Conference 2014

Other Events of Potential Interest

Awards

PGS Group Awards

Research Student Conference Fund

Other Information

PGS Group on LinkedIn and Facebook

Notes and Live Links

* * * * *

Welcome

Welcome to the 2014 edition of the Printing and Graphics Science Group Newsletter. This issue contains reports on meetings organised by the Group over the past year as well as other events of interest. A summary of forthcoming meetings is also included.

We have seen changes to the Committee membership since the last newsletter: we welcomed Martyn Cherrington to the Committee in January and later this year Alan Hodgson will step down as Group Chair. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Alan for his invaluable work and contribution to the Group during his time as both Chair and Honorary Secretary.

Following a successful conference in 2013, our student conference will again be organised this year in collaboration with the Knowledge Transfer Network. The UK Plastic Electronics Research Conference will take place over two days in December at the University of Manchester. Submissions for oral and poster presentations are welcome, please see page 22 for details.

Our annual 'Science of Inkjet and