Measurement of the moisture content of paper

Job ID #: 121 
Position Type: Student (Stagiair of Afstudeerder) 
Location: Limburg (NL) 
Education Required: Hoger Beroeps Onderwijs (HBO/BSc.) 
Functional Area: Research & Development  
 
 
Functieomschrijving:
Measurement of the moisture content of paper

Context
Paper is a "living" material when it is placed in different environments. Especially the moisture content
has significant influence on various paper properties. During printing (with ink or toner) onto paper it is exposed to several heat and moisture sources and thus the dimensions and material properties of the paper change during the printing process. Furthermore the climate conditions in which the printer is situated vary widely and have a significant influence on the behaviour of the paper.

Océ develops printing processes and continuously optimises these processes. A thorough understanding of the thermo-hygro-mechanical behaviour of the paper helps to achieve this goal. As a student you can take part in this ongoing research and get to know more of one of the most widely used materials.

Scope & Assignment
Describing the behaviour of paper when it is exposed to varying climate conditions is one part of the research, measurement of the actual moisture content of a piece of paper is the other. There are various questions that still need to be answered in this field and you may, as a student, help to solve them. A variety of measurement techniques are available (gravimetry, NIR-spectroscopy, ...). With these techniques you are invited to anwer one or more of the current questions.
Another area of interest is whether these techniques can be applied to the diffusion of liquid moisture (ink) into the paper as well and if (or how) it is possible to distinguish between moisture vapour and liquid mositure in the paper.

In this research you will learn that measurements on paper-moisture interactions are not easy, because it's behaviour and properties depend both on changes in its environment and on the history of these changes. Experiments must therefore be set up carefully. On the other hand the physics of moisture exchange between paper and its environment is very interesting and once you have been caught by its intriguing nature you will hardly be able to stop investigating yet another phenomenon.

The exact contents of the assignment will depend on the interests of the student and the status of the research at the start of the assignment. Emphasis, however, lies on the development and application of appropriate, state-of-the measurement techniques. If you would like to join a team of people that explore the edges of current expertise in this field you are invited to join us.

Profile
Disciplines: Materials Science or Physics.
Duration of the assignment: minimum 3 months (traineeship or final research project) .
Level: internship in the study for Bachelor or Master of Science.

Océ vestiging

Océ is one of the world's leading providers of document management and printing for professionals. With headquarters in Venlo, The Netherlands, Océ is active in over 100 countries and employs more than 20,000 people worldwide. In 2010 Océ joined the Canon Group of companies to create the global leader in the printing industry. For more information, please visit www.oce.com.