| abstract |
The present invention relates to a method of treating paper or a paper precursor, the method comprising exposing paper or a paper precursor to accelerated charged particles, the accelerated charged particles having been formed by generating a plurality of charged particles and accelerating the plurality of charged particles, to deliver to the paper or paper precursor a radiation dose of about 0.1 to 5 Mrad; quenching the irradiated paper by contacting the irradiated paper with a gas selected to react with radicals present in the treated paper product, the gas being selected from the group consisting of oxygen, nitrogen, acetylene, ethylene, chlorinated ethylenes, chlorofluoroethylenes, propylene and mixtures thereof; and printing the paper after exposure to the charged particles and quenching. |