Without a claim to a super source, briefly about the classes of paper for printers. I can't convince my colleagues, but if you see white dust in the printer, then it's time for you to change the paper, this dust wears out the device as well as scattered toner.
It is customary to divide the paper into classes: A, B, and C. there is also an additional classification of B+ and A+. Next, a small note compiled from a large article on this topic left only the most important. Expensive to cheap, and you choose what is more important to you long work of the printer and minimum repair or cheaper paper and more expensive service.
Class A paper is the most expensive and least common paper on the market. The cost is almost 2 times higher than class C paper. Most of this paper is produced abroad. The high cost of raw materials is determined by the eucalyptus. It is the wood of this tree that allows you to get such an amazing quality. Whiteness from 98% ISO and 161% CIE . The main application is for printing representative documents, color high-speed copying and printing, color laser printing. It is used, including for inkjet black-and-white and color printing, providing fast drying and absorption of ink. High whiteness allows you to maximize the color rendering in color printing and contrast in black and white. Higher requirements for humidity and stiffness, so this paper does not curl at high temperatures and pressure in the printer. It is recommended for use in archives with a guaranteed document storage period of up to 150 years.
Some types of paper for office equipment have characteristics (or one specific characteristic) that are significantly better for one class, but are not suitable for a higher class. With someone's light hand, it began to assign intermediate classes: B+, A+ , and even C+.
Class B paper is a class of office paper that is gaining popularity due to its versatility. With a slightly higher cost (about 10-15%), you get a much better product.
The main distinguishing feature is higher opacity (91-92%) and whiteness (97-98% for ISO, 152-160% for CIE), it is smoother and less rough. This allows you to use class B paper for double-sided and high-speed printing, color and laser copying in large runs. It is recommended for archival storage of documents with a guaranteed period of up to 100 years. If you use a large number of printed documents and network laser printing devices with high performance and double – sided printing, choose class B paper. To a certain extent, it can also be used in inkjet printers, for example, for a draft version and a sample.
Class C paper is the most common on the market because of its affordable price and meets the main indicators of mass use. Up to 70% of all paper for office equipment falls on the C class. Not suitable for inkjet, color laser, or double-sided printing. It is used in large quantities in small offices, departments of small enterprises, in educational and municipal institutions.
The main characteristics of paper (ISO whiteness from 92 to 94%, and CIE in the range of 135-146%), the minimum allowed opacity for office paper 89-90%, the standard 80-gram density, A3 and A4 formats make this class of paper the best option for copying works, primary documentation, consumables, rough printing, students and schoolchildren. Produced by all major manufacturers.