Paper coating layers A recent study proposes a discrete element method (DEM) to predict the mechanical properties of paper coating layers that have a range of starch and latex content. The predictions are generally good for the moduli and the strain at failure of the systems, but underpredict the maximum stress. This result may be caused by the complex particle size distribution of the experimental systems or by the impact of the brittleness of the starch when making the freestanding films. Varney, Dan , Journal of Coatings Technology and Research, 2019, Vol. 16, pp. 1683-1689. ...