Offset Printing without Isopropyl Alcohol in Damping Solution

Abstract

Alcohol free “wet” offset technology is important not only for the sake of printers but for a stronger, more profitable business. The optimization of automatic offset printing system for the environmentally friendly dampening components via free alcohol and filtration procedures is a further milestone of the classical offset technology environmental approach.Offset printing, also named “wet” offset, uses dampening solution in order to keep non-printing elements as a hydrophilic on the surface of offset printing plate. So fountain solution is a part of its process. Generally it is composed by water and around of 8-10% isopropyl alcohol as a surface active agent improved wetting. However, there are inherent issues with this process, such as negative environmental impact, health hazardous, complex press operations and waste water and chemical regulations. Isopropyl alcohol used in water solution in offset printing has negative influence as: part of it vaporizes to form volatile organic compounds that pollute the working environment, also toxic and flammable. Measured by volume IPA is the most significant air pollutant in the offset printing companies. In the common ecology savings conditions there are alternative ways to reduce or even fully IPA-free printing, lowering costs and risks for health and safety the environment.In web offset printing are several possibilities to apply alcohol free dampening solution. In this study for the CSWO (Cold Set Web Offset) printing it was applied fully alcohol free solution with specially developed additive, compatible to individual tap water properties. In addition here was used ceramic filtration system in order to prevent fast contamination and also permit longer intervals between changing the fountain solution and keeps it clean during the long period. So in this way we achieved having stable printing process without any problems.