Abstract
Offset is defined as a printing technique using a system of two-flu-ids (ink + dampening solution) that requires a constant monitoring and a balancing system due to the physical-chemical features of the process. Ink and dampening solution on the printing plate surface should not be intergraded during the chemical interaction. Image and non-image areas on the plate surface can be separated from each other only through the interaction of dampening solution and ink. The dampening solution is responsible for the wetting of non-image areas on a printing plate, and are applied to the entire plate. In the wet-ting process, the amount of the dampening solution on the plate should be at the lowest level. This can be provided only by lowering the surface tension of the dampening solution. Thus, quality printing results, such as edge sharpness, high color intensity and high print gloss are achieved with a small amount of wetting on the printing plate surface. In this study, the wetting of the printing plate surface is investigated under the effects of surface tension of dampening solution and its angle of contact with the printing plate and current studies related to the subject are reviewed and discussed.
Highlights
The “wet” offset printing process is a “two-fluid” system that requires constant monitoring and balancing system. (Rossitza, 2015).One of many elements that influence print quality in offset is the wetting process of nonprinting areas of the printing plate (Cigula et al, 2010)
As the contact surface tension decreases, the force that resists to the diffusion of dampening solution to the plate surface decreases, and a homogeneous and thin damp film is stabilized on the printing plate
The following conclusions can be presented about the impact of the surface tension of the dampening solution on printing plate wettability
Summary
The “wet” offset printing process is a “two-fluid” system (ink + dampening solution) that requires constant monitoring and balancing system. (Rossitza, 2015). One of many elements that influence print quality in offset is the wetting process of nonprinting areas of the printing plate (Cigula et al, 2010). The imaging areas with emulsion on the plate surface have an oleophilic feature to receive ink and non-imaging grained areas have a hydrophilic feature to receive moisturizing water (Novaković, Karlović & Gojo, 2009). These solutions keep the non-image areas of a plate moistened so that they will not accept ink, and are applied to the entire plate. Its possibility of wetting the printing plate is highly dependent on the concentration of the prepared dampening solution and it is a key factor in obtaining high quality prints (contrast between solid print areas and half tones, gloss, etc.) (Krüss, 1999). The present study assessed the impacts of the surface tension of the dampening solution on the wetting of the printing plate, alcohol and alcohol substitutes, which are components of the dampening solution, in terms of environmental impacts
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