Ecologization of Printing Plate Processes Production

Abstract

The article analyzes the technological process of manufacturing photopolymer flexographic plates, determines the danger from the point of view of ecological impact that certain technological processes can cause, and proposes measures that minimize their dangerous impact on the environment. A comparison of the properties of solvents and their advantages and at the same time harmfulness was carried out with the establishment of the reasons for the subsequent development of alternative organic solvents and the operation of washout flexographic photopolymer printing plates with water or waters solutions. General strategic directions for solving the problem of using volatile organic solvents have been established. The following classification of ways to solve this problem is proposed: use of less toxic solvents or water; elimination of the washing operation from the technological process of manufacturing flexographic photopolymer plates; development of new technological processes for the production of flexographic plates. Based on the results of a comparative analysis of mold manufacturing technologies, a change in the anthropogenic factor was established as a result of improving processes and their environmentalization. It is shown that by introducing information and laser technologies into the technological processes of manufacturing printing forms due to the reduction of the influence of the anthropogenic factor, a significant improvement in the environmental safety of production is achieved, although the introduction of such technology requires large capital investments. According to the results of a comparative analysis of printing plate manufacturing technologies, the so-called ecological factor is shown as a result of improving processes and their ecologization. If we talk about spent photopolymer plates, then the problem of their disposal is still open. Taking into account the current negative effects on the economy of Ukraine, the use of more environmentally friendly technologies and materials in the flexographic sector of printing depends to a greater extent on the economic situation at specific enterprises, and not on the purposeful environmental policy of the state.