Study of Wetting on the Non-Image Area of Offset Printing Plates by an Alternative Iso-Propyl Alcohol-Free Fountain Solution

Abstract

In this study, an alternative aqueous isopropyl alcohol-free fountain solution for sheet-fed offset printing is prepared comprising 5 w/w% McIlvaine's buffer system for pH control, 0.3 w/w% Polysorbate 80 as a surfactant, 1 w/w% magnesium nitrate hexahydrate as a conductivity agent and 10 w/w% ethylene glycol mono-butyl ether as an additional wetting agent. The percentages of each composition are w/w% of active and then adjusted to 100 w/w% by adding distilled water. The contact angles of the obtained fountain solution on non-image areas of three common offset printing plates: CTP plate of Kodak, CTP plate of Huaguang Graphic Co. Ltd (China), and CTP plate of Mylan Printing Media Co. Ltd (Vietnam), range from 10° to 20°.The surface tension, conductivity, pH and viscosity were found to be 30.5 mN/m, 1.45 mS/cm, 4.8, and 1.05 x 10-2 g/cm.s, respectively. In comparison to the commercial fountain solution (KF – Trade Mark (China) containing isopropyl alcohol (IPA), the obtained fountain solution shows similar wettability on the non-image area of the offset printing plate whilst having similar physico-chemical parameters. The results indicate that ethylene glycol mono-butyl ether could be a potential substitute for IPA in fountain solution in offset printing, and the obtained fountain solution displays suitable properties for the offset printing process.

Environmentally Sustainable Offset Prints Exposed to Thermal Aging and NO2

“…The printing form is placed on the base cylinder and is in direct contact with the wetting and coloring device. The wetting solution is applied to the entire surface of the printing form and is only accepted on free surfaces [50,51]. Then the ink is applied to the printing elements and transferred to the printing surface via the offset cylinder.…”

The Behavior, Stability Properties, and Potential Applications of Rhamnolipid Biosurfactants in Oil Degradation

“…The CMC occurs at the minimum biosurfactant concentration, where surfactant monomers start to aggregate, forming micelles. The CMC is essential and crucial because it determines the efficacy of a surfactant and provides guidance on the limits of surfactant concentrations for specific uses [23], [24]. The lower the CMC, the less surfactant is required to emulsify, solubilize, and disperse oil effectively [25].…”