Ink and water adaptability

Ink and water adaptability

GATF technical adviser Brue Tietz believes that the suitability of inks and water is critical to the efficient production of pressrooms. At the 2000 Offset Workshop Technical Seminar entitled "Catch the key to ink/water", Mr. Tietz discussed with a number of suppliers the solution to the oil/water adaptability problem. He said: "Why do we have to control the ink balance? It is to control the process. The printers are inclined to let the process control them, and they always have to solve them out, rather than controlling the process to eliminate the problem."

Factors Affecting Printing House Water Quality

Mr. Tietz began to analyze it step by step, breaking the minds of the printers that "all water is the same." He said: "Because of the different sources of water, the minerals contained therein are also different." For example, he explained that well water and river water contain different minerals. Mr. Tietz also pointed out that the water flowing from the faucet in the same printing factory is not always the same, although they come from the same source of water; “The water of the faucet will change with the seasons,” he said: “Snow-covered areas in winter The cinder and other substances that people sprinkle on the snow will also affect the composition of the water. Therefore, the difference in water also affects the way the production works in the printing shop during the year.” Other factors include:

The pH of the water is different, the ideal value should be 7.0;

Conductivity, which is based on the number of dissolved minerals in the water;

Chemicals added by local water treatment companies, such as chlorine, fluorine, deodorants, etc.

Fountain and ink

Mr. Tietz said: “On the printing press, we use a water dosing solution. Therefore, it is critical to know the composition of the water fountain.” The water fountain solution is usually 98% water plus 2% other. It is made of a mixture, which is basically a mixture of alcohol or alcohol, ink and wetting agent (active agent). If the amount of water in the fountain solution is insufficient, it will not work properly.

Temperature is another factor that needs to be controlled. John Ritzic, Technical Service Manager at Braden Sutphn Ink Ink, said: "The temperature has a minor effect on process control. The higher the temperature, the lower the viscosity of the ink, and the greater the amount of water and ink used. Viscosity will decrease after sticking to water.” Other factors include the type of substrate on which the job is printed and the date of shipment of the ink.

The balance and adaptability of water and ink play the most critical role in the efficient and cost-effective production of printing shops. However, different live jobs have their own unique process requirements at different times, which brings severe challenges to printing production. You can follow the following principles to help achieve and control the ink-water balance:

Install a treatment water system;

Replace ink to ensure quality;

Clean the plate prior to printing to avoid contaminating the fountain solution;

Routine maintenance of the printing press.

Finally, Mr. Tietz concludes: “The better the control of the ink and the water, the better the printing effect. You will have excellent and constant control of the process.”