Fountain solution

Conductivity
pH
dH
fredag 16 maj 14
PPD
Water and water treatment
!
Certain ions that are typically present in
water can react with paper coatings or ink
pigments.
!
Understanding the composition of the
water source feeding the plant can
explain some press problems or point to
an appropriate treatment method.
fredag 16 maj 14
PPD
Water and water treatment
!
Interactions between ink, fountain solution and
paper can be inuenced by the presence of
calcium ions.
!
The presence of calcium in magenta ink is well
known, and can cause deposits on magenta ink
rollers and blankets.
!
Accumulation of calcium from paper coatings or
from fountain solution can lead to scaling
problems.
fredag 16 maj 14
PPD
Water and water treatment
!
Calcium
!
iron
!
Magnesium
!
oxygen
!
Sodium
!
carbon dioxide
!
hydrogen carbonate
!
hydrogen (ion)
!
chloride
!
bacteria
!
Sulphate
!
Algae
!
nitrate
!
oating substances
Elements and components in inuent (tap)water
fredag 16 maj 14
PPD
Fountain solutions
!
Since successful ink transfer requires
compatible chemistry,matching ink and
fountain solutions is critical.
!
The fountain solutions must keep the
printing plate clean while allowing the ink
to transfer efciently.
!
These properties can be provided by use
of a fountain solution concentrate.
fredag 16 maj 14
PPD
Fountain solutions
!
Fountain solution components are very
proprietary and often customized to a
specic plant.
!
Measurements help determine their
effectiveness both before and during
printing.
fredag 16 maj 14
PPD
Fountain solutions
Composition of fountain solution concentrates
!
Buffer systems to adjust pH value
!
Film forming hydrophilic and wetting substances
!
Biocides, fungicides, for anti-microbial equipment
!
Complexion agents to bind scaling components
!
Anti-piling agents
!
Co-solvents to keep the system homogeneous
!
Anti-foam agents
!
Corrosion inhibitors
!
Release agents (alcohol free and alcohol reduced)
fredag 16 maj 14
PPD
Water and water treatment
!
Depending on the concentration of
calcium and magnesium salts, water is
classied from hard to soft.
!
Hardness is expressed in degrees.
!
One degree German hardness (1dH) is
equal to 10 mg of calcium oxide per litre
water.
fredag 16 maj 14
PPD
Water and water treatment
!
Water and water hardness
!
Water (H2O) consists of hydrogen and
oxygen, but as tap water it reaches the
printer in different qualities and different
degrees of purity, depending on its origin
(groundwater or other).
!
Even in clean rainwater dirt particles are
present.
fredag 16 maj 14
PPD
Water and water treatment
Fountain solution
!
dH-value (hardness = dH german hardness)
!
Describes the amount of calcium oxide
Very soft water 0-4 dH
Soft water 4-8 dH
Medium soft water 8-12 dH
Medium hard water 12-18 dH
Hard water 18-30 dH

fredag 16 maj 14
PPD
Water and water treatment
Fountain solution
To hard can give: (over 15 dH ):
!
Hard ink rollers
!
Building of ink on ink rollers and blanket
!
Uneven transfer of the fountain solution
!
Unclearness in the screening tonal value
!
Mirror printing

fredag 16 maj 14
PPD
Water and water treatment
Fountain solution
To soft can give:(under 7 dH ):
!
Uncleaness in non printing areas giving:
!
Increscent of the water on plate:
!
Giving to much emulsication:
!
Prospounds of the drying time of the ink

fredag 16 maj 14
PPD
Fountain solutions
!
pH
!
pH is the unit of measurement for acidity or alkalinity.
!
The letters pH stand for pondus hydrogenii (potential
hydrogen).
!
A neutral solution such as pure water has a pH value
of 7.
!
Solutions with a lower pH are called acidic, and
solutions with a higher pH are called alkaline.
!
The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14.
fredag 16 maj 14
PPD
Fountain solutions
pH
acidic alcaline
fredag 16 maj 14
PPD
Fountain solutions
pH
!
Should be slightly acid, it keeps the non-printing areas
cleaner and slightly neutralized
!
Measured with idicator paper or electric pH-device
!
pH between 4,8 - 5,3 usually works best
!
(On sheet printing kan sometimes little higher 5-6)
!
(In web print often about 4,5-5,0)
Important !
A change pH one step is 10 times change
Ex. change of pH 5 to pH 4 is 10 times more acid
And a change of pH 5 to pH 3 is 100 times more
acid
fredag 16 maj 14
PPD
Fountain solutions
!
Conductivity
!
This is measurement of the ability of a
fountain solution to conduct electricity
!
Checking fountain solution conductivity is
particularly important when running a
buffered fountain solution which tends to
hold a constant pH reading despite great
changes in the water quality.
fredag 16 maj 14
PPD
Fountain solutions
pH -to much alcaline water gives:
!
The water friendly areas on the plate will be
destroyed
!
Tinting or toning
!
The ink wants to emulsication to much
!
Greater danger to contamination to other inks
!
The plate gets grayish
fredag 16 maj 14
PPD
Fountain solutions
pH -to much acidic water gives:
!
Toning or tinting on non-printing areas
!
Blind plates
!
Grayish solid areas
!
Shorter life term of the plates
!
Decreased drying capability with the inks
fredag 16 maj 14
PPD
Fountain solutions
The amount of emulsicated water increase if:
!
pH-value increase
!
The hardness of the water decrease
!
The amount of IPA decrease
!
The viscosity of the ink decrease
!
The temperature increase
fredag 16 maj 14
PPD
Fountain solutions
To small amount of fountain solution affects:
!
Bad preparation of the plate, toning or tinting
!
To little buffering, variation in the pH
!
To little reduction of the surface tension, water
spots on the plate
!
Increased water in ink - unwanted emulsication
fredag 16 maj 14
PPD
Fountain solutions
To high amount of fountain solution affects:
!
Thinner ink, instable ink/water balance,
emulsication
!
Build up on ink rollers
!
Increasing dot gain
!
Blindness of the plate or gray areas
!
Attacks on non-printing areas, unstable wetting
of the plate, toning or tinting
!
The drying of the ink will be longer
fredag 16 maj 14
PPD
Fountain solutions
!
Check your conductivity and pH value
regally, both when the fountain solution is
new and after a couple of days production
!
A correct emulsication and a print result in
control demands a stabile fountain solution
fredag 16 maj 14