The influence of surface tension on wetting in dampening solution and sustainability of printing: A review

Abstract

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). On the offset printing plate surface, the sections that are required and not required to convey ink are at the same level. Due to the fact that that there is no height difference, the areas on the plate surface which are demanded to be inked and not inked can be separated with the interaction between dampening solution and printing ink (Aydemir & Özakhun, 2014). Non-imaging areas of the printing plate are formed by aluminum mostly surface treated to enhance their wettability (Huber, 2008). In the areas on the printing plate surface that are demanded to be printed there is an emulsion material, and in the areas that are not demanded to be printed, there are micro grain pores that water can be adsorbed. 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).