2. What is Fountain Solution
Supply a film of Fountain Solution
Desensitizing the non image areas
Cleaning
Spreading of Solution
Lubrication
Maintaining Proper Emulsification
8. What is the pH Scale?
•Each hole number on the pH scale represents a tenfold
change in acidity or alkalinity.
•A solution at (pH 5.0 is 10 times more acidic than a pH
6.0).
•A solution at (pH 9.0 is 10 times more alkaline than a
pH 8.0) and a solution at (pH 10.0 is 100 times more
alkaline than a pH 8.0).
9. What is Conductivity?
•Conductivity is the ability to transmit or conduct an
electrical charge.
•The degree of conductivity is determined by the
number of ions present as a result of minerals or other
compounds in the water.
•The higher the concentration of ions, the higher the
degree of conductivity(and usually the harder the
water).
10. Importance of Water
How Important is the Water Source?
pH
1__Acidic______4.5_ 5.5___7___8________Alkaline_____14
-----------------Printing-----Neutral----------------------------
Conductivity
0_________200_________500_________700__________1000
Soft --------------------------Medium--------------------Hard
11. Components of Water
Conductivity (Flow of Minerals)
Total Hardness (Calcium/Magnesium etc..)
Total Alkalinity (Carbonates & Bi-Carbonates)
Corrosive ingredients ( Chlorides)
pH Cond. Total
Hardne
ss
Total
Alkalinit
y
Chloride
s
Standa
rd
7.0 –
8.0
300–
360
mS
< 150
ppm
<70
ppm
<25
ppm
12. Effects of Hard Water
What harm hard water do?
Forms soaps causing roller stripping, halftone fill-in.
Calcium & Magnesium ions cause glaze & increase of shore-hardness.
What harm Chlorides do?
Chlorides are highly Corrosive, Cause Metal Corrosion.
Chlorides level above 25 ppm are harmful for metal parts.
What harm Alkalinity do?
Alkalinity is more important than water hardness, excessive levels of
alkalinity shift pH towards neutral.
14. Water
•Reverse Osmosis water.
The best method of water purification. In this process
the water is filtered through a membrance to remove most
of the positive and negative ions, un-ionized dissolved
solids(sugars), suspended matter, and bacteria leaving
only pure water.
Sometimes referred to as “RO water”.
16. De-ionization, or the demineralization process.
• A complex chemical process that uses two ion
exchange resins to remove minerals from water. The
cost of this method is considerably less than the cost
of producing distilled water.
Distilled water.
• Produced in a laboratory by boiling ordinary tap
water in a water still. The steam that rises from the
boiling water is almost free of the mineral matter
present in the tap water. The steam is fed through
condenser coils where it is converted into liquid,
distilled water. Some fountain solutions do not work
well with distilled water.
18. Soft water
• Always corrodes
• Forms emulsion with ink with high reluctance
• Remove all alkalinity giving elements
• Then add only that much that are required for printing
consistency (150 to 180 ppm)
19. Features :
Keeps the salts in water in dissolved form
Effectively controls the growth of bacteria
and other micro-organisms
Neutralises high alkalinity
Benefits :
Reduced maintenance of rollers and
blankets
Reduced instances of roller stripping
Longer life of mixed fountain solution in
the circulation system
Minimum fount dosing and pH stability
Fount Additive Functions on Raw Water
20. Features :
Promotes ink receptivity of the plate coating
Protects the coating against harmful water-salts
Prevents ink pile-up on the plate & blanket
Benefits :
Longer run-length
High ink density with lower ink consumption
Instant start-up ink roll-up with lower paper
waste
Faithful halftone resolution with low dot gain
Smooth solids & brilliant colours
Reduction in plate & blanket wash-up downtime
Fount Additive Functions on Plate Image Area
21. Plate Non-Image Area
Features :
Protects the porous anodic layer against attack
from harmful water salts
Enhances the water receptivity of non-image
areas
Keeps the anodic layer pores continuously open
Minimises deposition & ensures instant clean-up
of ink & grit during re-start-ups
Benefits :
Zero tinting or scumming
Instant clean start-ups with lower print waste
Fount Additive Functions on Non Image Area
22. Dampening System
Features :
Ensures compatibility with various types of dampening
systems, conventional as well as contemporary
Ensures optimum damp throughput with covered/bare
back/non-contact system designs
Benefits :
Prevent intermittent scum by providing a thin continuous
and even spread of dampening film across and around the
cylinder
Eliminate the need for frequent feed adjustments at
varying machine speeds
Prevent ink accumulation on rider rollers and foaming in
the circulation System
Fount Additive Functions on Dampening System
23. Fount Additive Functions on IPA
IPA (Isopropanol)
Features :
Formulations tailor-made to eliminate /
reduce the level of alcohol usage
Benefits :
Reduced cost without compromising
quality
Pressroom free from unhealthy alcohol
vapours
Safer environment; lower VOC emission
and effluents
24. Why replace alcohol ?
Hazards to environment and health
Flammable and unsafe
Risk of emulsification and reduced ink
density
High evaporation loss
High cost-in-use
25. Fount Additive Functions on Machine Parts
Machine Parts
Features :
Adheres to corrosion limits set by machinery
manufacturers
Provides a lubricating film at the contact point
of the plate with inkers, dampeners & blanket
Benefits :
Compliance to machine manufacturer’s warranty
with lower replacement cost
Reduced friction means reduced plate wear and
elimination of variation in print quality
Reduced rate of paper lint piling and instances
of blanket cleaning
26. Ink
Features :
Stable emulsion
Formulations tailor-made for UV / Metallic
and special application
Benefits :
Zero emulsification and ink bleeding
problems
Consistent quality for special applications
Fount Additive Functions on Ink
27. Paper / Substrate
Features :
Minimum interference of substrate
characteristics
Minimum Attack on Paper Coating
Benefits :
Optimum print quality
Less web breaks/Blanket Cleaning.
Fount Additive Functions on Substrate
28. Fountain solution problems
Possible problems when too much Fount concentrate is used?
Over Emulsification (especially reds and blues).
Background tinting.
Poor ink-acceptance in image area, resulting in mottling or
blinding of the plate.
Premature plate wear from lack of ink lubrication.
Slow drying of inks and possibly, of chalking.
Stripping of the ink rollers.
29. Fountain solution problems cont…
Filling in of reverses and halftone screens.
Scumming.
Tinting.
Inadequate gum will leave plate non-image
areas unprotected.
Lack of anti-corrosive ingredients will lead
to premature plate wear.
What happens when too little concentrate is used?
31. Roller Surface
• Roller surface is uneven full of fingers.
• Rough surface carries ink & water.
• Better ink & water emulsion due to constant
agitation.
32. Roller Glaze
Glaze is caused by the buildup of particles in the mountains and valleys of
the roller surface. This gives the roller a smooth surface and makes it
unable to convey ink or water, which results in a long list of printing
problems.
Clean Roller Surface Glazed Roller Surface
33. NAP of a Glazed Roller
• Water-soluble particles (gums, coatings, dust),
• Solvent-soluble particles (inks, etc.)
• Insoluble residue (mineral deposits, clays, soap
deposits).
34. How to Remove Glaze
• Step 1: Use a water miscible wash (solvent mixed with water) to remove both
the solvent-soluble and water-soluble particles
• Step 2: Use a non-grit roller paste to remove the insoluble particles
35. • Hardening Rubber Roller & Its Effects
• Cracked Rubber Roller & Its Effects
• Swollen/Uneven Rubber Roller & Its Effects.
• Calcified Rubber Roller & Its Effects
Effects on Rollers without Cleaners
36. Hardened Rubber Roller & Blankets
Effects:-
•Inking Rollers don’t get properly cleaned
•Inking rollers get higher m/c speed
•Sudden ink contamination
•Frequently scumming at the gripper
•Sheets variation in the multiple ups
•Sticky ink deposits in the non image areas of blankets
•Uneven dampening supply to the plate, increase in water feed
37. Cracked Rubber Roller
Effects:-
•Jumping of Rollers at higher m/c speed
•Filled up fine halftones
•Premature plate wear with typical pattern
•Inking units don’t get properly cleaned
39. Calcified Roller
Effects:-
•Roller Stripping
•Uneven Dampening Supply to the plate
•Calcium is water friendly, colorless &
odorless, can’t be made out whether
calcified.
•Normally when printer states that I
need more water to release is first
indication of calcification.
