STUDY OF WETTING ON THE NON-IMAGE AREA OF OFFSET PRINTING PLATES BY AN ALTERNATIVE ISO-PROPYL ALCOHOL-FREE FOUNTAIN SOLUTION

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