Investigation of the influence of cementation of chromium onto aluminium on the characteristics of non-printing elements of an offset printing plate

Abstract

The possibility of the electro less deposition of chromium onto aluminum was investigated in order to improve non-printing element properties. It was determined that the electrochemical deposition of trivalent chromium was possible from alkaline solutions. The presence of chromium was confirmed by the EDAX procedure in three different laboratories. The influence of chromium on the wet ability of the nonprinting elements of the printing form was examined by drop spreading. Specimens were examined by pouring distilled water in drops onto the surface of the specimen. The picture of the drop was taken by a digital camera from two directions, in order to measure the diameter of the spreaded drop (a measuring gauge was recorded together with the drop) and contact angle. The chromium-treated samples showed increased wettability compared with the non-chromium-treated samples. Improvement of the non-printing elements was confirmed during a printing test that was performed under real printing conditions. The purity of the prints made by two types of printing forms was analyzed in two ways: based on densitometric measurements and based on statistical analysis of the scanned print. Both methods of analysis of the control prints showed that the control prints made from chromium-treated specimens were purer than the prints made from the non-chromium-treated specimens. Considering that all the conditions of making the printing forms and the printing conditions, except the electro less deposition procedure were the same, it could be concluded that the electro less deposited layer of chromium improved the printing properties of the offset printing form because of the increased wettability.

Keywords

• offset printing plate
• electro less deposition
• chromium
• aluminum