TI - Printing Technology

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Degree competences to which the subject contributes

- To acquire a general knowledge of the graphic industry and its position in the national and international sector. - To understand conventional and digital printing processes, and the technical requirements of paper and other media used by various printing systems.

- To be able to relate the characteristics and problems of ink rheology, and ink¿paper relationships in theoretical and practical terms.

Coordinator: Oriol Cusola Aumedes

Teaching unit: Academic year:

ECTS credits:

714 - ETP - Department of Textile and Paper Engineering 2015

MASTER'S DEGREE IN FIBROUS MATERIAL TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING (Syllabus 2012). (Teaching unit Optional)

5 Teaching languages: Spanish, English Coordinating unit: 320 - EET - Terrassa School of Engineering

Degree:

Teaching staff

Specific:

1. METMF_The ability to analyse and assess in theoretical and experimental terms specific physico¿chemical and optical properties of paper and graphic materials.

2. METMF_To be able to use environmental and sustainable technologies within the scope of the study programme. 3. METMF_The ability to project, calculate and design products, processes, facilities and plants in the Textile, Paper and Graphic, and Leather Engineering domains.

4. METMF_The ability to undertake general, technical and RDI management functions in technological plants, enterprises and centres in the Textile, Paper and Graphic, and Leather Engineering domains.

5. METMF_The ability to develop new types of papers, media or paper products according to prescribed specifications and intended technical uses.

6. METMF_The ability to develop strategic plans and apply them to production, quality assurance and environmental management systems within the scope of Textile, Paper and Graphic, and Leather Engineering.

Learning objectives of the subject

The subject comprises theoretical lectures, laboratory exercises and visits to factories. In the laboratory sessions, the students, in guided small groups, will become acquainted with the laboratory equipment and techniques used to assess paper printability.

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Total learning time: 125h Hours large group: Hours medium group: Hours small group: Guided activities: Self study: 0h 0h 45h 0h 80h 0.00% 0.00% 36.00% 0.00% 64.00% Study load

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Content

Unit 1. Introduction to the graphic industry

Unit 2. A rough approach to printing systems

Unit 3. Ink rheology

Learning time: 2h Learning time: 6h Learning time: 15h Theory classes: 1h Self study : 1h Theory classes: 1h Laboratory classes: 2h Self study : 3h Theory classes: 2h Laboratory classes: 2h Self study : 11h

Introduction to the Spanish and international graphic sectors. Future prospects. A brief retrospect. Terminology. Production flow in the graphic sector. Broad classification of graphic systems.

A rough approach to printing systems. Conventional printing systems. NIP or digital printing systems. Characteristics.

Ink rheology. Definition of viscosity. Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids. Types of fluids according to rheological behaviour. Rheological properties of printing inks.

Description:

Description: Related activities:

Related activities:

Experimental laboratory work: Printability simple tests. Assessing paper roughness with Microcontour. Assessing penetration in porometric inks. Picking resistance as measured with the Dennison?s wax test.

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Unit 4. Screens and screening

Unit 5. Use of inks in printing systems

Unit 6. Colorimetry

Learning time: 10h Learning time: 10h Learning time: 20h Theory classes: 2h Laboratory classes: 2h Self study : 6h Theory classes: 2h Laboratory classes: 2h Self study : 6h Theory classes: 4h Laboratory classes: 2h Self study : 14h

Screening in printing systems. Screen geometry. Definition of lineature and resolution. AM and FM screens. Digital production of screen dots. Grey levels.

Characteristics of the inks used by each type of printing system. Ink formulations. Physical properties. Factors influencing ink stability.

Definition of colour. Physiological aspects of colour. Appearance attributes of colour. Colour trivariance. Additive and subtractive synthesis. The RGB system. The CIE XYZ1931 system. Metamerism. Illuminants. The CIE L*a*b*1976 system. Colour difference ('E).

Description: Description: Description: Related activities: Related activities: Related activities:

Experimental laboratory work: Ink?paper interactions. IGT smoothness/roughness.

Experimental laboratory work: Ink?paper interactions. IGT penetration index.

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Unit 7. Offset printing

Unit 8. Flexography

Unit 9. Rotogravure

Learning time: 22h Learning time: 14h Learning time: 7h Theory classes: 5h Laboratory classes: 2h Self study : 15h Theory classes: 2h Laboratory classes: 3h Self study : 9h Theory classes: 2h Self study : 5h

Foundation. Relationship between SdM and ink, emulsion. Elements of the inking unit, wetting unit and printing group'unit. Ink transfer. Phenomena occurring in nipping zones.

Operational foundation. Inking units. Characteristics and fabrication systems of flexographic cliches. Problems arising from poor insulation. Fabrication, structure, geometry and operational foundation of anilox rings. Regulation of machine pressure. Band guiding and winding tension. Types of flexographic machines and their configurations.

Operational foundation and structure of a typical printing unit. Features of the process speed. Rotogravure cylinders: structure, fabrication and cell geometry. Characteristics of prints and their defects. Ink transfer and electrostatically assisted transfer. Rotogravure blades: geometry, assembly and pressure regulation.

Description: Description: Description: Related activities: Related activities: Related activities:

Experimental laboratory work: Ink?paper interactions. IGT repainting.

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Unit 10. Inkjet printing

Unit 11. Other printing systems. Inkjet printing

media

Learning time: 14h Learning time: 5h Theory classes: 4h Guided activities: 3h Self study : 7h Theory classes: 2h Self study : 3h

Operational foundation of inkjet machines. Classification of inkjet printing technologies. The two major technologies: continuous inkjet printing and drop-on-demand printing. The two major drop-on-demand types: piezoelectric printing and thermal printing. Physics of inkjet printing. A summary of the characteristics of inkjet printing inks.

Other conventional printing systems including screen printing and tampon printing, and other digital printing systems such as electrophotography, ionography and toner jet printing.

Description:

Description: Related activities:

Related activities:

Visits to factories. Visits to graphic factories intended to help students become acquainted with the industrial reality of printing processes.

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Planning of activities

PRACTICAL ACTIVITY 1. SIMPLE

PRINTABILITY TESTS

PRACTICAL ACTIVITY 2. RHEOLOGICAL

STUDY OF AN OFFSET INK

PRACTICAL ACTIVITY 3. INK - PAPER

INTERACTIONS: IGT

SMOOTHNESS/ROUGHNESS

PRACTICAL ACTIVITY 4. INK - PAPER

INTERACTIONS: IGT PENETRATION INDEX

Description:

Assessing paper roughness with Microcontour. Assessing penetration in porometric inks. Picking resistance as measured with the Dennison's wax test.

Specific objectives:

AF2 Individual or group work in the classroom, laboratory or pilot plant. AF6 Self study, work and analysis.

Laboratory classes: 2h Self study: 2h Laboratory classes: 2h Self study: 2h Laboratory classes: 2h Self study: 2h Laboratory classes: 2h Self study: 2h Hours: 4h Hours: 4h Hours: 4h Hours: 4h

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PRACTICAL ACTIVITY 6. INK - PAPER

INTERACTIONS: IGT REPAINTING

PRACTICAL ACTIVITY 7. DETERMINATION

OF SURFACE FREE ENERGIES IN AN OFFSET

PRINTING PLATE

VISITS TO FACTORIES

Description:

Determination of free energies on the photopolymer and anodized aluminium surfaces of an offset printing plate with a contact-angle goniometer and the Owens-Wendt model.

Visits to graphic factories intended to help students become acquainted with the industrial reality of printing processes.

Specific objectives:

AF2 Individual or group work in the classroom, laboratory or pilot plant. AF6 Self study, work and analysis.

AF5 Attendance of seminars and lectures, and visits to firms engaged in activities related to the subject contents.

MID-TERM EXAM

Laboratory classes: 2h Self study: 2h Laboratory classes: 3h Self study: 3h Laboratory classes: 3h Hours: 4h Hours: 6h Hours: 3h

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Each student's overall mark will be the sum of the individual marks obtained in the following assessment events: - EV1 (Evaluation of knowledge acquisition through written exams). Mid-term exam: 20%

- EV2 (Evaluation of practical activities from written reports and oral presentations). Practical activities: 30%

- EV3 (Evaluation of practical case solving and assignments from written reports and oral presentations). Practical case solving: 10%

- EV4 (Evaluation of guided activities and exercises). Exercise solving: 10%

- EV1 (Evaluation of knowledge acquisition through written exams). End-of-term exam: 30%

Those students failing or not taking the mid-term exam can be re-assessed for it in the end-of-term exam. Qualification system

Regulations for carrying out activities

Written practical reports are to be prepared individually by each student. Passing the subject requires completing the practical activities, delivering the corresponding reports and giving the oral presentation.

Bibliography

Others resources: Description:

Individual written exam on units 7¿1.

Basic:

Foundation of Flexographic Technical Association. Flexography: principles&practices. 5. Nova York: Foundation of Flexographic Technical Association, 1999.

Paolazzi, M. Huecograbado : conocimientos básicos y orientaciones técnicas. Barcelona: Don Bosco, DL 1974. ISBN 8423611698.

Oittinen, P.; Saarelma, H. Printing. Helsinky: FapetOy, 1998. ISBN 952521613.

Kipphan, Helmut. Handbook of print media : technologies and production methods. Berlin ; New York: Springer, 2001. ISBN 3540673261.