Cyrel –Processing Manual - Monochrom

1 Cyrel Processing Manual DuPont Processing Manualfor Cyrel Cyrelflexographic printing plates Cyrel Flexographic Printing PlatesCyrel Processing ManualPreface PREFACEDear Cyrel UserDuPont Cyrel is the leading manufacturer and an experienced partner of theflexographic is our philosophy to offer you modern products, innovative solutions,comprehensive support, and an applications technology service that will helpyou increase your quality and printing has developed from a simple technology to a compe-titive printing procedure. But even today, new developments and technolo-gies are still continuously changing and influencing this procedure, and theyalways constitute something of a DuPont Processing Manual for Cyrel contains practical instructions forthe production of Cyrel printing plates. The Manual provides the user withinformation on the proper processing of Cyrel printing plates and on thevarious components that make up the Cyrel system.

2 It describes the diffe-rent plate types and their areas of application and provides guidelines for theenvironmentally and operationally safe handling of Cyrel plates, wash-outsolutions, and the production processing Manual cannot cover every single detail that may possibly berelevant at some time or another in the course of day-to-day we have made every effort to describe the individual processingstages in as much detail as Flexographic Printing PlatesPrefaceShould you have any further technical questions to which this DuPontProcessing Manual for Cyrel has not provided an answer, a qualified teamin DuPont's Customer Technology Center in Neu-Isenburg will be happy toprovide information and can contact us under telephone number (49) 61 02 18 39 31 or faxnumber (49) 61 02 18 39 WolfManager Cyrel Applications Technology Cyrel Processing ManualINDEXC yrel Flexographic Printing PlatesCHAPTER 11234 5 CHAPTER 21234 PREFACETABLE OF CONTENTSINTRODUCTIONSAFETY, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, AND WORK HYGIENEGENERALCYREL RAW PLATESPROCESSING EQUIPMENT1.

3 Units1. and EquipmentWASH-OUT SOLUTIONSHEALTH PROTECTIONTHE Cyrel PLATE SYSTEMTHE Cyrel and Environmental of Cyrel Sales and Technical Flexo Printing of Cyrel Printing Plate Cyrel Processing FlexoSol and OptiSol Wash-Out Cyrel Processing Manual5678910111213151718 CHAPTER Cyrel ISO 9001 Cyrel An Entire Life Cycle Without Processing and User SoftwareCYREL PLATE STRUCTURETHE Cyrel RANGE OF PRINTING Printing - Layer with PQ Layer - Relief UV Flexo Digital Imager PlatesPLATE THICKNESS RELIEF DEPTHMEASURING PLATE THICKNESS AND HARDNESSSTORAGE AND HANDLING OF Cyrel RAW and the Emulsion Cyrel Raw PlatesCYREL PLATE PRODUCTIONJOB PREPARATIONEXPOSUREBACK Flexographic Printing of Back Back Back Back the Relief DepthMAIN EXPOSURE (IMAGE EXPOSURE) the Exposure Deep Relief Plates (Plate Thickness of 4 mm and More) of Main of Main Influencing Main of Main Exposure Time on Image Main Main Latitude Transfer Accuracy of Image Data from Film to PlateWASH-OUT - Out Influencing the Wash - Out Effects of Various Wash - Out is too is too of the Wash - Out SolutionDRYING OF WASHED-OUT Cyrel RELIEF of the Drying ProcedureFINISHING OF Cyrel PRINTING of Safety Cyrel Processing ManualPOST-EXPOSURE (FINAL EXPOSURE) - of Post - of Post - ExposureCUTTING THE FINISHED RELIEF PLATEQUALITY CONTROLBASIC TESTSBASIC TESTS FOR ESTABLISHING THE PROCESSING PARAMETERS FOR CORRECT PLATE Exposure the Back Exposure Tests for Wash -Out and Back Exposure Wash -Out Back Exposure Exposure Exposure Text the Main Exposure Halftone and TestTEST NEGATIVES FOR ESTABLISHING MAIN EXPOSURE Test Negative for Plates with an Overall Thickness up to mm (125 mil) Exposure Test Negative for Deep - Relief Plates ( mm)

4 2223 CHAPTER Flexographic Printing PlatesCHAPTER 512345678910 CHAPTER 613 PageTROUBLE - SHOOTINGVACUUM PROBLEMSSURFACE DEFECTSPARTIALLY IRREGULAR POLYMERISATIONUNSHARP, WASHED - OUT RELIEFSHALLOW RELIEF DEPTHWAVY LINES, WASHED - OUT DOTS OR HALFTONE AREASMISSING IMAGE DETAILS, POLYMERISATION IN NON-IMAGE AREASUNEVEN, UNCLEAN PLATE SURFACECRESCENTS, ORANGE PEEL EFFECTS AND DRYING SPOTS IN SOLID AREASTACKY PLATE SURFACELIFT- OFF OF THE BACKING (DELAMINATION)CRACKS IN THE PLATE SURFACEHANDLING OF Cyrel PLATES BY THE PRINTERPREPARATION OF THE Cyrel Processing AND STORING USED Cyrel the the Plates from the Impression Used Cyrel PlatesTHE FILM COPY PRODUCING THE NEGATIVEORIGINAL THE FINISHED ARTWORKSELECTION OF TRANSPARENCIESTHE - Halation Maximum Film the Negative of Problems in Transparent Negative Marks the of the Image Lines or or Veiled Dots, Insufficient Size of the Image ElementsSTRETCHING OF THE the Negative ExampleAppendixINDEX5 CHAPTER 712345678913 Cyrel Flexographic Printing PlatesINDEX Cyrel Processing ManualINTRODUCTIONC yrel Flexographic Printing PlatesINTRODUCTIONI ntroductionThe Cyrel system is a procedure designed for the quick and simple produc-tion of printing plates for flexographic printing.

5 It operates on the basis ofresilient photopolymer plastics, which feature a number of technical and eco-nomical advantages:1. The procedure involves few processing stages and is easy to The results are The procedure is equally suitable for line, halftone, and High resolution, dimensional stability, and register accuracy have madeCyrel the preferred plate material used for printing high - quality is the case in all multiple-colour work, the separations and film negativesmust comply with the printing conditions prevailing from case to computer programme designed for recording the relevant print characteri-stics and incorporating them in the production of the corresponding colourseparations is available from DuPont under the name CyFOS. Cyrel Processing ManualChapter 1 Safety, Environmental Protection,and Work HygieneCyrel Flexographic Printing Plates Cyrel Processing ManualSAFETY, ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, AND WORK HYGIENEGENERALIf handled properly, the processing of Cyrel photopolymer flexo printingplates is neither hazardous nor detrimental to human , in the event of careless operation, irregular handling, and neglec-ting normal safety measures, hazards cannot be entirely following recommendations are provided to ensure safe handling andyour personal Regulations of the Chemical IndustryWhen handling chemicals, the general safety regulations of the chemicalindustry are recommended, which should always be : Please refrain from eating, drinking, and smoking in the work area.

6 When handling wash - out solutions, please wear protective goggles andrubber operating staff must be carefully instructed on the properties of the che-micals used and the potential hazards involved if they are not handled withproper care. The operating staff must be made familiar with the proper instal-lation, handling, and maintenance of the equipment. All staff must be alertedto potentially hazardous situations and trained in the resulting relevant pro-cedures and 1: Page 1 Cyrel Flexographic Printing PlatesPage 2 Cyrel RAW PLATESP rior to exposure, Cyrel raw plates contain chemicals which in sensitivepeople may cause allergies or skin irritations. During handling, the polyesterbacking and the cover sheet offer an effective protection. After removing thecover sheet, an extremely thin separation layer remains on the plate surface,which largely prevents any direct contact with the monomers deposited in theplate. The risk of skin irritations is therefore relatively we recommend not to use the cover sheet, once removed, forother purposes, e.

7 G. as a mounting processing, the relief plates can be further handled without the risk EQUIPMENTThe processing equipment is designed to exclude hazards when handled withproper a rule, the following applies: In the event of necessary maintenance work, switch off and secure the master switch or disconnect the mains plug. This also applies for the repla-cement of tubes or lamps. When replacing lamps, use protective gloves (risk of fracturing). o Cyrel Processing UnitsThe tube lamps used for exposure are fluorescent UV output is primarily in the UV-A range (wave length 350 400 nm),though limited emissions in the UV-B range cannot be entirely light scatter during exposure can be regarded as harmless, direct expo-sure of the eyes to UV rays when the exposure unit is open should be necessary, wear suitable protective and DryersCyrel plates are washed out using a wash-out mixture. Improper handlingmay entail damage to human health and the environment.

8 (Please also refer to Section "Wash-Out Solutions".)It is imperative to ensure a thorough ventilation of the working environmentand a continuous sufficient fresh air supply.(For detailed instructions, please refer to the Unit and Installation Manual .)The processors and dryers are designed to ensure that the operator virtuallydoes not come in contact with the wash - out solution. A partial vacuum in theequipment prevents fumes from 1: Page 3 Cyrel Flexographic Printing PlatesPage fumes can be emitted into the open air or into an in-house waste airsystem, provided the regulations specified by the technical regulations forwaste air are duly observed.(For additional information on this subject, please contact DuPont field ser-vice).Equipment that needs to be opened in order to insert and remove the platesis subject to the following precautions: Handle the plates only when wearing suitable protective gloves andgoggles. Avoid inhaling the fumes wherever possible.

9 Keep the washer unit closed, only open when EquipmentFinishing is effected using UV- C light (254 nm wave length). The tube lampsare mounted in a combination unit which is also equipped with UV-A tubelamps for final exposure. When operating at the open unit, be sure to protect your eyes against directand indirect UVC radiation! Even exposure over brief periods may causedamage. When replacing the tube lamps, be sure to wear protective units are equipped with special protective devices. Maintenance workshould be performed by qualified engineers only. Cyrel Processing ManualCHAPTER 1: Page 5 WASH-OUT SOLUTIONSDuPont offers the alternative wash-out solutions OptiSol -737, FlexoSol ,and UniSol . Unlike previously used wash-out solutions, these products donot contain any chlorinated hydrocarbons. Alternative Wash-Out SolutionsOptiSol 737 Consists of a mixture of isoheptyl acetate and isoheptyl /UniSol Consists of a hydrocarbon/alcohol DuPont wash-out solutions are free of halogenated and fluorina-ted hydrocarbons.

10 Nonetheless the usual precautions recommended forhandling solvents should be observed.(For detailed information, please refer to the relevant brochure.)HEALTH PROTECTIONWash-out solutions have a degreasing effect on the skin. If direct contact can-not be avoided, please wear solvent-resistant protective gloves (not house-hold gloves) and protective splashes of the solution come in contact with the eyes, immediatelyrinse with water for approximately 15 minutes and, if necessary, consult Flexographic Printing PlatesPage 6iImmediately remove clothing soiled with wash-out solution and wash theaffected skin areas with a mild wearing protective gloves over longer periods of time, the hands tendto perspire and become humid, especially in warm weather. We thereforerecommend to clean your hands from time to time using an antiseptic handwash and afterwards wash them with soap and water. After washing, applyan anhydrous hand lotion containing the alternative wash-out solutions developed by DuPont largelyexclude any direct hazard to personal health, they should be handled with thedue care generally required when handling chemicals.