Roller surface material -- ink receptive

[Erik Nikkanen]

I have a question about roller surfaces that have been successfully used in presses that are receptive to ink. This would be for hard roller surfaces.

Has anyone seen stainless steel rollers used in offset presses?

Has anyone seen non stainless steel rollers (different metal compositions) used in presses that can resist rust?

I have seen copper surfaced rollers, nylon surfaces and other surfaces that have been used. Has anyone seen black oxide or other anodized roller surfaces?

Thanks for any info provided.

[Cornishpastythighs]

There is an Ebonite material which is much cheaper than Rilsan(Nylon). Its black and can be applied in a thicker coat than Nylon. Most roller makers have access to it I believe. I have heard of Ceramic being used but the cost is very high.

[Erik Nikkanen]

There is an Ebonite material which is much cheaper than Rilsan(Nylon). Its black and can be applied in a thicker coat than Nylon. Most roller makers have access to it I believe. I have heard of Ceramic being used but the cost is very high.

Thanks.

Cost is an issue at this point. A steel could be OK at this early stage of development but later a more permanent surface treatment would be needed.

It would be nice if there was a paint on coating available as an option.

[Alois Senefelder]

Hello Erik

The only Metal suitable for use in Litho Press Inking Roller Trains - is COPPER

this relates to " The Wetting of Metals" by Interfacial Tensions of the "Fatty Acids" in Ink

these make the roller become Oleophillic - Stainless Steel is only of use in the Dampening System i.e Pan Roller cheaper than Chromium !

Contact Angles of Metals Copper 60 Deg. Stainless Steel 110 Deg.


Regards, Alois

[Erik Nikkanen]

Hello Erik

The only Metal suitable for use in Litho Press Inking Roller Trains - is COPPER

this relates to " The Wetting of Metals" by Interfacial Tensions of the "Fatty Acids" in Ink

these make the roller become Oleophillic - Stainless Steel is only of use in the Dampening System i.e Pan Roller cheaper than Chromium !

Contact Angles of Metals Copper 60 Deg. Stainless Steel 110 Deg.


Regards, Alois

Thanks for the reference to stainless steel contact angle. That rules it out.

[Erik Nikkanen]

I contacted a roller supplier regarding this issue. The suggested option was to have a nylon coating on the roller. OK, that sounds like a possibility.

After several emails, I still could not get an answer on what the "ball park" cost would be to coat a roller of a given diameter and face length. I could also not get how it is done. I am thinking of it being a flame sprayed process.

Is it so common that it is hard to get cost info from roller suppliers?

Anybody have an idea of how much it would cost to coat a roller with nylon? Roller: 1035mm face length and 55mm diameter.

Thanks.

[Al Ferrari]

Hi Erik,

I am currently involved in a project very little related to ink adhesion, but which does lead me to search for high tack surface coatings. Here are some recent links:

Urethane Technology Company (UTC)

Armacoatings 1-800-524-ARMA spray-on bedliners, spray on bedliners, spray-on bedliner, spray on bedliner

Highly protective polyurethane coatings for corrosion and abrasion resistance

I believe these companies have applications engineers, so if you can pose as an engineer your self :-), You may get some suggestions from them.

Good luck,

Al

[Cornishpastythighs]

I would persist with the roller companies personally, they make and cover rollers for hundreds of different presses and applications. Nylon I believe is Rilsan, I always thought it came as a tube and they Shrunk it on the roller. Rilsan is pretty pricey and the next best would be Ebonite. Its strange they wont get back to you with a price maybe you need to find someone who is using rollers and have them contact a roller company for you.
Good luck

[Erik Nikkanen]

Hi Erik,

I am currently involved in a project very little related to ink adhesion, but which does lead me to search for high tack surface coatings. Here are some recent links:

Urethane Technology Company (UTC)

Armacoatings 1-800-524-ARMA spray-on bedliners, spray on bedliners, spray-on bedliner, spray on bedliner

Highly protective polyurethane coatings for corrosion and abrasion resistance

I believe these companies have applications engineers, so if you can pose as an engineer your self :-), You may get some suggestions from them.

Good luck,

Al

Thanks Al for the info.

[Erik Nikkanen]

I would persist with the roller companies personally, they make and cover rollers for hundreds of different presses and applications. Nylon I believe is Rilsan, I always thought it came as a tube and they Shrunk it on the roller. Rilsan is pretty pricey and the next best would be Ebonite. Its strange they wont get back to you with a price maybe you need to find someone who is using rollers and have them contact a roller company for you.
Good luck

Hi Cornish,

It is not Rilsan but some nylon that is supposedly less expensive. I will continue to ask the roller supplier for more info but I was a bit surprised that they would not supply the cost info sooner. Maybe they are just too busy.

Maybe it is a sleeve. I was told the thickness was about 0.020".

I will try and get the info again. Thanks for your comments.