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Trial Number 4

Client Number 190

Project Number 1

Trial Purpose:

To evaluate client supplied and requested cleaners for ink removal

Date Run:

10/02/2002

Experiment Procedure:

Nine preweighed coupons were coated with a Sheetfed Offset Ink Super Tech Dense Black AD-2340 lithographic ink and nine other preweighed coupons were coated with a newspaper ink using hand held swabs. All eighteen coupons were allowed to sit overnight to dry. Coupons were then reweighed using Denver Instruments A250 balance. Three coupons were cleaned using Gardner Instruments Straight Line Washability Unit for a maximum of 120 cycles (3.33 minutes). The unit was used in conjunction with a paper towel soaked in the cleaning solution. After 90 cycles, the paper towel was removed and replaced with a fresh soaked towel. At the end of the cleaning cycle, coupons were wiped dry using a dry paper towel. Final weights were recorded and efficiencies were calculated.

Trial Results:

All three cleaners were successful in removing both ink types. The lithographic ink needed longer cleaning times than the newspaper ink did. All cleaners removed the lithographic ink in 120 cycles, a little over 3 minutes. The newspaper ink was removed within 60 cycles, just over a minute and a half. The table below lists the efficiencies for each coupons cleaned and also lists the cycles required for cleaning.

Table 1. Cleaning Efficiencies 

  Cleaner Coupon 1 Coupon 2 Coupon 3 Average
Lithographic Ink Zap 99.73 99.70 99.75 99.73
  USA Wash 99.86 99.84 99.81 99.84
  PES 320 99.76 99.80 99.83 99.80
Newspaper Ink Zap 99.34 99.25 99.07 99.22
  USA Wash 99.66 99.51 99.31 99.49
  PES 320 99.44 99.49 99.37 99.43

Table 2 Cleaning Cycles

  Ink Zap USA Wash PES 320 Ink Zap USA Wash PES 320
Cycles 120 100 120 10 24 60
Stop at 180 100 120 40 60 60

Success Rating:

A follow up test, usually based on company input.

Conclusion:

All three products were capable of removing the inks using a manual wiping technique.

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