Abstract: Press component cleansing and desensitizing treatment solutions contain (A) about two percent to about thirty percent by weight of a liquid humectant, (B) about one percent to about twenty-five percent by weight of a buffer which can include a trace amount of phosphoric, lactic or citric acid to stabilize pH, (C) about two point five percent to about twenty-five percent by weight of a liquid constituent selected from the group consisting of ethylene glycol monobutyl ether and propylene glycol n-butyl ether, and (D) about point two percent to about seven point five percent by weight of a non-soluble pulverant solid with a particle size of about three to about five micrometers; and, in such solutions, about one to about twenty-five percent by weight of an amine can be substituted for an alcohol, or about point two percent to about five percent by weight mineral spirits can be substituted in place of alcohols and/or amines, with the balance water; further, about point two percent to about five percent by weight

Abstract: Improvements in fountain solutions which enable continued use of existing planographic printing equipment and printing materials while taking into consideration environmental concerns. Formulation methods for such fountain solutions are disclosed which provide for substantially decreasing the amount of alcohol while continuing printing operations with existing printing inks. Such transitional fountain solutions are compatible with existing types of planographic printing plates and do not require the changing of fountain solution when changing the type of printing plate to be used in a printing press. An amine, such as N-methylpyrrolodine, is selected in combination with an alcohol so as to substantially decrease the alcohol content of the fountain solution; buffers, humectants, and emulsifying and coupling agents are disclosed with percentage ranges for selection to provide for continued quality printing with existing equipment and materials.

Abstract: Low temperature flash-point alcohols are supplanted in fountain solutions for use in offset planographic printing by a high temperature flash-point amine which enables continued use of existing printing plates and printing materials while taking into consideration environmental concerns. An amine, such as N-methyl pyrrolidine, is selected and combined in an aqueous solution of a buffer such as monopotassium phosphate, a humectant such as glycerin, and an emulsifying and coupling agent such as ethylene glycol monobutyl ether. A desensitizing agent such as gum arabic is preferably added; and an inert food coloring can be added, with the balance water.

Abstract: A universal aqueous fountain solution, for use in planographic printing, which comprises in prescribed proportions a humectant, a buffer ethylene glycol N-butyl ether, a glycol ether and an amine replacement for the alcohol previously used in fountain solutions.

Abstract: A cleansing solution for cleaning components of a planographic printing press to include the printing plate, which includes a solution of a humectant, a buffer, a glycol ether and an organic solvent to which anhydrous aluminum silicate and gum arabic have been added.

Abstract: For monitoring the condition of a universal fountain solution for planographic printing, a concentrated universal fountain solution is premixed with a color-change indicator material of predetermined characteristics such as lichen blue. The concentrated fountain solution is provided at a pH above about 3.5 and below about 4.5; the diluted fountain solution is formed by diluting such concentrated solution with water. The contamination occurring during planographic printing which is detrimental to fountain solution effectiveness and printing quality causes the pH of such diluted solution to increase. The indicator material provided initiates a change in color of the diluted fountain solution at a pH when the solution is beginning to lose effectiveness and provides an intense color change as pH increases to a level indicating that the solution should be changed in order to avoid deterioration in the desired quality of printing.