Alcohol Substitutes

Alcohol substitutes can be used in an offset press water fountain for several reasons, including:

• Lower volatility - Alcohol substitutes are less volatile than alcohol, which reduces toxic emissions.
• Effective at lower concentrations - Alcohol substitutes are effective at concentrations of 5% or less.
• Increased print quality - Alcohol substitutes can improve print quality by requiring less ink and water for good color printing. They can also produce sharper halftone dots and reduced dot gain.
• Reach the same low surface tension as alcohol - Alcohol substitutes can reach the same low surface tension as alcohol. Each press and dampening system require a specific surface tension level for optimum results.

Other advantages of alcohol-free printing include Lower cost of printing, Higher density print, Less tendency for ink emulsification.