Coordinating unit: Teaching unit: Academic year: Degree: ECTS credits: 2015 320 - EET - Terrassa School of Engineering 714 - ETP - Department of Textile and Paper Engineering MASTER'S DEGREE IN FIBROUS MATERIAL TECHNOLOGY ENGINEERING (Syllabus 2012). (Teaching unit Optional) 5 Teaching languages: Spanish, English Teaching staff Coordinator: Oriol Cusola Aumedes Degree competences to which the subject contributes Specific: 1. METMF_The ability to analyse and assess in theoretical and experimental terms specific physico chemical and optical properties of paper and graphic materials. 2. METMF_To be able to use environmental and sustainable technologies within the scope of the study programme. 3. METMF_The ability to project, calculate and design products, processes, facilities and plants in the Textile, Paper and Graphic, and Leather Engineering domains. 4. METMF_The ability to undertake general, technical and RDI management functions in technological plants, enterprises and centres in the Textile, Paper and Graphic, and Leather Engineering domains. 5. METMF_The ability to develop new types of papers, media or paper products according to prescribed specifications and intended technical uses. 6. METMF_The ability to develop strategic plans and apply them to production, quality assurance and environmental management systems within the scope of Textile, Paper and Graphic, and Leather Engineering. Teaching methodology The subject comprises theoretical lectures, laboratory exercises and visits to factories. In the laboratory sessions, the students, in guided small groups, will become acquainted with the laboratory equipment and techniques used to assess paper printability. Learning objectives of the subject - To acquire a general knowledge of the graphic industry and its position in the national and international sector. - To understand conventional and digital printing processes, and the technical requirements of paper and other media used by various printing systems. - To be able to relate the characteristics and problems of ink rheology, and ink paper relationships in theoretical and practical terms. 1 / 9
Study load Total learning time: 125h Hours large group: 0h 0.00% Hours medium group: 0h 0.00% Hours small group: 45h 36.00% Guided activities: 0h 0.00% Self study: 80h 64.00% 2 / 9
Content Unit 1. Introduction to the graphic industry Learning time: 2h Theory classes: 1h Self study : 1h Introduction to the Spanish and international graphic sectors. Future prospects. A brief retrospect. Terminology. Production flow in the graphic sector. Broad classification of graphic systems. Unit 2. A rough approach to printing systems Learning time: 6h Theory classes: 1h Self study : 3h A rough approach to printing systems. Conventional printing systems. NIP or digital printing systems. Characteristics. Experimental laboratory work: Printability simple tests. Assessing paper roughness with Microcontour. Assessing penetration in porometric inks. Picking resistance as measured with the Dennison?s wax test. Unit 3. Ink rheology Learning time: 15h Self study : 11h Ink rheology. Definition of viscosity. Newtonian and non-newtonian fluids. Types of fluids according to rheological behaviour. Rheological properties of printing inks. Experimental laboratory work: Rheological study of an offset ink. 3 / 9
Unit 4. Screens and screening Learning time: 10h Self study : 6h Screening in printing systems. Screen geometry. Definition of lineature and resolution. AM and FM screens. Digital production of screen dots. Grey levels. Experimental laboratory work: Ink?paper interactions. IGT smoothness/roughness. Unit 5. Use of inks in printing systems Learning time: 10h Self study : 6h Characteristics of the inks used by each type of printing system. Ink formulations. Physical properties. Factors influencing ink stability. Experimental laboratory work: Ink?paper interactions. IGT penetration index. Unit 6. Colorimetry Learning time: 20h Theory classes: 4h Self study : 14h Definition of colour. Physiological aspects of colour. Appearance attributes of colour. Colour trivariance. Additive and subtractive synthesis. The RGB system. The CIE XYZ1931 system. Metamerism. Illuminants. The CIE L*a*b*1976 system. Colour difference ('E). Experimental laboratory work: Ink?paper interactions. IGT picking (with IGT oils and graduated tack inks). 4 / 9
Unit 7. Offset printing Learning time: 22h Theory classes: 5h Self study : 15h Foundation. Relationship between SdM and ink, emulsion. Elements of the inking unit, wetting unit and printing group'unit. Ink transfer. Phenomena occurring in nipping zones. Experimental laboratory work: Ink?paper interactions. IGT repainting. Unit 8. Flexography Learning time: 14h Laboratory classes: 3h Self study : 9h Operational foundation. Inking units. Characteristics and fabrication systems of flexographic cliches. Problems arising from poor insulation. Fabrication, structure, geometry and operational foundation of anilox rings. Regulation of machine pressure. Band guiding and winding tension. Types of flexographic machines and their configurations. Experimental laboratory work: Determination of surface free energies in an offset printing plate. Unit 9. Rotogravure Learning time: 7h Self study : 5h Operational foundation and structure of a typical printing unit. Features of the process speed. Rotogravure cylinders: structure, fabrication and cell geometry. Characteristics of prints and their defects. Ink transfer and electrostatically assisted transfer. Rotogravure blades: geometry, assembly and pressure regulation. 5 / 9
Unit 10. Inkjet printing Learning time: 14h Theory classes: 4h Guided activities: 3h Self study : 7h Operational foundation of inkjet machines. Classification of inkjet printing technologies. The two major technologies: continuous inkjet printing and drop-on-demand printing. The two major drop-on-demand types: piezoelectric printing and thermal printing. Physics of inkjet printing. A summary of the characteristics of inkjet printing inks. Visits to factories. Visits to graphic factories intended to help students become acquainted with the industrial reality of printing processes. Unit 11. Other printing systems. Inkjet printing media Learning time: 5h Self study : 3h Other conventional printing systems including screen printing and tampon printing, and other digital printing systems such as electrophotography, ionography and toner jet printing. 6 / 9
Planning of activities PRACTICAL ACTIVITY 1. SIMPLE PRINTABILITY TESTS Assessing paper roughness with Microcontour. Assessing penetration in porometric inks. Picking resistance as measured with the Dennison's wax test. PRACTICAL ACTIVITY 2. RHEOLOGICAL STUDY OF AN OFFSET INK PRACTICAL ACTIVITY 3. INK - PAPER INTERACTIONS: IGT SMOOTHNESS/ROUGHNESS PRACTICAL ACTIVITY 4. INK - PAPER INTERACTIONS: IGT PENETRATION INDEX PRACTICAL ACTIVITY 5. INK - PAPER INTERACTIONS: IGT PICKING (WITH IGT OILS AND GRADUATED TACK INKS) 7 / 9
PRACTICAL ACTIVITY 6. INK - PAPER INTERACTIONS: IGT REPAINTING PRACTICAL ACTIVITY 7. DETERMINATION OF SURFACE FREE ENERGIES IN AN OFFSET PRINTING PLATE Hours: 6h Laboratory classes: 3h Self study: 3h Determination of free energies on the photopolymer and anodized aluminium surfaces of an offset printing plate with a contact-angle goniometer and the Owens-Wendt model. VISITS TO FACTORIES Hours: 3h Laboratory classes: 3h Visits to graphic factories intended to help students become acquainted with the industrial reality of printing processes. AF5 Attendance of seminars and lectures, and visits to firms engaged in activities related to the subject contents. MID-TERM EXAM Individual written exam on units 1 6. END-OF-TERM EXAM 8 / 9
Individual written exam on units 7 1. Qualification system Each student's overall mark will be the sum of the individual marks obtained in the following assessment events: - EV1 (Evaluation of knowledge acquisition through written exams). Mid-term exam: 20% - EV2 (Evaluation of practical activities from written reports and oral presentations). Practical activities: 30% - EV3 (Evaluation of practical case solving and assignments from written reports and oral presentations). Practical case solving: 10% - EV4 (Evaluation of guided activities and exercises). Exercise solving: 10% - EV1 (Evaluation of knowledge acquisition through written exams). End-of-term exam: 30% Those students failing or not taking the mid-term exam can be re-assessed for it in the end-of-term exam. Regulations for carrying out activities Written practical reports are to be prepared individually by each student. Passing the subject requires completing the practical activities, delivering the corresponding reports and giving the oral presentation. Bibliography Basic: Foundation of Flexographic Technical Association. Flexography: principles&practices. 5. Nova York: Foundation of Flexographic Technical Association, 1999. Paolazzi, M. Huecograbado : conocimientos básicos y orientaciones técnicas. Barcelona: Don Bosco, DL 1974. ISBN 8423611698. Oittinen, P.; Saarelma, H. Printing. Helsinky: FapetOy, 1998. ISBN 952521613. Kipphan, Helmut. Handbook of print media : technologies and production methods. Berlin ; New York: Springer, 2001. ISBN 3540673261. Garcia, Roberto. Guía de la reproducción digital del color. Roberto Garcia Belchin, 1999. Others resources: 9 / 9