Process to render print cylinder re-usable by surface softening with plasma followed by removal by abrasion and solvents

摘要

In a process to recycle a pre-used printing cylinder (7) outer surface is exposed to plasma at atmospheric pressure to loosen surface deposits that are then removed by a mechanical scraping agent. The mechanical scraping agent is a granular paste combined with acid and a solvent. The removal operation is undertaken by scraping, abrasion, polishing, friction, wiping and/or cleaning. The titanium oxide print plate surface removed is at least 50 nm, preferably 100 to 150 nm.