PROPERTIES OF SCREEN-PRINTED FLUORESCENT MOTIVE IN A FLEXO-SCREEN COMBINED REPRODUCTION ON RECYCLED PAPER SUBSTRATES

Fluorescent printing inks are utilized in graphic reproduction for their special visual impression. Because of their vividness, they are used for printing decorative elements and information that needs to be noticeable. In this research, the fluorescent motive was printed by screen printing technique on recycled paper substrates and a preprinted flexographic ink layer. Because of the importance of introducing eco- friendly and sustainable options and alternatives to all segments of graphic reproduction, the possibility of using recycled paper substrates for printing a special-effect ink initiated the research with specific materials presented in this paper. Two types of flexographic printing plates (one solvent-washable and one eco- friendly water-washable) with different surface properties and screen printing plates with different mesh counts were used. This research aimed to determine the influence of the basic flexographic and screen printing plate parameters on the reproduction quality of fluorescent prints on recycled paper substrates. Spectrophotometric measurements of prints, measurements of the thickness of screen-printed and flexographic layers, microscopy of details on fluorescent prints and the width of the fluorescent printed fine lines were analyzed. Furthermore, adhesion parameters were calculated between the paper substrates, printed flexographic ink and fluorescent screen-printed ink. The results of this research provide information on the interaction, compatibility and properties of layers printed by a combination of flexography and screen printing on recycled paper substrates.