Abstract |
This project evaluated environmentally-preferable products for the screen reclamation process in screen printing during month-long demonstrations at 23 printing facilities nationwide. Through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Design for the Environment Printing Project, printers, the EPA, reclamation product manufacturers, and the screen printing trade association worked together to evaluate alternatives to the hazardous chemicals commonly used during screen reclamation. A total of ten 'product systems' (which include an ink remover, a stencil or emulsion remover, and a haze remover) were voluntarily submitted by manufacturers for evaluation. Additionally, one individual ink remover, and two substitute technologies were demonstrated. In general, most emulsion removers worked very well, but the success with the ink and haze removers was mixed. |