Printing screen characterisation tests

Screen-printing is a widespread tile decorating technique, in which a scree n (masked fabric) design is reproduced on ceramic tile by putting a suspens ion (screen-printing ink) through the screen fabric. Screen characteristics greatly affect design reproduction quality, so that they need to be closel y controlled and held steady across the various screens bearing the same de sign, which are used for producing a given model. The only controls that ar e sometimes conducted before the screen is put into production involve the determination of screen tension and thickness. The present study sets out t he tests required to adequately characterise such screens. The tests compri se the determination of fabric characteristics and screen tension, thicknes s and open area. The paper also describes the tests that have been fine-tun ed for determining two key properties relating to screen durability: abrasi on resistance and bonding of the photographic emulsion to the screen fabric . Using these characterisation methods enables suitable screen control to b e implemented, thus suppressing subsequent problems on using the screens in production.