Process for producing aluminum support for printing plate

Abstract

A process for producing an aluminum support for a printing plate, which involves electrochemical graining of the support, is disclosed. The support is passed through an acidic electrolyte of an electrolytic cell along a path of travel maintained a distance above alternatingly distributed anodes and cathodes in a face-to-face relationship with the aluminum-containing support. Simultaneously, there is applied a d-c voltage between the alternating anodes and cathodes to produce an electrochemically roughened support. The electrochemically roughened supports produced in accordance with the invention have a grained structure. characterized by a uniform and dense distribution of high depth-to-diameter ratio pits and exhibit satisfactory print quality and running characteristic without causing any uneveness.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.