Here's a look at some of the options available, and how to select the best one of your application. The use of foam mounting tapes to improve flexographic print quality is a well-established practice. The tapes reduce dot gain for process and screen work, and allow faster line speeds by providing a compressible layer that controls plate-substrate contact and eliminates plate bounce.
Many manufacturers produce foam cushion tapes.
Each offers at least two firmness levels, while some provide up to seven. Given the wide array of adhesive options, thicknesses and sleeve combinations, tape selection can be a bewildering process. This article presents important properties of cushion materials to provide printers with a better understanding for optimum tape selection. The use of compressibility testing is presented along with consideration of dynamic property measurements to gain insight into foam stickyback tapes' effect on print quality. This article shows how simple property measurements can be used to predict dot gain, ink density and impression latitude.