After the image has been editioned the substrate
can be completely reclaimed and recycled by firstly cleaning off the
etching ink with vegetable oil and then soaking the plate in either a
1% caustic soda ash (lye) solution, or a 4% soda ash solution.
If this solution is splashed directly into your eyes
flush immediately with water and seek medical advice .
10 Grams of caustic soda (Sodium Hydroxide or
Lye) is mixed with 1 liter of water and placed into a photo developing
tray or vertical etching tank. Stripping time from 2 - 10 minutes. The
stronger 4% soda ash stripping solution takes from 30 minutes to 2 hrs
to strip ImagOn from the plate.
A more cost effective method of removing the
ImagOn film is to leave the plate soak over night in old ImagOn
developer. Some workshop conditions may necessitate the quick removal
of the ImagOn film in which case the caustic soda stripping solution
can be used.
Soak the plate in one of the above solutions
until the ImagOn lifts and then rinse the plate with water. A final
cleaning can be done with Comet or Ajax Cleanser.