Name: Nick Osetek & Tessa Chambers Date: 4/24/2018
Room Temperature: 67*F Humidity etc: Dry
Experiment Title: Citric Acid Degeneration Test
Experiment Goal: We continued using Bath 4 (12 oz spent copper sulfate saline bath, 1 tbsp citric acid) until depletion. We cut another six plates (plates 7-12) to etch.
Plate material: Aluminum (5052)
Plate Preparation: Buffed with fine grit steel wool, degreased with Bon Ami and soy sauce, backed with contact paper
Evaluation of Plate Preparation: Normal
Etching Bath Notes: We have been etching in the bath for 21 minutes so far. The bath was murky and slowly getting darker from use. Instead of a milky green from use the bath was turning gray with the new citric acid mixture.
Time in bath: 18 minutes total in 3 minute increments
After Bath Evaluation: Bath 4 was getting rapidly weaker compared to our original saline sulfate bath. The bath was an even darker gray after this test.
Removal of Grounds: N/A
Inking Methods: Bone black oil-based etching ink, 10% 00 burnt plate oil (Nick inked these plates to keep wiping methods consistent)
Paper Type: Hahnemuhle Copperplate
Soaking Time: 1 Hour
Press, blanket set up, pressure: Pragda, 2 blankets, 4/9-left 4/8-right
Conclusions: Our prints of plates 7 – 12 were lighter compared to citric acid test #1, but all 6 plates (7-12) were consistent with each other in tonal range.
3-minute plate comparisons. Plates 1-6 and 7-12. First 6 plates etched hot then leveled out with plates 7-12.