Screen printing UV ink (2)

Second, the latest application of UV ink dynamic

Recent technological advances have allowed ink manufacturers to produce inks with good adhesion, flexibility, ductility, and water resistance. The latest developments in these ink technologies have a great influence on the following markets and applications.

1, POP and display graphics

There are many kinds of multifunctional POP inks, which have good adhesion to a variety of substrates (paper, cardboard, styrene, foamed PVC, and even very difficult to print polyolefin plastics). In recent years, there have been single-component inks, which are suitable for printing polyolefin plastics (polyethylene, polypropylene, etc.) and have good performance characteristics (for flexible and water-resistant flags and the same applications). This new type of ink does not require additives and reduces the waste of ink associated with two-component catalytic inks. It reduces the total inventory of ink and thus maintains a reasonable cost price.

2, the decoration of the container

Several of the most significant advances have been made in UV ink technology for container printing. In the container market, reliable and easy-to-use inks are needed, and this market is filled with various plastic additives and inks suitable for making containers. Now HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene), PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate), PVC (Polyvinyl Chloride), PP (Polypropylene), and other plastic containers can be used with single components. No additive ink to decorate. These inks have high opacity and greatly improved chemical resistance, they do not require additives or catalysts.

3, absorbent plastic

Multifunctional monomers are the latest in the development of UV ink technology and are used by ink manufacturers to overcome the difficulties of printing on absorbent substrates (polyethylene flags and HDPE materials). These substrates absorb moisture and can form a water-absorbing water barrier between the ink and the substrate, preventing normal ink adhesion. As a result, the patterns printed on these substrates are at risk from friction, heavy downpours, high winds and debris damage. The inks formulated with the novel monomers exhibited greatly improved water resistance on the water-absorbent substrates and a fast drying speed with a high degree of gloss, a solid color, and an almost water-resistant print.

4, thermoforming

UV inks used in thermoforming applications are relatively novel inks. These inks have good adhesion and flexibility and can withstand stretching during thermoforming. Thermoformed inks can be vacuum formed with a stretch length of 20 cm or more. These inks have also led to the emergence of a variety of improved formulations that can be used on a variety of substrates (styrene, polycarbonate, acrylate, polyethylene terephthalate, polyvinyl chloride, and certain other materials). Heat bending, engraving, and other processing techniques are performed on the top.

5, liquid substrates

The same high stretch resins and monomers used in thermoformed inks also led to the creation of new thick film inks, including those that are essentially liquid substrates. In other words, these inks can be used directly as printed images and substrates. Depending on the particular ink used, pressure-sensitive display graphics or statically adhered graphics can be printed. This non-substrate printing method does not require expensive substrates and die cutting costs, but also reduces the turnaround time of the order.

6, thick film ink application

Deepening the understanding of the photoinitiator reaction, the ink formulation manufacturers can introduce a variety of special UV inks, including products with high pigment content and can form a thick film. What people once thought was impossible to cure became reality. Today's printing industry can cure 60-mesh UV inks coated with 300 μm or thicker emulsions. Among the existing thick-film ink products are thixotropic inks and inks used for selection into hemisphere applications, and these products are expected to see substantial growth in popularity.

7, magnetic ink

Another ink development result produced by the new thick film ink technology is a magnetically sensitive UV ink. This ink is very suitable for printing POP advertising, can be printed on a variety of substrates, so that they accept the magnetic material, the ink does not turn the image into an actual magnet, but the graphics printed with the ink is fixed to the appropriate by means of the magnetic surface The location. Suitable applications for such inks include industrial telephone booths, newspaper rack strips, mastheads, and modular display devices that require easy replacement of graphics.

8, special effects graphics

Thick-film UV technology gave birth to new special effects inks. Flash UV inks contain large glitter particles that produce a fluorescent effect on printed images. They require a coarse mesh to minimize the separation of particles, but are very suitable for seasonal and special graphics, with a variety of colors. Another new achievement is durable photoluminescent inks that emit light for up to 14 hours. Developed a variety of other UV inks with pearlescent, glittering and metallic particles, with a wide variety of colors that can be used on a variety of substrates. The new inks with high pigment content allow printing operators to print on dark-surfaced substrates with good hiding power and limit the ink.

9, flame retardant applications

Another hot spot in UV screen printing ink technology is flame-retardant UV ink, which is produced in response to customers' concerns about the safety of printed graphics. Ink and substrate manufacturers collaborated to come up with a variety of solutions. Although UV inks have a high ignition temperature, they decompose and burn as long as they reach the flammable limits. There are two ways to slow down this process. One is the use of flame retardants in the ink to prevent combustion and reduce or avoid the creation of flames. The second is the preparation of inks such as expansive paints, which can form a good layer of carbon to prevent oxidation and avoid burning. However, keep in mind that flame-retardant UV inks alone cannot completely prevent fires. It is important that the substrates can both expand and inflame.

10, UV era

With the latest developments in the raw materials for ink production, future UV curing products will take us to the end. In the early days, basic UV inks were sold along with a variety of additives to improve functionality, and printers were forced to act as chemists to obtain proper ink performance. Nowadays, ink supply manufacturers are integrating more technologies into inks and developing new products according to the needs of customers. Raw material supply manufacturers are now expected to develop products according to the requirements of ink preparation manufacturers. The competition among ink suppliers forces them to seek new and innovative ways to improve the performance of inks, as well as find new application areas to be able to benefit from UV screen printing, in general, due to the development of new UV The market for ink and UV screen printing has been growing at an alarming rate. This trend will continue because raw material suppliers and ink manufacturers work together to develop products and set performance standards.

Source: 21st Century Fine Chemicals Network