Laminating inks for reverse gravure printing - solvent based inks.
2. Name : Q - Chromax PET3. Features and Uses:- Q - Chromax PET is a type of gravure laminating ink system, was applied for surface treated PET film (with surface tension more than 42 dyne/cm) or treated PA (nylon) film (with surface tension more than 50 dyne/cm)
- Q - Chromax PET supports various complex laminating processes like drying laminating, extrusion laminating. Both one component and two component inks can be applied.
- Excellent adhesion on surface of film and surface of laminating layer.
- Good in chemical resistance.
- Leave less residual solvent.
- Good ink transfer and printability.
- Good static resistance.
- Heavy metal contents in the ink meet ASTM F963-96a 4.3.5 & 8.3 and EN 71-3:1994 testing standards
4. Main Compositions:- Resin : Poly Urethane (PU)
- Pigment : Organic/ Inorganic pigment
- Additive : Synthetic wax
- Solvent : Toluene/ Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK)/ Isopropanol (IPA)/ Ethyl Acetate (EA)
5. Applications:
|
Compositions
|
Printed film
|
|
PET
|
Nylon (PA)
|
|
Onecomponent
|
*
|
|
|
Two component
|
**
|
**
|
Remark:
* : applied for normal purposes (dry food, snack food), non hardener.
** : applied for special purposes (retort, boiling, frozen, etc.), with 1.5% hardener in total fresh ink
6. Physical Properties:
|
Colour
|
Code
|
Net weight (kg)
|
Viscosity
(sec)
|
Light fastness
|
Water
Resistance
|
Acid& Alkali
Resistance
|
|
Full
|
Tint
|
|
White
|
W001
|
20
|
30÷ 60
|
AA
|
AA
|
A
|
A
|
|
Yellow
|
Y203
|
16
|
35÷ 65
|
B
|
C
|
A
|
A
|
|
Red
|
R106
|
16
|
35÷ 65
|
B
|
C
|
A
|
A
|
|
Red
|
R115
|
16
|
55÷ 100
|
A
|
B
|
A
|
A
|
|
Orange
|
O307B
|
16
|
30÷ 60
|
B
|
C
|
A
|
A
|
|
Green
|
Gr401
|
16
|
30÷ 60
|
AA
|
A
|
A
|
A
|
|
Blue
|
B301
|
16
|
30÷ 60
|
A
|
B
|
A
|
A
|
|
Violet
|
V703
|
16
|
30÷ 60
|
A
|
B
|
A
|
A
|
|
Black
|
BL501
|
16
|
35÷ 65
|
AA
|
AA
|
A
|
A
|
|
Medium
|
Me
|
17
|
20÷ 40
|
|
|
|
|
Remark:
- Fineness: < 10 microns
- Viscosity: measured by Zahn No.3 Jis
- Acid resistance:
Dipping into solutions of 3% hydrochloric acid and 7% acetic acid; slightly colouring of solution, but no change in shade of ink film after 30 mins.
- Alkali resistance:
Same result as acid test after 30 mins. Dipping into solution of 2% NaOH at room temperature.
- Water resistance:
Same result as acid test after 30 mins. Dipping into water at room temperature.
A : No change
B : Slightly colouring of solution but no change of shade of ink film
C : Slightly fading of shade of ink film and a little colouring of the solution
D : Fading pretty much
- Light fastness:
Tester: Sun Tester 575
Distance from light source to substance: 300 mm
Full: high concentration (colour ink : white ink = 1: 0)
Tint: low concentration (colour ink : white ink = 1:10)
The degree of resistance:
AA : No fading after 60 hours
A : Fading after 35 - 60 hours
B : Fading after 15 - 35 hours
C : Slightly fading after 15 hours
D : Fading much within 15 hours
7. Thinner:
|
Speed
machine
|
Mixedsolvent
|
|
Toluene
|
EA
|
MEK
|
IPA
|
|
<150 m/min
|
40
|
|
40
|
20
|
|
150- 200m/min
|
50
|
|
40
|
10
|
|
200- 300m/min
|
50
|
20
|
30
|
|
Note: EA: Ethyl Acetate, MEK: Methyl Ethyl Ketone, IPA: Isopropanol
8. Attention for Users:
- Stir well before using.
- The fineness of previously used inks should be tested before using because a long-term
storage can cause ink agglomerate. Only mix 10 – 30 % previously used inks into fresh
inks and sieve carefully by filter screen 100 µm or metal screen 120 meshes.
- Using the ink supply system together filter screen equipment and circulating
pump to prevent inks from skinning, foreign matters as well as to stabilize colour strength.
- For the printing with less ink consumption and small printing plate, moisture can be
easily introduced due to long contact with air, leading to thickening and filling-in. To
prevent these phenomena, slow drying solvent should be used in so far as possible, and
humidity of working areas should be controlled at 55 – 65%.
- Ensuring a good blocking resistance, it’s necessary to control adequate drying rate.
Medium usage:
For printing, medium is added into inks to decrease colour strength, depends on the cell-
deepness of cylinders. Generally, 10 – 15% medium should be mixed into fresh inks. In
special cases, the medium content used is a higher ratio. We recommend the medium
ratio as follows:
Medium rate
≤ 10 – 15% : using non-additives medium.
Medium rate > 15% : using medium with additives.
Hardener usage:
For special purposes (retort, boiling, frozen, etc …) in PET film printing and for all case in
PA
(nylon) film printing, we recommend adding a hardener into the fresh ink as follows the
table:
|
Conditions
|
Content (wt
/ wt)
|
Note
|
|
Humidity<70%andthere
is noIPAinthethinner
|
1.5–2.0%ofthefreshink
|
RefertoItem 7above
|
|
Humidity>70%andthere
is noIPAinthethinner
|
2.0–3.0%ofthefreshink
|
|
|
UsingIPAinthethinner
|
>2.0%of thefreshink
|
Tobaseona IPAlevelused
|
It should be storaging the two component inks in 25oC and using them in 24 hours after
adding hardener.
Keep the printed films in 24 hours before laminating.
9. Safety and storage information:
- The products contain flammable liquids. Thus, it’s necessary to keep a working area
ventilating or install an exhaust system of ventilation. Keep away from heat, spark/flame,
and static electricity.
- Storage and handling at 15 – 25oC.
- Avoid contact with skin and eyes.
- Shelf life: 6 months after date of manufacture (in condition 15 – 25oC).