Strong Wear Resistance: Packaging and decorative printing require high wear resistance. When tested under 50 pressure measurements per square centimeter, the wear resistance should reach about 150 rubs per minute. The gloss is moderate, typically achieving 50-70 brightness units. Therefore, printed packaging items need to not only be wear-resistant and withstand 30 minutes of water wash, but also meet high-temperature resistance requirements of 121°C-150°C (3-10 seconds).
Fast Film Formation and Quick Drying: The drying process for water-based high-temperature inks is 60% evaporation or volatilization and 40% absorption by the material. This makes it quick-drying, typically taking a few minutes or up to several tens of minutes for the ink to form a solid film. Using infrared or hot air drying methods can speed up the film formation and drying process.
Non-Toxic and Environmentally Friendly: Solvent-based or oil-based screen printing inks are hazardous materials and pose challenges during transportation, storage, and usage. In contrast, environmentally friendly water-based high-temperature inks use water as the solvent, making them safe and reliable. Equipment and hands can be cleaned with water, ensuring ease of use.
Color Matching Methods:
Color matching involves blending two or more colors, or adding a small amount of adjacent color to the main color to create a harmonious combination. When preparing colored inks, start by isolating the color sample you need to mix. Identify whether the color is a primary, secondary, or tertiary color. If it's a secondary or tertiary color, determine the correct ratio of the main and complementary colors. Adjust the sample to match the tone specified in the original artwork, ensuring minimal color difference. Once a close match is achieved, you can prepare larger quantities of ink. Be mindful that mixing too little ink can cause work stoppages and inconsistent colors, while mixing too much leads to unnecessary waste. Always mix ink in a well-lit area, away from direct light.
Precautions:
When mixing ink, avoid adding too many different colors. Fewer colors result in better mixing.
Follow the "light to dark" principle when mixing inks. Be cautious when blending lighter or more vibrant colors. When the color matches the sample, continue blending carefully.
It's best not to mix inks from different manufacturers, as this can lead to uneven hues. For the best results, stick to inks from the same manufacturer, even if they're different colors.
Some screen printing inks dry by baking, and the color may appear lighter after drying for light colors, and darker for dark colors. Pay attention to color changes before and after drying. For inks that naturally dry (such as solvent-based inks), the color on materials like plastic, metal, paper, and glass typically remains unchanged. However, for ceramics, the color may only develop after firing, requiring experience to adjust the ink.
When working with heat-cured or UV-cured inks, be aware that colors may darken or lighten, as mentioned earlier.
If large amounts of ink need to be mixed, consider using a mixing machine for fast, consistent results.
