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PADPRINT
NOTEBOOK Useful Tips & Information © ITW Trans Tech An Illinois Tool Works Company |
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 Ink Terminology FACT FILE: All Liter Ink Cans Are Not Equal QUESTION: Some of my liter ink cans weigh more than others. Why the difference? Aren't all liters equal? ANSWER: Only if they are the same color of the same type of ink. Because of the differences in the chemicals and pigments used by ink manufacturers, the weight can vary widely. Some colors are heavier like white and yellow, while others like black or blue are comparatively light. Some ink formulations are mono-pigment and thus are more transparent and less in weight. Other inks are made from multiple pigments so are heavier and more opaque. Liter cans of these two types have noticeably different weights. Also, single-component inks are less heavy than two-component epoxy inks. Because these have special ingredients that react with hardeners, they are also more dense, thus weighing more. Another weight factor is the binder that holds together all the ink ingredients including pigment and thinner. Of course these relative ink weights are right out of the can, before being properly diluted with thinners and other additives prior to printing. For more definitions of ink mixing terms see the glossary at left. OTHER RELATED TOPICS: |
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CONSUMABLES FAQs:
When All Else Fails, Read The Label
WHEN a customer calls us to solve some pad printing problem, our lab
technicians sometimes have to explain, step-by-step, how to mix inks and additives to make sure the right viscosity is achieved. This is where years of experience can make the difference between learning an inside secret or using the trial-and-error method. But first you need to understand the language of ink mixing. Here's a handy glossary of terms.
Glossary of Ink Mixing & Curing Terms
additive: any ingredient mixed into ink after opening the can to adjust or modify its properties.
adhesion promoter: additive for Types O and P inks to help adherence to certain substrates.
anti-corrosion: additive to reduce the rusting effect of some inks on metal surfaces of steel clichés or ink cups.
anti-static gel: additive for reducing effects of static charge on ink image quality.
by weight: method for measuring amounts of ink or additives by using a weight scale.
by volume: method for measuring amounts of ink or additives by using a calibrated container.
cured ink: printed ink that has had its maximum adhesion and hardness levels achieved by an additional chemical or physical process.
dry ink: freshly printed ink at room temperature, dry to touch only; not cured.
epoxy: highly durable ink type requiring addition of hardener, hence, a two-component ink.
faster thinner: additive that adjusts ink viscosity but flashes off quickly from inked pad.
flashing off: evaporation of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in ink thinner from pad surface into ambient air, thereby changing surface tension.
flow agent: additive for correcting certain ink surface problems such as bubbles, voids or pinholes.
hardener: additive for inks, especially two-part epoxy inks, that chemically reacts with binder to increase durability.
kilogram: metric measure of weight equal to 0.03527 ounce. One ounce equals 28.35 grams.
liter: metric liquid measure equal to 1.0567 quarts. One quart equals 0.9463 liter.
matte agent: additive for reducing the glossy appearance of ink
pot life: length of time a two-component epoxy ink can be used after hardener is added.
pretreating: modifying the surface tension of a substrate to improve ink adhesion. Common pretreatment methods include: chemical, flame, corona or plasma.
retarder: additive that slows the drying properties of inks as well as slowing solvent flash-off time.
slower thinner: additive that adjusts ink viscosity but flashes off slowly from inked pad.
substrate: material of which printed part is made, i.e. acrylic, styrene, nylon or many others.
thinner: additive for adjusting ink viscosity and enabling evaporation of VOCs from surface of inked pad.
UV ink: specially formulated ink that is cured by controlled exposure to an ultraviolet light source.
viscosity: a measure of the resistance of a liquid to flow; in the case of pad printing, thinner ink has less viscosity; thicker ink is more viscous. For a PDF of useful Viscosity Guidelines, click here.
For other questions about inks, additives or other consumables, call us at 630.752.4000 or to e-mail us click here.
ITW TRANS TECH An Illinois Tool Works Company
475 North Gary Avenue • Carol Stream, IL 60188-4900
Phone: 630.752.4000 • Fax: 630.752.4460
www.itwtranstech.com
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