Knowde Enhanced TDS
Identification & Functionality
- Technologies
- Product Families
Features & Benefits
- Ready-to-Use Product Features
- Characteristics
Recommendation
The ink should be stirred homogeneously before printing and if necessary during production.
Processing
The mirror effect of the printed ink film largely depends on the quality and transparency of the substrate used, the care taken in processing, and the drying process. Special features of Marachrome MC are the very good screen opening and its mild odor. Mirror Ink is very sensitive to contamination and reacts immediately resulting in a clouding of the mirror effect. Possible sources of failure in this respect are poorly cleaned screens or stencils, or dirty spatulas or stirrers. The use of auxiliaries such as flow additives or screen opening sprays is also critical and should be avoided. A clean working environment is essential, and the use of a new, unused screen is recommended.
Drying
Mirror Ink Mara® Chrome MC can be processed on semi- or three-quarter automatic machines, as well as manually. However, after tunnel drying (50-60°C), it must be placed on a drying rack as the block resistance (for immediate stack drying) is not adequate. A brighter mirror effect can be achieved by tunnel drying rather than by simple rack drying.
Fade resistance
Mara® Chrome MC is highly fade resistant and UV-stable. It is suitable for permanent outdoor exposure of 2 years if placed vertically, and referred to the middle European climate north of the forty-fifth degree of latitude.
Stress resistance
Blocking layers increase the mechanical and chemical resistance. On transparent substrates, Mirror Ink MC has a medium opacity which is further improved by suitable blocking layers over the entire surface.
For blocking layers we recommend:
Libra Gloss LIG for
• PC and PMMA
Mara® Poly P for
• glass, PETG, PETA, PMMA, PC
Applications & Uses
- Applications
- Field of Application
Mara® Chrome MC is a solvent-based and pressready screen printing ink for the manufacturing of mirror, chrome, and metallic effects. The mirror effect can only be achieved by printing onto the reverse side of a transparent substrate.
Substrates
Transparent synthetic materials such as PMMA, polycarbonate (PC), PETA, primed PET foils, and glass are suitable. PETG can also be overprinted with MC but the mirror effect will be slightly inferior. Since all the print substrates mentioned may be different in printability even within an individual type, preliminary trials are essential to determine the suitability for the intended use.
Field of use
Mara® Chrome MC is suited for the production of high-quality displays in sales and publicity areas (POP and POS displays), glass decoration as well as other indoor applications intended to imitate traditional mirror, chrome, or metallic effects. Mara® Chrome MC can also be processed with a spray gun, but preliminary trials are necessary for this process. In order to avoid surface irregularities, we recommend to filter the thinned ink (25 µm screen) before processing.
Technical Details & Test Data
- Technical Details
Auxiliaries
PSV Thinner, Cleaner 5-10% UR 4 Cleaner (flp. 52°C)Mara® Chrome MC can be thinned with PSV if necessary. Thinner PSV must also be used as cleaner during the printing process. Cleaner UR 4 is only recommended for the final cleaning of the working equipment.
Printing Parameters
The best mirror effect will be obtained by using a new screen mesh with a mesh count of 90-48 to 120-34. The stencils must be solvent-resistant and thoroughly cured.
Packaging & Availability
- Range
Basic Shades 295 Mirror Silver
Storage & Handling
- Shelf Life
Shelf life depends very much on the formula/ reactivity of the ink system as well as the storage temperature. It is 1 year for an unopened ink container if stored in a dark room at a temperature of 15-25°C. Under different conditions, particularly higher storage temperatures, the shelf life is reduced. In such cases, the warranty given by Marabu expires.