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Identification & Functionality
- Technologies
Features & Benefits
- Labeling Claims
- Ready-to-Use Product Features
Applications & Uses
- Applications
- Compatible Substrates & Surfaces
- Cure Method
- Field of Application
Substrates
Mara® Cure HY is a universal, very fast curing hybrid solution (solvent-based/UV) for screen printing applications on the following substrates:- Polycarbonat (PC)
- PMMA
- ABS
- PVC
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® Cure HY is particularly suited for industrial indoor and outdoor applications, such as interior and exterior applications for the automotive industry, or as surface protection of furniture.
The processing steps are as below:- Printing of the motif
- Drying / tempering
- In case of 3D-applications: molding
- UV-curing process
- Cutting/stamping/back injection molding
- Characteristics
Mara® Cure HY is highly reactive and features a very flexible ink film, allowing post-processing steps like molding (before the UV-curing process), and cutting, stamping or back injection molding (after the UV-curing process). Mara® Cure HY 911 is silicone-free. For silicone-free products it is important to use only thoroughly cleaned stencils, squeegees, ink pumps, tubes (in the case of an automatic ink supply), and injectors for the manual ink filling of the stencil, etc. If cleaning is carried out with automatic screen washing systems, we recommend prior to printing an additional manual cleaning with a fresh cleaner not having had any contact with ink residues containing silicone.
Ink Adjustment The ink should be stirred homogeneously before printing and if necessary during production. Mara® Cure HY is a 2-component ink system. Prior to printing, it is essential to add hardener in the correct quantity. This ink/hardener mixture must be stirred homogeneously and adjusted to the right printing viscosity by adding thinner (stir again). Additional venting under vacuum reduces the remaining air and allows printing a most homogeneous surface. When using hardener, the processing and curing temperature must not be lower than 15°C as irreversible damage can occur. Please also avoid high humidity for several hours after printing as the hardener is sensitive to humidity.
Drying
The drying/curing takes place in two steps:- Solvent evaporation
- UV-curing
Between these two processes the printed item can be molded.
- Solvent evaporation
Forced drying, example (15 m / min):
1. Zone Air 100 % 80 °C 2. Zone Air 100 % 90 °C 3. Zone IR 70 % 4. Zone IR 80 % Cooling Auto 100 % After this procedure the ink film is dust-dry and flexible but not scratch resistant yet. Before the molding, please allow Mara® Cure HY to post-cure for 24 h or alternatively, the ink film can be post-tempered for 1 h at 80°C. We recommend using a rack for intermediate storage. Preliminary trials are essential.
- UV-curing
2D-applications: A UV-curing unit (mediumpressure mercury lamp) of 120 to 200 W/cm is necessary. A UV-curing unit with two medium-pressure mercury lamps (80 - 120 W/cm) cures Mara® Cure HY at a belt speed of 15 m/ min (e.g. Kühnast UV-Integrator UV 250-410 nm, max. 365 nm).
3D-applications: 3D-applications require a special 3D-UV-curing unit.
After the UV-curing process you can immediately start with post-processing steps such as cutting, stamping or back injection molding. Mara® Cure HY is a post-curing UV ink which will achieve its best adhesion and resistance after 24 hours. The curing speed of the ink is generally dependant upon the kind of UV-curing unit (reflectors), number, age, and power of the UV lamps, the printed ink film thickness, color shade, substrate in use, as well as the printing speed. As with all UV-curable printing inks, the presence of residual monomers and photoinitiators' decomposition products cannot be completely ruled out even after sufficient curing. If these traces are relevant for the application, this must be taken into account in individual cases, as this depends on the actual printing and curing conditions
Stress resistance
After proper and thorough drying, the ink film exhibits outstanding adhesion as well as rub, scratch and block resistance and passes various tests of the automobile industry such as chemical resistance according to GMW 14445 or mechanical resistance according to Oesterle DBL 9202.
Technical Details & Test Data
- Technical Details
Auxiliaries
H 1 Hardener 10% MP Matting Powder 5-15% PV Thinner 1-5% UR 3 Cleaner (flp. 42°C) UR 4 Cleaner (flp. 52°C) UR 5 Cleaner (flp. 72°C) Hardener H 1 is sensitive to humidity and is always to be stored in a sealed container. Shortly before use, the hardener must be added to the ink and stirred homogeneously. The mixture ink/hardener is not storable and must be processed within pot life. By adding Matting Powder MP the ink film can be matted individually.
Thinner can be added to the ink/hardener mixture to adjust the printing viscosity. The cleaners UR 3 and UR 4 are recommended for manual cleaning of the working equipment. Cleaner UR 5 is recommended for manual or automatic cleaning of the working equipment.
Printing Parameters
Selection of fabric depends on the printing conditions, the desired curing speed and mileage as well as the required opacity. Generally, fabrics of 90-40 bis 120-34 can be used. A uniform screen tension (> 16 N) of all fabrics used is further important. All commercially available capillary films (15-20 µm) or solvent resistant photo emulsions and combined stencils can be used- Pre-reaction time
It is recommended to allow the ink/ hardener mixture to pre-react for 15 minutes.
Packaging & Availability
- Range
911 Overprint Varnish, with UV-Absorber914 Satin Transparent VarnishMara® Cure HY 911 is silicone-free and therefore not mixable with HY 914.
Storage & Handling
- Pot Life
The ink/hardener mixture is chemically reactive and can only be processed within 8 hours, referred to an ambient temperature of 20°C. Higher temperatures reduce the pot life. If the room temperature (> 30° C) or the mentioned times are exceeded, the ink's adhesion and chemical resistance may be reduced even if the ink is still fluid and therefore seems processable.
- Shelf Life
In order to avoid frost damages, Mara® Cure HY should under no circumstances (not even shortly) be exposed to temperatures lower than 5 °C during transport and storage. If permanently stored at a temperature range of 15–25 °C, the shelf life of the unopened ink container is
• 2 years for HY 914
• 1 year for HY 911
Under different conditions, particularly differing storage temperatures, the shelf life is reduced. In such cases, the warranty given by Marabu expires.