Knowde Enhanced TDS
Identification & Functionality
- Technologies
- Product Families
Features & Benefits
- Ready-to-Use Product Features
- Characteristics
Ink characteristics
All UVC shades are brilliant and high-gloss at the best possible opacity. Further characteristics
- Fast curing
- Good 1-c water and steam resistance
- High filler resistance
- Flexible ink film, e. g. for tubes -thixotropic structure, and no drip- through during machine stops
- Opaque White 170 for dark substrates
- Can be over-embossed with hot foils
If printing onto very hot substrates, the degree of gloss of UVC will generally decrease.
Adjustment of the ink
Ultrapack UVC is press-ready. However, please stir well before printing.
To further improve the chemical resistance, we recommend to use hardener H 3. For more details about this auxiliary, please see chapter ‘Additives and Auxiliaries’. By adding hardener H 3 to the ink (attention pot life), adhesion as well as water resistance will be enhanced.
Curing
Ultrapack UVC is a very fast curing UV ink for a printing speed of up to 7000 bottles/hour. A UV-curing unit (medium-pressure mercury lamp or fusion) of 120 to 200 W/cm is therefore necessary. The curing speed of the ink is generally depending on the kind of UV-curing unit (reflector), the number, age and power of the UV-lamps, the printed ink film thickness, the color shade, the substrate in use, as well as the printing speed/number of passes.
Adhesion of the ink is usually controlled by a tape test after the printed bottles have cooled down to room temperature.
Ultrapack UVC is a post-curing UV ink which will achieve its best adhesion and resistances after 24 hours.
Fade resistance
Pigments of good to excellent fade resistance (blue wool scale 6-8) are used for the UVC range except for color shade 934.
Stress resistance
After proper and thorough drying, the ink film exhibits outstanding adhesion as well as rub, scratch and block resistance and is resistant to solvents (see DIN 16 524), alcohol (96% ethanol), finger sweat, and further common alkaline and acid fillers. Especially these resistances can be improved by adding 2-4% of hardener H 3.
Applications & Uses
- Applications
- Application Area
- Compatible Substrates & Surfaces
- Cure Method
- Field of Application
Substrates
Ultrapack UVC is suited for the following substrates:
- Pre-treated polyethylene HDPE /LDPE and polypropylene PP
- Flame-treated and non-treated PET and PETG
- Polycarbonate PC
- Rigid PVC and self-adhesive PVC films
- Polystyrene PS
- Polyamide PA
The addition of hardener is recommended for polyamide (pot life 6-8 h). Before printing onto PE and PP, please keep in mind that the non-polar and thus low surface tension of the substrate surface must be treated by flaming. With this process, surface tension will rise and a very good adhesion from 44 mN/m is possible. The surface treatment can be tested by appropriate test inks. The substrate surface must be absolutely free of contaminating residues such as grease, oil, and finger sweat.
Due to the processing parameters, PET and PETG substrates can have great differences in surface tension which can be rectified by a pretreatment with a ‘soft’ gas flame. The adhesion of Ultrapack UVC to PVC is very good, but take into consideration the embrittlement of PVC due to UV-light in the UVdryer.
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 as well as a sufficient adhesion.
Field of use
UVC has been especially developed for direct container and packaging printing. UVC can be used both on single and multicolour printing machines at a printing speed of up to 7000 bottles per hour (for more information, see chapter ’Curing’). UVC is, therefore, best suited for high-quality prints onto bottles, cans, tubes, jugs, and cartridges.
UVC may be used, by an appropriate printing process, to print onto the non food-contact surface of any material or article intended to come into contact with foodstuffs. However, full compliance with the regulation (EC) Nr. 2023/ 2006 must be ensured. We recommend a migration test with the finished product. In case of any queries please contact our Marabu product safety department directly.
Properties
- Color
Regulatory & Compliance
- Labelling
For our ink type Ultrapack UVC and its additives and auxiliaries there are current Material Safety Data Sheets available according to ECregulation 1907/2006 informing in detail about all relevant safety data including labeling according to the present EEC regulations as to health and safety labeling requirements. Such health and safety data may also be derived from the respective label.
Safety & Health
- Safety Information
UV-inks contain some substances which may irritate the skin. Therefore, we recommend to take utmost care when working with UVcurable screen printing inks. Parts of the skin dirtied with ink are to be cleaned immediately with water and soap. Please pay also attention to the notes on labels and safety data sheets.
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 2 years 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.