VISPROX Pad Printing Inks

TCP 9900 1-2 Component Padprinting Ink.

Fast air drying, gloss finish, one- or two pack pad printing ink with a long pot life for the printing of many types of PVC, pre-treated polyethylene and polypropylene, various types of polyester, acrylic, melamine, polycarbonate, aluminium, glass and many other rigid materials. Additional adhesion promotors are available.

Drying takes place by evaporation of the solvents. The chemical reaction between the components sets in only after drying without consumption of oxygen. Forced air drying improves the drying process. Overprintable after 3 seconds. Piling up is possible immediately after drying without disturbing the curing process. Enamelling is possible to obtain a better adhesion on metals.

TCP 9900 inks are suitable for handsemi- automatic and automatic printing.

The full colour range is in accordance with the EN 71-3 and ASTMF-963 norm for toy regulations. The Colormatic matching system enables you to match a simulation of shades according to Pantone® - HKSRAL- and Visprox colours. Condition: white substrate.

Colour range: 21 standard colours, 10 extra opaque colours, 11 Colormatic colours + clear and 4 halftone colours.

Although TCP 9900 used as a two-component ink with excellent adhesion on various materials, good resistance to chemical products etc., the ink is air drying. The chemical reaction takes place in the dry inkfilm.

Drying

Drying takes place by evaporation of the solvents. The chemical reaction between the components sets in only after drying, without consumption of oxygen. Overprintable after 3 seconds. Final drying is dependent on the thinner applied, temperature, ventilation and the qualities of the printed material. By warm air drying the drying time is dependent on air-temperature, the depth of the cliché plate, the type of thinner and the qualities of the printed material.

The TCP 9900 inks can be enamelled to obtain a better adhesion on metals. Enamelling can also be effectuated after warm air drying in order to realize instant complete hardening-through of the inkfilm.
Enamelling : 5-10 minutes at 180°C
or : 25-30 minutes at 120°C.

By multicolour padprinting systems a flash curing with cold- or warm air can be necessary.

Gloss

The gloss is dependent on the layer thickness and the printed grounds. In practice it is sometimes necessary to print twice or more without a pauze so as to obtain a beautiful gloss.

Colour mixing

In this ink series the Visprox colours according to the Colormatic matching system can be obtained by using the mixing colours A-M as well as colours of other matching systems. Pantone formulations are available.
Condition: white substrate.

On the under “application” mentioned materials the adhesion is good. The to be printed Materials have to be free from oxides (metals) and grease. While degreasing see to it that the cleanser itself does not contain grease and be sure that the to be printed materials is dampproof. A very good degreaser is isopropyl alcohol (polish with a dry cloth). Good judgement of the adhesion is only possible when reaction has fully taken place, which is usually the case after 48 hours.

Chemical resistance

If well hardened through TCP 9900 inks are resistant to alcohols, cosmetics (shampoos and hairsprays), detergents, soap, mineral oils, and cleaning spirit. The TCP 9900 inks does not resist aggresive aromatics and ketones, aggresive acids and lyes.

Opacity

The opacity of the TCP 9900 inks is good. The several colours, white and black are available in an extra opaque quality.

Light fastness

The lightfastness of all the colours in full tone is good. The thicker the layer, the better the light- fastness. When extended with white or Clear/Overprint Varnish the lightfastness diminishes.

Elasticity

Very good, metals printed with TCP 9900 inks can be deformed after printing.

Cliché Depths

The TCP 9900 pad printing inks have a good ink transfer and can be used with quite significant cliché depths. Generally speaking, a depth of 26 to 36 micrometer (0,001” - 0,0015”) is recommended. Even clichés up to 40 micrometer can be used when during printing the pad is treated with air.

Hardener

The TCP 9900 ink is supplied in two components; 1 litre of ink by 100 cc of hardener no.2. The Hardener no.2 is supplied in tubes which have to be closed immediately after use as the hardener reacts with the humidity of the air.
Mixing ratio: add 6 – 10% Hardener no. 2 to the ink.
Only when the hardener is well mixed with the ink, the required quantity of thinner or retarder can be added.

Potlife

At 20°C the potlife of the mixture ink-hardener is about 72 hours. At lower temperatures, provided that the tins are well closed and dampproof stored, the potlife of the mixture can be longer.

Attention

When printing overlapping with one or more colours or varnish this has to be done within 48 hours. After this period the next print will damage the already printed colour. The above mentioned is only applicable when the ink is used in combination with hardener.

Thinner

Stir the ink well before diluting. First add the required amount Hardener no.2 subsequently dilute etc. Dilute with 20 to 25% thinner 10. When printing fine details and/or when working at higher surrounding temperatures, a mixture of thinner 10 and retarder 8 can be used. Too little an addition of thinner can be detrimental to the drying and printing qualities of the ink.

Extension

TCP 9949 Clear/Overprint Varnish can be added in every proportion so as to lower the colour intensity or to abtain semi-transparent effects, this, however, reduces the lightfastness, dependent on the added percentage

Matting

The gloss of the TCP 9900 inks can be reduced by an addition of Visprox Matting Paste. Dependent on the result required: add 10-30%. The use of matting paste decreases the weather resistance.

Varnish

In order to increase the gloss of the TCP 9900 inks a layer of TCP 9949 Clear/Overprint Varnish can be applied. This may also be desirable when very high demands are made upon the scratch resistance. When a partial or full mat surface is required a layer of TCP 9945 Clear Flat can be applied.

TCP 9900 Pale and Rich Gold

These inks, when mixed, are not stable. Gold Paste and Clear/Overprint Varnish are therefore separately packed. The best result will be obtained by mixing the Gold Paste in a mixing ratio of 2 parts of weight of the Clear/Overprint Varnish and 1 part of weight of Pale or Rich Gold Paste. Add then 10 volume % of hardener calculated on the quantity of Clear/Overprint Varnish (S.G. 1,0) and finally dilute.

Halftone prints

For the manufacture of halftone prints the following colours are available: TCP 9951 Yellow, TCP 9952 Cyan, TCP 9953 Magenta and TCP 9954 Black. TCP 9949 Clear/Overprint Varnish can be added in every proportion for adjusting the colour intensity.

Cleaning the ink container and Clichés

This has to be done immediately after printing with Visprox Screenwash T.X.F., L.O.D. Visprox Super Screen wash. Also the thinner of the TCP 9900 inks can be used as well but are less effective.