Reference

Screen Printing Knowledge-Part 3 Screen Printing Ink

• Ink viscosity

  • Generally speaking, the volatile ink used in traditional screen printing.

  • 3~6% of the solvent will be added. which is much lower than the 15~18% of the solvent used in pad printing.  

• Screen printing requires higher viscosity ink. 

  • because high ink fluidity will easily lead to ink overflow.

• Add an appropriate amount of thinner slow solvent 

  • can reduce the ink viscosity to avoid ink picks

• • Add an appropriate amount of thinner slow solvent can increase the ink fluidity. which rises the ink scraping speed to increase the productivity.

• A common mistake is that screen printing inks always dry too fast.

• • Screen printing inks should dry as slowly as possible. some inks used in certain materials do not even dry at all,

  • It can only be cured through heating or UV light exposing. 

• UV light curing.

• • The inks become viscous due to rapid volatilization

  • If the ink dries too fast, the screen stencil is easy to be stained and the ink picks are tend to appear

• After printing, there is no sufficient time for the ink on the printed substrate to level or remove the bubbles. and defects are generated

  • Stained mesh causes incomplete printing

• Cure in the curing oven 

  • There is only one problem for inks that dry too slow. which is the long curing time. the printed objects are easily contaminated with animal fur and dust. But this can be solved by putting into the curing oven immediately.