Why doesn’t my ink stick?
Different pad printing inks adhere to different substrates. Manufacturers formulate inks specifically for different substrates (materials). However, different inks will work effectively with multiple substrates. Boston Industrial Solutions, Inc. has a wide range of inks for pad printing. For example, the MG Series ink prints well on glass, ceramics, metals, and hard plastics. The UP-series ink is specifically formulated for untreated polypropylene. The SE Series is suitable for silicone rubber. We also offer the ST Series for apparel and rubber materials. When printing, it is important to select the appropriate ink. This will enable you to achieve excellent adhesion. Contact us to help you find the best ink for your substrate.
Contamination and dirty substrates can lead to various issues.
When printing, it is important to make sure that the substrate is clean. The presence of oils, dust, or mold releases will negatively affect ink adhesion. When printing, it is important to wear gloves to prevent oils from entering the substrate. Bare hands will negatively impact how the ink sticks to the substrate.
Low surface energy substrates (LSEs)
Low-surface-energy substrates generally have poor ink adhesion. When the product that you are printing has low surface energy, the ink will not bond to the substrate. Implementing a pre-treatment process will solve this problem. There is chemical pretreatment, such as Natron PP Primer, for polypropylene substrate and rubber material. Simply wipe this adhesion promoter onto the substrate, give it a minute to dry, and print. When printing on glass, especially with UV inks, it is important to use a UV adhesion promoter such as Natron G1. Before screen or pad printing glass, always make sure that the substrate is clean. Use denatured alcohol to clean the glass. Learn more about Boston Industrial Solutions, Inc., UV adhesion promoters.
To determine the best regimens for your printing needs, consult with a Boston Industrial Solutions, Inc., engineer to assist you with the best adhesion solutions.
Related Articles
Why isn’t my pad printing ink cup ring doctoring the plate?
There are a couple reasons why an ink cup ring would not be doctoring (cleaning) the plate. Here are the most commons causes for this issue: 1: Insufficient ink in the cup When mixing pad printing ink, it is important to use the right amount of ink ...How do I select the right ink?
To select the right ink, please refer to our ink webpage. Simply go through the filters on the left to find the right ink for you. If you are still unsure of what ink you should use, contact us.Why has the ink become thick?
Once an ink is exposed to air, it will start to thicken. Every ink has solvent (thinner), which will naturally evaporate if left open. Once, you use up the ink, make sure you always close the lid tightly. Another cause of the ink to thicken if the ...How long does open ink last?
The shelf life (useful life) of an open ink can, when stored in a cool, dry area, lasts for 2 years. useful life of ink once openedWhat is the minimum amount of ink to put in an ink cup?
As a rule of thumb, we recommend that you have 30% of the ink cup filled with the pad printing ink-hardener-solvent mixture. Please note that there is a wide range of pad printing ink cups, ranging from 30mm to 201mm in size. The minimum required ink ...