RINK Radiation Curable Inks

RINK Radiation Curable Inks

OVERVIEW:

Varied methods were developed for drying of inks and coatings during the growth and evolution of graphic communications. The following techniques have been generally used for drying the many types of inks: evaporation, oxidation, and polymerization. Each drying technique uses some form of energy to change the liquid ink or coating into a solid:heat, microwaves, electron beam, or ultraviolet (UV) radiation. At present UV energy (2000A to 3700A) is proving to be a practical method for curing or drying. No solvents are given off in ultraviolet curable coats and drying is brought about by photochemical reaction.

COMPOSITION:

Ultraviolet curable inks are specifically and chemically formulated so that they generally consist of such substances as (1) photosensitizable monomers, oligomers, polymers or photoinitiators, (2) inhibitors, and (3) pigments or dyes. A monomer is a single unit (molecule) which joins with other monomers to form a "polymer" The process is called "polymerization." or curing.

CURING:

The curing of the ink is dependent on its chemical composition, the amount and type of pigment or filling material in the ink, the thickness of the applied coating, the color being cured, and very important-the photosensitizer or photoinitiator. The ink which must be sensitized to respond to UV energy. The curing unit, which takes the place of a conventional oven, consists of a light-tight unit or box, an engineered cooling system, and UV energy lamps, the number of lamps required being proportional to the speed of the conveyor or belt passing through the curing area.

APPLICATION

UV coatings or inks can be applied to the substrate by a variety of means: printing, spraying etc. FM specialises in materials for the graphic arts in particular for printing on plastic substrates such as PVC, Styrenics, Polyesters, Polycarbonate etc. These coatings give superior protection to the printed surface without negatively affecting the physical properties of the substrate.

UV Printing on plastic substrates that will go through a lamination process after printing is particularly toublesome due to the problem of getting good adhesion of the laminate to the highly crosslinked UV ink. FM's Flash Lamination technology is useful in overcoming these problems.

At your request, customised functional formulas can be quickly developed for your application.

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