～What is screen printing ink?～
If you are an ink maker, you may get bored reading.
This is because this column is advice for those who are just starting screen printing.
This is because this column is advice for those who are just starting screen printing.
Customers from various fields come to our company for printing tests.
Some of them are completely new to printing, and some are thinking of making ink in the future.
There are many kinds of ink, some are smooth like water and others are sticky like honey.
What kind of inks can be used for screen printing?Here's an easy way to find out:
First, put a spoon in the container containing the ink and scoop up the ink.
And if the ink is sticky enough to drip slowly when you turn the spoon over, you should be able to print.
Next, what kind of solvent should be mixed with ink?
How about alcohol or water?When I asked the reason for the selection,
There are many answers such as "I want the ink to dry quickly" and "If the boiling point rises above room temperature, the ink will not dry."
However, a solvent with a boiling point of about 100°C dries the ink too quickly,
It dries on the screen plate and cannot be printed.The higher the boiling point, the better.
Examples of solvents that are difficult to dry and suitable for screen printing include:
There are isophorone and terpineol, but the boiling point of these solvents is 215°C to 217°C.
As an example of a solvent that dries quickly but can be screen-printed somehow,
There are cyclohexanone and xylene, but the boiling point of these solvents is 144°C to 155°C.
There are cyclohexanone and xylene, but the boiling point of these solvents is 144°C to 155°C.
Examples of solvents that dry too quickly and are unsuitable for screen printing include:
There are methyl ethyl ketone, etc., but the boiling point of these solvents is about 80°C.
There are methyl ethyl ketone, etc., but the boiling point of these solvents is about 80°C.
As you can see from the above examples,
To make ink for screen printing, it is better to use a solvent with a boiling point of around 200°C.
To make ink for screen printing, it is better to use a solvent with a boiling point of around 200°C.
You may be concerned that the ink will dry using a solvent with a boiling point of 200°C.
But don't worry, boiling point and evaporation are different.
Even inks made with isophorone or terpineol will dry well in an oven at about 120°C.
