PET-4600 Transparent Screen Printing Ink
1. Overview & Applications
The PET-4600 Series is a highly transparent screen printing ink engineered for pristine optical clarity and a smooth, high-gloss finish. It is highly adaptable and can be printed as a standard 1-component ink or upgraded to a high-performance 2-component system by adding a hardener.
Applicable Substrates: Treated or untreated PET sheets/films, Polyester stickers, PC (Polycarbonate) sheets, and PVC sheets/stickers.
Primary Applications: Transparent viewing windows on equipment nameplates, graphic overlays, and decorative "color crystal" glass/plastic effects.
2. General Printing Specifications
| Ink Type | 1-Component (Convertible to 2-Component via Hardener) |
|---|---|
| Gloss Finish | High Gloss |
| Screen Mesh Count | ≤ 350 mesh/inch |
3. Color Series
The PET-4600 series features pure transparent tints that are exceptionally easy to custom mix. A key advantage of this formulation is that it resists color mottling and floating when different tints are blended.
- Red Tints: T-10 Bright Red, T-13 Purple-Red.
- Yellow Tints: T-20 Light Yellow, T-21 Deep Yellow.
- Blue & Green Tints: T-31 Blue, T-40 Green.
- Other Tints: T-50 Purple, T-60 Black.
- Transparent Base: T-70 Clear Varnish.
4. Mixing & Processing Instructions
Thinner Selection: 10-3500 (Standard Thinner), 20-3500 (Slow-Dry Thinner).
Option A: 1-Component Processing
| Mixing Formula | 100 parts Ink + 15 to 30 parts Thinner. |
|---|---|
| Air Drying (25°C) | Touch Dry: 10-20 minutes. Hard Dry: 24-48 hours. |
| Forced Drying (Baking) | Touch Dry: 3-5 minutes at 90°C. Hard Dry: 10 minutes at 90-100°C. |
Option B: 2-Component Processing (High Performance)
To significantly enhance adhesion, surface hardness, and abrasion resistance, convert the ink to a 2-component system by adding B-5 Hardener or the reinforced B-11 Hardener.
| Mixing Formula | 100 parts Ink + 10 to 15 parts Hardener + 15 to 30 parts Thinner. |
|---|---|
| Pot Life (Usable Time) | 5 to 8 hours at room temperature. The ink will gradually thicken into a gel thereafter. |
| Air Drying (25°C) | Must air dry for a minimum of 48 hours to achieve cross-linking. |
| Forced Drying (Baking) | 90°C - 100°C for 30 minutes, OR 60°C - 70°C for 90 minutes. |
1. Adding hardener will slightly increase the overall gloss level of the dried ink layer.
2. Hardeners are extremely sensitive to atmospheric moisture; seal the hardener container immediately after opening to prevent gelation.
3. Forced baking generally yields superior and more stable physical properties compared to natural air drying.
4. Do not intermix PET-4600 with other ink series to avoid adverse chemical reactions.
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