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Water-based ink


Can water-based ink be used for screen printing?

Date: Oct 29 2024  From: Star Color   


Absolutely, screen printing can utilize water-based inks. As an environmentally friendly printing material, water-based inks are primarily composed of water-based resins, pigments, and additives, featuring non-toxicity, odorlessness, and ease of cleaning. In recent years, their application in the printing industry has become increasingly widespread. Silkscreen printing is a method of printing patterns through silk meshes, which has high requirements for inks, and water-based inks can meet these requirements, specifically reflected in the following aspects:

Good fluidity: Water-based inks possess excellent fluidity, ensuring even distribution of the ink on the silk mesh, which is fundamental for achieving high-quality printing.

Moderate drying speed: The moderate drying speed of water-based inks ensures that the pattern remains clear during the printing process. Additionally, by adjusting environmental factors such as temperature and humidity, as well as using drying equipment, the drying time of the ink can be further controlled to meet different printing needs.

Safety and environmental protection: During the printing process, water-based inks produce minimal odor and do not contain heavy metals, VOCs, or other harmful substances, providing good protection for the health of operators. Products printed with water-based inks also offer higher safety.

When using water-based inks for silkscreen printing, the following points should also be noted:

When using water-based inks for silkscreen printing, it is first necessary to select suitable suppliers and inks. Even so, some materials are not suitable for printing with water-based inks, such as metals and glass. Therefore, it is necessary to select appropriate inks for specific substrates. Water-based inks are recommended for use on absorbent materials such as paper, corrugated paper, and cardboard.

Can water-based ink be used for screen printing?

Here are some specific considerations:

Dilution ratio: The dilution ratio of the ink should be reasonably adjusted according to the mesh count of the silk mesh and printing requirements. Ink that is too thick can affect its fluidity, leading to poor printing results; while ink that is too thin can affect its adhesion, making the pattern prone to falling off.

Mesh count: Different mesh counts have different requirements for the passage and printing precision of the ink. Therefore, when selecting a silk mesh, it is necessary to choose one that matches the fineness of the printed pattern and the characteristics of the ink.

Operational norms: During the silkscreen printing process, it is necessary to ensure that the silk mesh is clean  as this can affect the printing effect. Additionally, the ink tank and printing equipment should be regularly cleaned to prevent ink clogging or contamination. Furthermore, attention should be paid to the storage environment of the ink to avoid exposure to direct sunlight and high temperatures, which can cause the ink to deteriorate.

In summary, water-based inks can indeed be used for silkscreen printing and offer many advantages. In practical operations, it is necessary to reasonably adjust the dilution ratio of the ink, select the appropriate mesh count, and follow standardized operational procedures to ensure printing quality and effectiveness.