Water-based flexo inks for film substrates

Date: Feb 21 2025 From: Star Color

Soft packaging dominated by plastic films is revolutionizing industries such as food, household chemicals, and electronics with its unique advantages. PE, PP, PET, and other film substrates have become core packaging materials due to their lightweight nature, strong barrier properties, and high malleability. However, the film printing sector has long faced a critical dilemma: solvent-based inks, while high-performing, are highly polluting and pose severe threats to the environment and human health; meanwhile, water-based inks, though eco-friendly, suffer from issues like poor adhesion, failing to meet high-quality printing demands.

Zhongzhixing’s specialized water-based flexographic ink for films has resolved this conflict. Leveraging nano-level adhesion enhancement technology and a low-solvent-residue formula, it achieves the perfect integration of sustainability and high performance in plastic film printing.

1. Technological Breakthroughs: Overcoming Three Major Challenges in Film Printing

The low surface energy and chemical inertness of films often lead to poor adhesion, pinholes, and uneven leveling with traditional water-based inks. Zhongzhixing’s threefold technological innovations have redefined film printing standards.

Enhanced Adhesion: By combining modified acrylic resins with proprietary technology, Zhongzhixing’s ink forms chemical bonds with non-polar films like PE and PP. Rigorous ASTM D3359 testing confirms adhesion reaches an exceptional 5B grade, with no ink peeling even after 30 minutes of boiling water immersion, ensuring robust adhesion for film printing.
Surface Tension Mastery: Zhongzhixing’s intelligent wetting agents automatically adapt to film surface tension, eliminating defects like pinholes and craters. The resulting print smoothness rivals gravure printing, significantly enhancing quality and aesthetics.
High Opacity: The ink’s micron-level pigment dispersion system achieves 100% coverage with a single-layer dry film thickness of just 1.2μm. This not only guarantees print quality but also reduces material costs by 20%, delivering tangible economic benefits.

2. Peak Performance: Water-based ≠ Compromise—Redefining the Limits of Film Printing

Durability Upgraded: Zhongzhixing’s ink excels in resistance to boiling water (100°C/30min), freezing (-40°C), and high temperatures (200°C). With over 8,000 rub-resistant cycles (GB/T 7706), it meets the rigorous demands of automated packaging lines, ensuring product durability during transport and use.
Drying Efficiency Revolution: The ink achieves complete drying at 200m/min speeds while reducing energy consumption by 50% compared to solvent-based inks. This breakthrough boosts productivity, cuts operational costs, and aligns with global energy-saving trends.
Stunning Color Performance: With a wide color gamut covering 90% of Pantone colors, the ink effortlessly renders metallic finishes, transparent gradients, and other effects, empowering brands to create captivating visual experiences that stand out in competitive markets.

3. Safety Empowerment: Addressing Food & Medical Packaging Challenges

For films directly contacting food and pharmaceuticals, Zhongzhixing sets industry benchmarks with its “Double Zero” commitment:

Zero Solvent Residues: VOC content <1%, exceeding China’s GB38507 standards. Compliant with FDA 21 CFR 175.300 and other food-contact regulations, ensuring safety for food and pharmaceuticals.
Zero Toxic Substances: Free from APEO, phthalates, and other harmful substances, meeting EU 10/2011 and REACH SVHC 233 requirements, safeguarding consumer health.
Recyclability: Optimized compatibility between ink and film substrates enables over 90% plastic packaging recyclability, complying with global EPR regulations and advancing sustainability.

4. Scenario-based Applications: Unlocking Infinite Possibilities for Film Packaging

Stand-up Pouch Food Packaging: Retains color integrity after high-temperature sterilization, extending shelf life by 30% for beverages, condiments, and more—enhancing product quality and market competitiveness.
Shrink Labels for Cosmetics: Ensures precise shrink rate matching for shampoo and household product labels, delivering 100% crack-free, warp-free results with premium aesthetics.
Electronic Protective Films: Alcohol-resistant logos printed with Zhongzhixing ink elevate the高端质感 (high-end texture) of 3C products, reinforcing brand prestige.

Why Zhongzhixing?

15 Years of Expertise: With over 2,000 film substrate compatibility profiles, Zhongzhixing offers end-to-end solutions from pretreatment to printing processes, tailored to unique client needs.
Responsive Service: 24/7 technical support and 7-day custom formula delivery ensure seamless operations for clients.
Cost Efficiency: Eliminates VOC treatment costs, reducing overall expenses by 35% compared to solvent-based inks—achieving both economic and environmental wins.

Zhongzhixing’s water-based flexographic ink for films, with its superior performance, safety, versatility, and professional service, has emerged as the groundbreaking choice in film printing. It not only meets the dual demands of sustainability and high functionality but also drives the industry toward a greener, smarter future.