Can UV ink print metal?
Date: Jul 19 2024 From: Star Color
In the printing industry,
UV ink is widely used for printing various materials, including metal surfaces, due to its fast curing, bright colors, wear resistance, and weather resistance. However, the special properties of metal surfaces, such as high smoothness and strong chemical stability, often lead to insufficient adhesion of UV ink on them, which in turn affects the quality and durability of printed materials. So how to solve the problem of insufficient adhesion when printing on metal surfaces? Next, we will analyze them one by one:
1、 Reasons for insufficient adhesion of UV ink on metal surfaces
Metal surface characteristics: Metal surfaces usually have high smoothness and low surface energy, which makes it difficult for UV ink to effectively wet and penetrate, thereby reducing adhesion.
Oxidation layer or pollutants: Metal surfaces may contain oxidation layers, grease, dust, and other pollutants, which can hinder direct contact between UV ink and metal substrates, affecting adhesion.
UV ink formula: The formula design of UV ink has a direct impact on adhesion. Some resins, additives, or pigments may not be compatible with metal surfaces, resulting in decreased adhesion.
Improper setting of printing process parameters such as printing speed, ink thickness, curing conditions, etc. may also lead to insufficient adhesion of UV ink on metal surfaces.
2、 Solution
Metal surface treatment
Cleaning and degreasing: Before printing, the metal surface must be thoroughly cleaned to remove contaminants such as grease and dust. Solvent cleaning, mechanical polishing, or ultrasonic cleaning methods can be used.
Chemical treatment: Removing the oxide layer on the metal surface through chemical methods such as acid washing and alkali washing, and roughening its surface to increase surface area and improve adhesion.
Primer treatment: Apply a layer of specialized primer or treatment agent on the metal surface to enhance the adhesion between UV ink and the metal substrate. The primer should have good wetting and adhesion properties, and be compatible with UV ink.
UV ink formula adjustment
Resin selection: Choose resin with good compatibility with metal surfaces as the main component of UV ink to improve adhesion.
Additive usage: Add appropriate amounts of adhesion promoters, coupling agents, and other additives to improve the wetting and permeability of UV ink on metal surfaces, thereby enhancing adhesion.
Pigment optimization: Choose pigments with good dispersibility and strong compatibility with resins to avoid negative effects on adhesion caused by pigments.
Optimize printing process
Control printing speed: Appropriate printing speed helps to evenly spread and cure ink on metal surfaces, avoiding adhesion problems caused by too fast or too slow.
Adjust ink thickness: The ink thickness should be moderate. Excessive thickness may lead to incomplete curing, while insufficient thickness may affect adhesion. Control ink thickness by adjusting parameters such as scraper angle and pressure.
Optimize curing conditions: Ensure that the UV curing equipment can provide sufficient UV intensity and irradiation time to fully cure the ink. Meanwhile, pay attention to controlling the curing temperature to avoid adverse effects on adhesion caused by excessively high or low temperatures.
Post processing enhancement
Heat treatment: After UV curing, short-term heat treatment (such as baking) can further improve the adhesion between ink and metal surface.
Mechanical enhancement: By using mechanical treatment methods such as calendering and sanding, the surface roughness and mechanical strength of the ink layer are enhanced, thereby improving adhesion.
In summary, solving the problem of insufficient adhesion of
UV ink on metal surfaces requires starting from multiple aspects such as metal surface treatment, UV ink formula adjustment, printing process optimization, and post-treatment enhancement. By comprehensively applying these solutions, the adhesion of UV ink on metal surfaces can be significantly improved, ensuring the quality and durability of printed materials.
If you also face the above problems, you can contact us. Our UV ink produced by StarColor has high adhesion and can be printed on metal surfaces. It is scratch resistant, milk resistant, and does not fade. We can now provide free samples, please feel free to inquire;
RU
EN
CN
