Solution for gravure printing on aluminum foil
Date: Oct 12 2024 From: Star Color
Aluminum foil is a lightweight, high reflectivity, and excellent barrier material that has a wide range of applications in packaging, electronics, construction, and other fields. Printing on aluminum foil can not only enhance the aesthetics of the product, but also increase its added value.
Gravure printing, as a high-precision and highly adaptable printing method, is very common in aluminum foil printing. Due to the variability of aluminum foil and poor ink adhesion, gravure printing poses significant challenges. So how does gravure printing solve these problems? Let's take a look together.
Aluminum foil surface treatment
The surface treatment of aluminum foil is a key step in improving ink adhesion. Due to the smooth surface of aluminum foil, it belongs to non absorbent materials. The surface tension of conventional aluminum foil is about 29 dynes, and its adsorption capacity for ink is not strong. Therefore, surface treatment of aluminum foil is required before printing to increase its surface roughness and tension, thereby improving the adhesion of ink.
The commonly used surface treatment methods for aluminum foil include long-term low-temperature annealing, corona treatment, cleaning treatment, etc.
Low temperature annealing can eliminate internal stress in aluminum foil and improve its stability;
Corona treatment utilizes high-frequency electric fields to create fine concave convex structures on the surface of aluminum foil, increasing the adhesion area of ink;
Cleaning treatment is to remove impurities such as oil and dust on the surface of aluminum foil, providing a good foundation for ink adhesion.
Ink selection for gravure printing
The selection and adjustment of gravure printing ink are crucial for the quality of aluminum foil printing. Due to the special nature of aluminum foil, it is necessary to choose ink with good adhesion, dryness, and fluidity.
The drying speed of ink is one of the key factors affecting printing quality. If the drying speed is too fast, it will cause the ink to form cracks or peel off on the surface of the aluminum foil; If the drying speed is too slow, it will affect printing efficiency and even cause ink adhesion.
The viscosity of ink is also an important factor affecting printing quality. Excessive viscosity can cause poor ink flow and affect the printing effect; If the viscosity is too low, it will cause excessive ink penetration, affecting the adhesion and clarity of the ink.
Optimization of gravure printing process
The optimization of gravure printing technology is of great significance for improving the quality of aluminum foil printing. In the printing process, it is necessary to adjust the angle, pressure, and other parameters between the scraper and the printing plate reasonably to ensure the uniform distribution of ink and the clarity of the printing effect.
The adjustment of scraper angle has a particularly significant impact on printing quality. If the angle of the scraper is too large, it will cause the ink to not be completely scraped off, affecting the printing effect; If the angle of the scraper is too small, it can cause ink to scratch the printing plate, affecting the lifespan and printing quality of the plate.
The adjustment of scraper pressure is also one of the key factors affecting printing quality. If the pressure of the scraper is too high, it can cause damage to the printing plate; If the pressure of the scraper is too low, it will cause the ink to not be completely scraped off, affecting the printing effect.
Printing equipment and environmental control
The accuracy and performance of printing equipment have a significant impact on the quality of aluminum foil printing. In the printing process, it is necessary to ensure the stability and accuracy of the equipment to avoid printing quality problems caused by equipment failures or errors.
Overprint tension control is an important part of printing equipment. If the tension control is improper, it can cause deformation or breakage of the aluminum foil during the printing process, thereby affecting the printing effect.
The heating and air supply system is also an important component of printing equipment. By adjusting the temperature and wind speed of the heating and air supply system reasonably, the drying speed and printing efficiency of the ink can be ensured. It is also necessary to avoid deformation or thermal damage of aluminum foil due to high temperature.
In addition, attention should be paid to controlling the printing environment. Maintaining a clean and stable printing environment can reduce dust pollution and interference with ink, thereby improving printing quality. It is also necessary to control parameters such as temperature and humidity in the printing environment to ensure the stability and consistency of ink drying speed and printing efficiency.
The above is the solution for gravure printing on aluminum foil. The gravure water-based ink and
gravure UV ink produced by Huizhou Zhongzhixing Color can be printed on aluminum foil with good adhesion and color reproduction. Received a lot of love from customers.
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