PLASTCOLOR PRINTING INKS
Plastcolor inks are intended specifically for printing on plastics such as rigid PVC (without
plasticizer), polystyrene (PS), polyester (PES), ABS, polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE).
They are easy to use in a dry offset process on any automatic printing presses for cups, lids
and tubes.
Corona or flame pretreatment is necessary when using polyethylene or polypropylene. The
success of pretreatment can be tested with the aid of special test inks. The surface tension
should be between 38 and 40 mN/m (1 mN/m = 1 dyna/cm) in order to ensure adequate
wetting and adherence of the ink to the substrate.
Before working with other plastics, test printing should be carried out to check that sufficient
adhesive strength is achieved.
Drying is accelerated by brief exposure to heat (by infrared radiation). Considerable shortening
of drying times can be achieved by means of standard hot-air drying in the drying line.
Because the inks are thermoplastic, an adequate volume of cold air must be provided at the
end of the drying line in order to prevent problems with stacking.
The fastness properties conform to the usual requirements imposed on this type of ink with
regard to edible fat and milk serum. Fastness of the product with respect to the most important
contents is therefore ensured. However, given the great variety of substances being
packed nowadays it is always advisable to carry out a test if no experience has been gained
of the effect of exposure of the print work to the contents.
The purest mixed colors can be obtained from the mono-pigmented basic colors:
Basic colors
(mono-pigmented) |
Basic colors* |
Secondary colors* |
Yellow 55 2761
Orange 55 2601
Red 55 2602
Red 55 2603
Violet 55 2604
Blue 55 2605
Green 55 2606
Black 61 3838 |
Yellow 55 3140
Warm Red 55 3141
Rubine Red 55 3142
Rhodamine Red 55 3143
Purple 55 3144
Violet 55 3145
Reflex Blue 55 3146
Process Blue 55 3147
Green 55 3148 |
Yellow 012 55 3150
Orange 021 55 3151
Red 032 55 3152
Blue 072 55 3153
Opaque White 50 0350
Transparent White 50 0135
Print varnish 51 0092 |
* The basic
colors follow the PANTONE® basic and secondary colors and are differently pigmented due to fastness
property reasons. This means that the mixed formulas mentioned in PANTONE® Formula Guide should be regarded as
guidelines which possibly have to be modified.
Conventional binder systems
The inks are press-ready for normal purposes. If it is necessary to reduce the tack when
working with stock that is particularly susceptible to picking, we recommend thinning with
Paste Reducer 10 T 9998 or Linseed Oil/Printing Oil 10 T 1405.
Although only a relatively small selection of pigments is available for the formulation of these
special inks, bearing in mind the printing substrate and fastness properties, care was taken
to ensure as much as possible that all areas of the color circle can be mixed.
Process colors for four-color printing
Printing additives
Thinner 52 0042
To adjust consistency (max. added quantity 5%).
Thinner 54 0100.52
To delay drying on the rollers (max. added quantity 5%).
Spray 54 0503.52
To prevent drying of ink during press standstill.
Special washing agent 53 0016
To clean inking rollers and rubber blankets.
