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Hi Jeff,
The two top ink manufacturers I recomend is http://www.polymericimaging.com/2/ and http://www.encresdubuit.net/index.html
Both have very good UV inks for coroplast that are manufacturered in North America. Neither have the Nazdar attatude, to the opposite they believe in education and helping the customer.
Personally my tongue wants to snap off it's roller if I say Nazdar or Sericol.
Hope this helps,
Ken Ferguson
Jeff: just read your question today. There are UV inks which print on Coroplast, some may need a catalyst for water resistance, others do not, stock specific. BUT the first thing you might do is get a Dyne level reading on your particular material.
If the (solid) surface energy is sufficiently lower than the (liquid) surface energy of the ink there is no initial attachment. Your only recourse is massive pressure and snail's paced print speeds.
Under treated poly-olefin will always have a low Dyne level and lack receptivity to ink. Over treated materials will lose their affinity for ink very quickly--you need to measure it.
If you do not get initial adhesion any permanent adhesion you seek will be compromised at best.
Good luck,
Joe
Jeff:
Polymeric imaging has a great product for coroplast. You can get in contact with them at 800-746-5567 or sales@polymericimaging.com ask for Mike Plier, great guy!!! he will be able to help you out.
Good luck,
Mark
FYI, Dyne level testers are a liquid. They come in easy to use pens (sort of like a felt tip marker) but become contaminated easily. The best testers come in a bottle form and you use a clean Q-tip for every test. You can buy a "kit" that contains a range of dyne levels, but the best method is having the lowest level that your printing ink tolerates and testing your material for a pass/fail at that level.
Check with your ink supplier for the dyne level they recommend (then lower it by a couple of levels as they will probably hedge their bets and give you the "optimum" dyne level for their ink).
It's been a while since I've used any of this so you might want to google it for a manufacturer/supplier or contact any ink manufacturer for a recomendation.
Dyne levels below 38-36 would probably need a catalyst or some form of additive and recommended levels by ink companies will probably be in the mid to high 40's.
Be advised that dyne levels/ surface treatments decay over time and any polyethylene's, coroplasts, etc that have been sitting for a while will lose their effectiveness for adhesion.
Good Luck
Rocky
Hi Jeff,
I see you have a problem with your current ink supplier. I represent Nor-Cote international and we manufactur and EXCELLENT, fast curing product for Coroplast. I would appreciate the opportunity to send you a sample and earn your business
Thanks
Michael Sloan
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