Coates Solvent Based Screen Printing Inks for Special Applications

2-component screen printing inks ZM are suitable for printing onto metals (aluminium, steel, copper), coated surfaces, various thermoplastics (ABS, acrylics, pre-treated polyolefines) as well as duroplastics (phenolic and melamine resins, glass fibre reinforced polyester and epoxy resins).

2-component screen printing inks ZM are special inks suitable for weather resistant printing onto above mentioned materials. ZM inks show superior opacity, excellent elasticity and a glossy finish. Even after long-term weathering gloss retention is excellent; however, ink shades with a high content of pigment, especially colour shades with a high content of white should always be overprinted with ZM 70.
After sufficient curing, screen printing inks ZM are resistant against alkaline media (e.g. use for washing machine parts). ZM inks show a limited solvent resistance.

ZMN is a screen ink system based on weather resistant acrylic resin. Due to the lightfast pigments and weather resistant binding agent system of ZMN prints are suitable for outdoor use for several years. ZMN prints retain their gloss finish for long periods of time.

Screen printing inks ZMN were mainly developed for printing onto beer crates. Beer crates printed with ZMN show high durability in every day use.
In addition ZMN inks are suitable for printing onto polyolefine containers and thermoplastics like ABS, acrylics as well as various duroplastics.

2-component Z/GL inks are special screen inks for printing onto glass and ceramics, e.g. glass panes, glass bottles, ornamental glasses, ceramic tiles, metals and duroplastics etc. After sufficient curing reflecting layers may be applied to Z/GL inks by common mirror-imaging methods. Z/GL inks are not suitable for outdoor applications.

Z/GL inks show a semi-gloss to glossy finish and excellent adhesion to the above mentioned materials.

2-component screen printing inks Z/PVC for traffic signs are suitable for printing onto retro-reflecting foils. This ink system is suitable for both retro-reflecting honeycomb foils and standard retro-reflecting foil materials. Pre-tests are absolutely essential.

2-component screen printing inks Z/PVC for traffic signs combine the good solvent resistance of 2-component inks with an extremely good weather resistance. 2-component screen printing inks Z/PVC for traffic signs show an excellent printability and good drying properties.

For pre-treated polyolefines, such as polyethylene and polypropylene as well as other thermoplastics. Also for duroplastics, such as polyesters reinforced by glass fibre, pheno- and aminoplastics and varnished parts (air and oven curing, also 2-component varnishes).

After sufficient drying 2-component Z/DD show high gloss, good weather and thus outdoor resistance as well as best possible solvent resistance. However testing should not be carried out until 3 days after printing.

Screen printing inks ZE 1690 are suitable for printing onto various synthetic textiles. Furthermore they are suitable for printing onto vulcanised rubber.

Screen printing inks ZE 1690 are quick drying, show a semi-gloss finish and medium opacity. Prints are elastic and formable.

Screen printing inks XL are especially suitable for polystyrene injection moulds (tablet boxes and tubes), polystyrene dishes (decoration, adjustment NT), scales sensitive to tension cracks, glosslaminated polystyrene and styro-foam.

Screen printing inks XL were specially developed for package printing. They only contain relatively mild solvents. Therefore there is no risk of tension cracks when printing onto gloss-laminated polystyrene styro-foam injection moulds.
XL inks show excellent resistance to various cosmetic substances (skin creams, oils etc.). They are also resistant to dishwashing liquid on polystyrene dishes (only for outside decoration in adjustment NT). Screen printing inks XL show good opacity, a glossy finish and weather resistance.

Laminable screen printing inks for rigid PVC. Also suitable as gloss inks for rigid and plasticized PVC for welding applications. For cheque, credit, phone and personnel cards etc.

Screen printing inks CC-NT are air drying and result in a high gloss finish. Generally a 120-34 polyester fabric (305 mesh) is used.

Rub off inks RUB are special screen printing inks used to mask writing and symbols of winning tickets (lottery tickets). They are used to make the numbers invisible, even when holding into light. RUB inks are removed with a hard item, e.g. coin or fingernail.
Rub off inks are suitable for varnished substrates. Pre-printing screen varnishes and also various offset coatings (e.g. UV- or water based) are suitable. Pretests to check for rub off properties are necessary. Tests for rub off properties should only be carried out after the printed rub off lottery tickets have aged for some time. Ageing by heat influence, e.g. 50°C (122°F) for 48 hours.

Screen printing inks RF-K are used for the production of four colour process prints on various thermoplastics, e.g. polystyrene boards, rigid and plasticized PVC foils, acrylic glass, polycarbonate, acetobutyrate etc. Prints, made with RF-K are suitable for outdoor use.

RF-K are very fast drying inks. As required for halftone printing they have a good screen openness. Flow properties of RF-K have been adjusted so that the contour sharpness of the halftone dots is maintained even with very fine resolution.

Screen printing inks PF are special inks for printing onto difficult substrates such as polyester, diacetate and triacetate foils, polyamide and pretreated polyolefines (polyethylene, polypropylene). Not for rigid and plasticized PVC. PF inks are often used for printing onto overhead diapositives (380 series). PF inks are not suitable for long-term outdoor use.

Special inks PF show a glossy finish and excellent adhesion on the recommended surfaces. They show good opacity and are also available in range of transparent colours.

Screen printing inks PO are suitable for printing onto pretreated polyolefines, such as polyethylene and polypropylene as well as various coated metals, wood, cardboards etc.

Screen printing inks PO show a glossy finish. Depending on the colour shade they show medium to good opacity.

Screen printing inks PP are suitable for printing onto untreated polypropylene. Due to various degrees of polymerization as well as contents and fillers the substrate polypropylene shows an undefined printability. Therefore it is necessary to carry out printing tests in production conditions.

1-component PP inks are adjusted to printing consistency using thinner YV or retarders VZ 25 or VZ 40. The system is air drying. Drying time is approx. 10-15 min. at room temperature. At higher temperatures drying time will be shorter. Screen printing inks PP are not resistant to hand-sweat. Therefore application onto pens and the like is not recommended.

Melapress inks are special printing inks which can be pressed with melamine or phenolic resin at high pressure and temperature. These printed parts are used for decoration of table and counter tops and also for housing parts. They can also be used for acrylic glass adhesive applications. Melapress shows good resistance against commercial adhesives and is thus suitable in the production of key rings and other decorative articles.

MP inks show a mat finish, which is ideal for above applications. They result in a good anchorage with transfer and melamine resin papers. They do not flow or bleed and show good definition.

Screen printing inks NC are special printing inks for the production of dry transfers mainly used for window shop advertising. They are also used for marking and decorating wood, glass, ceramics, plastics etc.

Special laboratory developments.

LAB-N 111023 (Balloon ink)
The ink system LAB-N 111023 is mainly intended for printing onto balloons. Balloons are generally printed when blown up half.

LAB-N 111169
For printing onto difficult substrates, especially polyester roll tapes used for busses. We recommend short term heat application (oven curing) for metal substrates. Base is polyester.

LAB-N 331213
For coated substrates (e.g. signs), aluminium, brass and copper.

LAB-N 331369
For non iron metals such as aluminium, brass, copper and powder coated metals.