What is Print On Surface Of Plastic Products
This method involves using a stencil to apply the ink onto the surface of the plastic. Screen printing is often used for larger designs, as it is not as time-consuming as other methods.
Benefits of Print On Surface Of Plastic Products
Cost-Effectiveness
Screen printing on plastic can be cost-effective, especially when dealing with high-volume orders. Once the screens are prepared, the cost per unit decreases as the number of units printed increases. This makes it an attractive option if you need many items printed with a consistent design and quality.
Durability
The durability of screen printed plastic products is another significant advantage. The ink in screen printing is thick, opaque, and adheres well to plastic surfaces, resulting in bright, vivid images that can withstand wear and tear. This makes it an excellent choice for products that need to last, even in harsh conditions.
Design Flexibility
Screen printing offers impressive design flexibility, allowing you to create a wide range of designs for your plastic products. You can print intricate images, multiple colors, and even gradients easily. This versatility means you can achieve visually captivating designs with screen printing while maintaining the quality and durability your products require.
High Volume Production
Another benefit of screen printing on plastic is its efficiency in producing high volumes. Once the initial setup is complete, the printing process can be relatively quick, especially with automated equipment. This can enable you to fulfill large orders more quickly, catering to the demands of your clients.
Plastic Parts Surface Treatment Vacuum Plating
Plastic parts surface treatment vacuum plating multiple color-customized design Material: ABS, PC,ABS+PC, PPA etc Color: according to the design Related knoledge: Vacuum plating(coating) improves the environment, is pollution-free, has less consumables, uniform film formation, and has a strong.
Vacuum Plating On Plastic Tube Multiplecolor PVD
Description: multiple color vacuum plating plastic tube Material: ABS, PC, etc. Color: 2+ multiple colors What is the principle of PVD vacuum coating? Ion coating (PVD coating) technology, principle is to use low-voltage, high-current arc discharge technology under vacuum.
Electrostatic Shielding Accessories Water Plating Products
According to customer's requirement, some of the parts need anti-static treatment. Before electroplating, we will carry out electrostatic shielding treatment on the product, by thickening the nickel plating layer and nickel plating time, in order to achieve the effect of shielding static electricity.
Three-Color Gradient Vacuum Coating Plastic Products
The vacuum coating machine can plate a variety of colors, and the most popular color at present is to make gradient colors.
Plastic Animal Art Plating Metal Color
Product Name: Plastic animal.
Material Quality: ABS.
Plating Method: Water Electroplating.
Car Model Toy Plastic Water Plating Silver Color
Product Name: Plastic toys.
Material Quality: ABS.
Plating Method: Water Electroplating.
Plastic Toy Water Plating Bright Chrome
Product Name: Plastic toys-Fidget Spinner.
Material Quality: ABS/NYLON.
Plating Method: Water Electroplating.
Print On Surface Of Plastic Products
Product Name: Household appliances shell.
Material Quality: ABS.
Plating Method: Water Electroplating.
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For urgent orders, we can coordinate to ship within a week. Usually the delivery time is 15-20 days. For sample, we can ship within 3 days.
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What we want is a long-term business with you, not just one-time cooperation. So we are responsible to you to the end. Your satisfaction is our goal.
How to Screen Print on Plastic Products
The screen printing is the secondary processing of almost all kinds of plastic products. The reason is mainly determined by the properties of the plastic itself, such as its simple dyeability, and the week solarised colorfastness. To compensate for these shortcomings and to improve the appearance of plastic products, secondary processing is necessary. Plastic printing refers to the technical process of transferring visual original information/image onto a plastic product using a printing screen or other ways. Printing on plastic products includes gravure printing, flexographic printing, screen printing, anti-counterfeiting printing, and jet printing, transfer printing, etc special printing methods. Nowadays, it has been able to print on plastic products with different surface textures, different hardnesses, and different shapes, and is widely used for decoration of plastic packaging films and plastic containers.
There are many types of plastic products. If they are classified by the screen printing method, the sheet and plane plastic use plain screen-printed, the cambered surface use curved silk screen printing, and the abnormity is using indirect screen printing.
The plastic items contain a polar substance in its molecular structure, which has excellent chemical stability, it' s corrosion-resistant to most acid and alkali, and insoluble in common solvents at normal temperature. Moreover, additives such as antioxidants and stabilizers are added into the ink reduce the affinity between the plastic surface and the ink, also the ink dried slowly after printing. Meanwhile, the plastic surface does not have the porosity like the paper could absorb the ink. Therefore, the surface of the plastic items to be printed has to be processed before printing, that could improve the adhesion of the ink to the plastic items, make the ink layer adhesive firmly, the screen printed image more distinct, complete and vivid. Specific treatment could also improve the surface properties of plastics directly, such as antistatic property, etc.
How to Properly Cure Plastic Screen Printing Ink
Conventional
Curing the ink by baking parts in an conventional oven. Parts exit the screen printing machine and are placed onto a conveyor belt. The parts then enter the oven for 3-4 minutes until the desired adhesion is reached.
Air dry
This method involves special air dry inks designed to fully cure over time. This method is more difficult when dealing with quantities larger than a few parts because of the warehouse space needed to stack parts until complete.
UV Light
Curing the ink by running the parts under a bright UV light. Upon exiting from the screening station, the part then passes under a UV light station that's constantly rotating. After a few seconds the ink will be dry and the plastic containers ready to pack.
Pretreatment
Certain plastic materials require a pretreatment process to properly adhere to the surface during the silk screen printing process. The pretreatment process is designed to change the chemical properties of the plastic surface before printing. This allows the ink to "bite in" with the capability to pass thorough testing and adhesion requirements.
How to Print on Plastic Film 6 Factors to Keep in Mind
Surface tension
Surface tension is a force in a liquid that causes the liquid to act as if it were surrounded by an elastic membrane. This phenomenon occurs when liquid molecules stick to each other, creating the beading effect.
Surface tension affects the wettability of ink on the surface, expressed in dynes/cm. For successful printing, the surface tension of the ink must be lower than the surface tension of the image carrier in order for it to transfer correctly from the anilox roller to the surface of the image carrier.
Surface energy
Surface energy is the residual energy on the surface of a plastic substrate compared to its size. It is measured in joules/square. meter.
When you choose the type of plastic substrate you will need for your final packaging when flexo printing, it is important to understand its surface energy to avoid ending up with costly and time-consuming printing defects.
Most plastic substrates tend to be easy to treat to raise the surface energy, ensuring it is above that of the ink so that the ink "sticks" to it and proper transfer occurs.
Wettability
This is the ink's ability to wet the printing surface. It is affected by the surface tension of the ink and the surface energy of the substrate. This may also be affected by the polar quality of the image carrier.Wettability affects how well the ink spreads/spreads on the surface.
When printing on clear plastic films, good ink-substrate interaction is critical to ensuring high-quality prints. This results in smoother coverage, fewer pinholes, and overall fewer printing defects.
Ink selection
Choose an ink with a surface tension that is 10 dynes lower than the surface energy of the plastic film. This makes it easy for image carriers to fall into it.
There are things you can do to affect the surface tension of your ink, such as adding alcohol or other treatments. However, as mentioned above, it is easier and more efficient to dispose of plastic film when possible.
This will ensure good wetting and high quality prints.
Distortion
When flexo printing, you can achieve zero distortion by choosing round flexo sleeves that are engraved at 100% size.
Elastomeric hybrid sleeves can be more durable than photopolymer sheets and more flexible on the substrate.
Time and money
For large-scale industrial printing, working efficiently is the key to maximizing profits.
You need to do the calculations correctly so you don't have to go back and retake steps because something is out of proportion. Precise treading on the plastic film is easily achieved using a well-made elastomer sleeve.
Things To Consider When Printing on Plastic
Ink Selection
There are solvent-based, UV-curable, and water-based inks. Solvent-based inks offer good outdoor durability, UV-curable inks dry instantly under ultraviolet light, and water-based inks are eco-friendly.
When selecting ink for printing on plastic, consider the environmental conditions the printed plastic will endure. Will it be exposed to harsh chemicals, extreme temperatures, or UV light? Printing with the right ink can mean the difference between prints that fade or degrade and ones that maintain their integrity over time.
Material Compatibility
Not all plastics are equal; therefore, not all of them are suitable for printing. Plastics have different surface energy, some are more slick and some are more rough. Consider the compatibility of the plastic material with the printing process being used. Some printing techniques work well on certain types of plastic, while others may produce poor print quality.
Low surface energy plastic products are non-wetting which means the liquid inks stay on the surface while high surface energy plastic products are good for wettability and adhesion. Understanding the compatibility between your chosen plastic and printing process is crucial for achieving the desired results.
Print Quality and Speed
Printing on plastic requires a balance between speed and quality. While fast printing speeds may seem ideal for meeting high-volume demands, they can result in reduced print quality. On the other hand, sacrificing speed for higher resolution and better color accuracy may not be feasible for manufacturers with tight production schedules. Find a balance between speed and quality that works best for your needs.
Surface Preparation
Surface preparation is critical for achieving quality prints on plastic. The surface must be clean, free of oils or dirt, and have the right surface energy for ink adhesion. Manufacturers can use corona treatment, flame treatment, or plasma treatment to increase the surface energy of plastics and improve print adhesion. These treatments create roughness on the plastic' s surface, allowing ink to adhere and bond.
Maintenance
Ignoring maintenance of industrial inkjet systems can lead to downtime, wasted materials, and poor-quality prints. Regular maintenance is essential to ensure the machinery' s longevity and the continuity of high-quality printing. This includes cleaning print heads, replacing worn components, and updating software.
Applications of Screen Printing on Plastic
Advertising and Displays
Screen printing on plastic is ideal for creating advertising materials and displays. This method enables you to create signs, banners, and point-of-purchase (POP) displays with bright colors and crisp details. Thanks to the durability of screen printing ink and the screen frame, your advertising materials will remain vibrant and in good condition for extended periods. In addition, screen printing' s versatility allows you to print on various plastic substrates, accommodating different shapes and sizes for your projects.
Printed Electronics
In printed electronics, screen printing on plastic plays a significant role. Many electronic components, such as sensors, antennas, and flexible circuits, require high-precision printing on plastic substrates. The accuracy and consistency of the screen printing method ensure that these components perform optimally. At the same time, the use of specialized inks allows for a strong bond between the ink and the plastic surface.
Promotional Items
Screen printing on plastic is also an excellent choice for creating promotional products. Items such as keychains, phone cases, and drinkware can all benefit from high-quality, durable prints. Screen-printed promotional items not only provide a professional and lasting impression of your brand but also serve as an effective marketing tool. You can increase brand recognition and loyalty by offering custom-printed promotional items to your customers.
Screen printing on plastic can present some challenges. One common issue is poor ink adhesion, which can be caused by the plastic' s surface properties or by using an incompatible ink. To improve adhesion, you may need to treat the surface of the plastic substrate, for example, through corona treatment or flame treatment. Additionally, controlling the curing temperature is essential for preventing warping or deformation of the plastic material during the curing process. Lastly, specific plastic substrates may require special handling or preparations to achieve satisfactory printing results.
Our Factory
Boluo Tenglong Technology Co., Ltd., established in 2003, is now located in Longxi Environmental Electroplating Industry zone, Boluo County, Huizhou City, which is approved by the national government. The company advocates protecting the environment and benefiting mankind; the plant area is about 10000 square meters, has around 200 skillful workers.
Certifications
The company has passed ISO9001, IATF16949 system certification, and product UL certification; there is a professional technical team and specialized quality control team, supporting excellent management system, and equipped with high-quality management personnel to ensure the company's benign operation, excellent internal.
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