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Debunking the myths of water-based screen printing inks

by Ronny Garcia on August 03, 2016

For a large part the sector water-based screen printing inks They do not come into play at the time of printing, they always prefer other types of inks that may be easier to use, or because they do not have another ink, or because they have not been able to use water-based inks correctly.

Myth # 1 - Water based ink prints are complicated and unpredictable.


Truth
- The screen printing industry advances by giant steps year after year, previously only plastisol paints could offer a simple job due to their durability and because they do not dry on the mesh, but today thanks to water-based inks such as Green earth or Space we can work calmly obtaining good results of touch, durability and without having problems with drying on the mesh.

Myth # 2 - You have to invest a lot of money in new equipment and supplies in order to properly cure water-based ink.


Truth - This was very true in the past, to properly cure water-based inks we had to use a high-performance air extractor to be able to filter all the vapor that was formed when curing the inks. Currently, water-based lacquers or inks have additives that make them cure at a lower temperature and thus avoid producing so much steam.

Myth number 3 - Already emulsified screens spoil very quickly.


Truth - TO certain level tAll emulsions are soluble in water, this means that when they come into contact with water and over time they will break down. Due to the great change that the textile industry is making towards the use of water-based inks, emulsion manufacturers have taken note and today we can already work perfectly with emulsions of the type Aquasol Murakami or Murakami SP9500. In conclusion, we must always choose an emulsion wisely and we can work with complete confidence and without limitations.

Myth # 4 - Water-based inks cannot mix well


Truth- Currently, the vast majority of lacquers or water-based inks have 80% the same additives and preparation, so we can mix them without problem. We must take into account that each ink has its curing temperature, it is advisable to do curing tests to know the degrees necessary for the proper fusion of the particles, normally 140-160ºC is enough.



Myth # 5 - Water-based inks dry on the screen and won't allow you to do long jobs.


Truth - 
While most water-based inks dry on the screen due to water evaporation, the new lacquer formulas have improved the quality of the screen drying, making it more extensive. In our case we have even been able to work with water-based inks Green earth and Space for more than 6 hours in a row, taking precautions and using little tricks like mixing the inks well between them or evaporating a little distilled water mixed with retardant on the mesh ... so ...Take that 1000 t-shirt job!


Myth number 6 - You cannot get opaque colors with water based inks, it is very transparent.


Truth - Most of the new formulations of base inks, as for example the Green Earth Green Grass or Space WhiteThey have a higher percentage of pigmentation than other inks so they can cover the fabric perfectly. In addition, we can always screen or print on top of a white base lacquer or discharge base, making the touch softer and with hardly any relief.

So, don't worry any more about the myths of water-based inks, dare and tell us about your experience!

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