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Printing PSA Tapes

As soon as the first PP tapes have been introduced in the market, ICHEMCO started to develop new dedicated systems for the printing of all sort of carton sealing tapes based on the BOPP technology.
Working in close cooperation with SIAT, primary manufacturer of PSA tapes printing machines, our goal has always been, and still is, to have a solution ready for all needs.
As a result of this research, we developed the following list of products:

The list of available inks, with prices, is available here.

For a correct choice of the printing system, variables to evaluate are:

This document will cover the printing systems presently available.




Universal printing process (3 passes)

Tapes: All PP (PE, PET) tapes made with solvent, hot-melt, water adhesives, with or without release coats, corona treated or untreated.

Printing machines: SIAT L 36, SIAT L 36 C

Products Packaging Quantity to apply
PRIMER EPX-2 / EPX-2 ECO Packed in 20 kg drumns 3-4 g/m2 wet
COLOR INK PP NITRO* Packed in 10 - 20 kg drums Depending on printing necessity
RELEASE PP 25 DIL / PP 25 DIL ECO Packed in 20 kg drums 3-4 g/m2 wet

* To be preferred to PAM inks because of the faster drying and of not being soluble in the toluene contained in most release agents




Special printing process (2 passes)

Tapes: BOPP with waterborne acrylic adhesive, either low-noise or normal

Printing machines: SIAT L 36 C, SIAT L 33/200, SIAT L 44

Products Packaging Quantity to apply
CORONA TREATMENT   38 – 40 Dynes/cm
COLOR INK PP PAM+ADD.* Packed in 10 – 20 kg drums Depending on printing necessity

* Normal PAM inks (COLOR INK PP PAMC) can also be used by adding our ADDITIVE ST2 (50% ink, 50% additive). When normal PAM inks are used without Additive, protecting the surface with a release coat (our RELEASE PP 25 DIL or RELEASE K100 D) becomes necessary.




Simplified process (1 pass)

PP tapes labelled “easy printable” are commercially available (e.g. tapes coated with any of our Release ST series products: see below). This means they are already treated by producers with special lacquers making the surface capable of receiving inks.

Tapes: PP (PET, PE) pre-treated with RELEASE ST or similar.

Printing machines: SIAT L 33 V, SIAT L 44

Products Packaging Quantity to apply
COLOR INK PP PAM+ADD.* Packed in 10 - 20 kg drums Depending on printing necessity

* Normal PAM inks (COLOR INK PP PAMC) can also be used, by adding our ADDITIVE ST2 (50 pp ink - 50 pp additive)




PVC Printing Process

Tapes: in PVC.

Printing machines: SIAT L 33, SIAT L 44

Products Packaging Quantity to apply
COLOR INK PP PVC Packed in 10 - 20 kg drums Depending on printing necessity



Under Adhesive "Sandwich" Printing Process (3 passes)

Tapes: BOPP or PE corona treated (38 - 42 dyne/cm).

Printing machine: Flexographic printers

Products Packaging Solvents
COLOR INK NS + 3-5% Additive NS 20-25-170 kg drums; 500 kg tanks ethyl alcohol / ethyl acetate   80/20
or
COLOR INK WN 25-200 kg drums, 500-1000 kg tanks water

Three steps:

  1. Flexographic printing on the corona treated side
  2. Drying perfectly (wait 24 hours)
  3. Adhesive coating (acrylic water-based, hot-melt or solvent) on the printed side of the film



RELEASE ST series (printable release coats)

These types of release agents have been developed for adhesive tapes producers, in order to allow printers to use single pass printing, only with special inks (COLOR INK PP PAM + ADD.).

Specific technical brochures are available with technical information for tape producers.

Product Form Corona treatment
(BOPP film)
Adhesive Dilution required Packaging
RELEASE ST 1 solvent borne double sided
(38-42 dynes/cm)
standard hot-melt and solventborne 0.8%
in toluene/IPA (70/30)
or hexane/IPA (70/30)
50 kg drums
RELEASE ST 3M solvent borne single sided
(release goes on the untreated side)
rubber-based 3% in toluene 50 kg drums
RELEASE ST 4M solvent borne single sided
(release goes on the untreated side)
standard hot-melt and solventborne 0.8%
in toluene/IPA (70/30)
or hexane/IPA (70/30)
50 kg drums
RELASE ST 8 DRY dry double sided
(38-42 dynes/cm)
rubber-based 12% in toluene 25 kg drums
(5-10 kg bags inside)
RELEASE ST 9 HM DRY dry double sided
(38-42 dynes/cm)
hot-melt 12%
in toluene/IPA (75/25)
or hexane/IPA (75/25)
25 kg drums
(5-10 kg bags inside)



Available diluents

Products Packaging Composition (approximate)
DILUENT RP (Primer and Release) 20 kg drums 100% toluene
DILUENT C NITRO 15 kg drums 100% ethyl acetate
RETARDER C NITRO 15 kg drums 100% methoxy propanol
DILUENT C PAM 15 kg drums 50% isopropyl alcohol - 50% heptane
RETARDER C PAM 15 kg drums 100% isobutyl alcohol
DILUENT C PVC 15 kg drums 100% methyl ethyl ketone
RETARDER C PVC 18 kg drums 100% cyclohexanone



Final Remarks

Products to be used for printing must be very homogeneous and fluid.

In case of printing defects (transfer of ink caused by low adhesion), please check the following points:




If you need more information:

Phone: +39-02 972431 E-mail: ichemco@ichemco.it
Telefax: +39-02 97243200 Web:www.ichemco.it