Thermosil
Irreversible Colour Change Ink
About Thermosil
Going green and saving packaging costs
Removing those waste producing, cost increasing print technologies might seem like an unacheivable goal for many packaging manufacturers and printers, however technologies are often dictated “to” end users - “this is how we do it” conversations abound in the industry. In order to get a precise clear print quality using a thermal ribbon the substrate needs to be uniform and flat – often the use of coated papers is the only way to achieve this resulting in high levels of waste from trim and from ribbon usage.
An ideal solution then would be to use plain paper/card stock that can be printed using traditional lytho or flexo techniques and print a thermally sensitive patch for the variable information – The majority of the packaging benefits from low cost, high colour print and the patch is highly sensitive to variable information.
Thermosil – a single layer patch that allows direct thermal printing of variable information – no more waste, no more ribbon jams, and significantly reduced cost.
Laying down the Thermosil patch as part of the normal carton print process means that there is no need for thermal ribbons or for ink on the packaging line – this means increased savings on every carton, no smudging, excellent machine readability and reduced environmental waste – one customer has made a 32% saving on labelling alone by switching from thermal labels to Thermosil on a plain label, with the added benefit of better colour uplift and readability.
Application
The ink can be applied by Flexo, Gravure, or Screen printing, or by a range of common coating methods. The ink patch will react to form a black image when exposed to heat (eg. from a thermal print head) or IR radiation from a low power Nd/YAG Laser. Use the ink as thick (viscous) as possible. A coarse anilox or cylinder is recommended: the greater the coat weight, the denser the colour formed. For machine-readable codes, a coat weight of over 3gsm (dry) is recommended. It is advisable to overprint with a thermally-resistant varnish to enhance scuff resistance and to prolong thermal printer head life.
Technical Specification
Thermosil ink can be supplied for flexo, gravure or screen printing across a range of viscosities. Please contact the manufacturer to discuss your particular requirements
An example is given below to demonstrate typical values:
Appearance: Off white
Solvent /Thinner: Water
Unexposed Colour: Off White
Exposed Colour: Black, Red, Blue
Colour with: Heat
Solids: 40 - 44 %
(2 hours @ 125°c)
Viscosity: 55 - 65 Sec
(on zahn cup 2 @ 25˚C)
pH: 7.5 – 8.5 (at 25˚)
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Introduction
Application
Technical
ThermoChromic
Reversible Colour Change
About ThermoChromic
In a world where brand communication is paramount, using smart labelling to indicate product readiness is a tool to help you gain a competitive edge – using a one way colour change to indicate product temperatures or two way colour change to indicate that a bottle of wine is correctly chilled are some of the ways that smart inks can help differentiate your brand.
According to a report from NanoMarkets, LC, titled, “Smart Packaging Markets; 2006-2013,” the global smart packaging market will grow to $4.8 billion in 2011 and reach $14.1 billion in 2013 and colour change inks are playing a massive part in that growth.
Available in a number of colours and activation temperatures, creating vibrant, customer engaging labelling is simple – change the message, reveal hidden competition codes, stop brand counterfeiting in it’s tracks – thermally sensitive inks can be laid down by traditional flexo or gravure printing methods making it easy to incorporate design features within existing labelling.
Application
The ink can be applied by Flexo, Gravure, or Screen or by a range of common coating techniques. The
coloured ink will fade through its temperature range: the “cold” colour becomes colourless above this range.
Pigments may be used to modify the “cold” colour. The ink should be used as viscous as possible, and as
heavy a coat weight as possible should be applied (normally at least 2gsm). A course cylinder or Anilox is
recommended or more than one printing/application. The inks should be stirred thoroughly before use.
Shelf Life & Storage Conditions
The mixed inks, depending upon which formulation is chosen, may have a shelf life of only a few days. The inks can
be supplied in two packs for mixing immediately prior to use. The separate packs should be stored in a cool, dark place
(below 20C), and will have a lifetime of 6 months.
Packaging
Thermochromic inks are made to order only. We cannot supply samples unless there is potential of quantity sales.
Pack sizes will then be by negotiation
Technical Specification
Thermochromic inks are available for gravure, flexographic and screen printing or flow coating in a
variety of colours and for several temperatures of change.
Some examples:
TCFBK29: Thermochromic, Flexo, Black to Clear, 29C
TCSRD41: Thermochromic, Screen, Red to Clear, 41C
TCSGNY35: Thermochromic, Screen, Green to Yellow, 35C
Introduction
* Water-based dispersions. Solvent-based and UV-cure inks are available by negotiation.
* Change colour over a range of 5-7C around the “nominal” temperature. Return to the original colour on cooling.
There is some hysteresis.
*A variety of “cold” colours are offered. The “hot” colour isderived from conventional pigments.
*Switch temperatures between -10 and +65C.
* Heavy coat weights required for maximum effect.
Physical Properties
Colour(s) - By negotiation
Temperature of Change - By negotiation
Solids - 33-42%
Viscosity - By negotiation
Diluent - Water
Wash-Down - Water (ethanol, or propyl acetate for solvent based)
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Introduction
Application
Technical
ThermoCheck
Thermal-cure Indicators
About ThermoCheck
Indicator labels are offered for showing when a baking or annealing process at an elevated temperature has taken place.
A typical colour change would be red to black.
• Consistent colour change on a uniform label from red to black
• Each batch is validated in-house
• The chemistry and product ranges have been completely developed in house
Application
The Thermocheck Indicator Labels are process indicators to identify processed and non-processed products. The indicators are sensitive to dry heat and will change from red to black after being subjected to dry heat for approximately 3 minutes at 180˚C.
Format
Self adhesive label 12mm diameter, 5000 per reel, 1 dot per width, 10 reels per box, also available in other formats or as an ink.
Order Size
Flexible order quantities are available, in multiples of 5000 dots.
Lead Time
Less than 4 weeks to despatch from receipt of order.
Technical Specification
For use as a process indicator (Class 1) for the sterilization of goods by ethylene oxide. In the presence of ethylene oxide at a concentration of 600 +/- 30mg/l and 60+/- 10%RH at 30° C, the indicator will show a colour change after a time period (>5 minutes as specified by ISO -11140-1:2005)
Shelf Life and Storage
Sterisure ETO indicators have a shelf life of 12 months from the date of manufacture prior to sterilization, provided they are stored in ambient conditions below 20°C and 50% R.H. and in the dark. Unprocessed indicators may experience colour changes at raised temperatures.
Precautions : The indicators must be protected from exposure to excessive heat, sunlight, chemicals or chemical vapours.
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Introduction
Application
Technical