Substrates

• Coated paper
• Uncoated paper
• Card Stock

Substrate recommendations are based on commonly available materials intended for the ink's specific market when the inks are processed according to this technical data. While technical information and advice on the use of this product is provided in good faith, the User bears sole responsibility for selecting the appropriate product for their end-use requirements. Reference the 'Quality Statement' at the end of this document.

User Information

Mesh

175-230 tpi (70-110 tpcm) monofilament polyester mesh for most applications.

Stencil

Use direct emulsions and capillary films which are solvent resistant.

Squeegee

70-80 durometer polyurethane squeegee.

Coverage

Estimated 1,000 – 1,500 square feet (93 - 140 square meters) per gallon depending upon ink deposit. Reference www.nazdar.com for examples of coverage calculations.

Printing

Add only enough ink to the screen to be able to print for 5-10 minutes. Add additional ink in small increments throughout the print run to maintain screen stability. Thoroughly mix the ink prior to printing. Improper mixing can lead to inconsistent color and ink performance.

Maintain ink temperature at 65°-90°F (18°-32°C) for optimum print and cure performance. Lower temperatures increase the ink viscosity, impairing flow and increasing film thickness. Elevated temperatures lower the ink viscosity, reducing print definition and film thickness.

Pretest to determine optimum printing parameters for a particular set of ink, substrate, screen, press, and curing variables/conditions.

Nazdar does not recommend inter-mixing of 5500 Series with other inks besides the 5500 Series.

Drying Parameters

5500 Series ink dries by solvent evaporation in 20-30 minutes, and may be force dried in a conveyor dryer with good air flow at temperatures of 110°-130°F (44°-55°C) within seconds.

Clears / Varnishes

Mixing Clear / Metallic Mixing Clear: Use 5530 Transparent Base to reduce the density of colors or as a clear base for specialty additives such as Metallic additives.

Base: Use 5536 Extender Base to increase coverage without affecting ink viscosity.

Common Performance Additives

When required, any additives should be thoroughly mixed before each use. Prior to production, test any additive adjustment to the ink. Inks containing additives should not be mixed with other inks.

Example for additives: Ink at 100g with 8% of an additive is calculated as:

100g ink + 8g additive = 108g total

Reducer / Retarder: Use 5500 Thinner or 9050 Retarder Thinner to reduce the viscosity of these inks. Add up to 15% by weight. Do not exceed recommended levels of reduction. Over reduction with retarder can result in blocking.

Reduce Drying: Use 5560 Fast Thinner to reduce drying times.

Adhesion Promoter: Use 5549 Binder Varnish to improve adhesion and rub resistance on absorbent stock.

Roller Coating: Use a blend of 50% 5549 Binder Varnish and 50% 5500 Thinner for roller coating applications. Percent calculations are measured by weight.

Cleanup

Screen Wash (Prior to Reclaim): Use IMS201 Premium Graphic Screen Wash, IMS203 Economy Graphic Screen Wash, or IMS206 Graphic Auto Screen Wash.

Press Wash (On Press): Use IMS301 Premium Graphic Press Wash.

Storage

Store closed containers at temperatures between 65°-78°F (18°-25°C). Ink taken from the press should not be returned to the original container; store separately to avoid contaminating unused ink.

General Information

Ink Handling

All personnel mixing and handling these products must wear gloves and eye protection. Clean up spills immediately. If ink does come in contact with skin, wipe ink off with a clean, dry, absorbent cloth (do not use solvent or thinner). Wash the affected area with soap and water. Consult the applicable Safety Data Sheet (SDS / MSDS) for further instructions and warnings.

For assistance on a wide range of important regulatory issues, consult the following Regulatory Compliance Department link at www.nazdar.com or contact Nazdar Ink Technologies - World Headquarters (see contact listing at the end of this document).

Adhesion Testing

Even when recommended UV energy output levels are achieved, it is imperative to check the degree of cure on a cooled down print:

1. Touch of ink surface - the ink surface should be smooth.
2. Thumb twist - the ink surface should not mar or smudge.
3. Scratch surface - the ink surface should resist scratching.
4. Cross hatch tape test - per the ASTM D-3359 method, use a cross hatch tool or a sharp knife to cut through ink film only; then apply 3M #600 clear tape on cut area, rub down, and rip off at a 180 degree angle. Ink should only come off in actual cut areas.

Full adhesion characteristics at proper cure levels are demonstrated within 4 hours.

Manufacturer's Product Offering

Based on information from our raw material suppliers, these ink products are formulated to contain less than 0.06% lead. If exact heavy metal content is required, independent lab analysis is recommended.

Printing Colors

Printing Colors have excellent opacity and flow characteristics.

Fluorescent Colors

These colors require special considerations due to their high pigment contents. Best results are achieved when printed through a mesh that offers more open area. These inks have the tendency to settle; so high speed mixing is required prior to printing. Fluorescent colors fade quickly with exposure to ultraviolet light and are not recommended when outdoor durability si required.

Special Effect Pigments

When inks are to be printed with a special effect color, all ink layers must be evaluated for intercoat adhesion before proceeding with the production run. Pigments may settle in the container; prior to printing, thoroughly mix the ink.

The following special effect pigments may be added to 5500 Series. Contact Nazdar for the item number(s) and availability of special effect products. Technical Data Sheets for each of the following special effect pigments can be found at www.nazdar.com.

Metallic additives: Chemical reactions in metallic inks may result in viscosity, color and printability changes over time; due to this, mix only enough metallic ink to be used the same day.

Pearlescent / Interference: Add up to 20% by weight.

Multi-Chromatic: Add up to 10% by weight.

Packaging / Availability

Contact your Nazdar distributor for product availability and offering.

'LF' Item Numbers

Colors with an item number containing 'LF' indicate a lead-free alternative that replaced a lead containing color. All colors listed in this document are lead-free.

Standard Ink Items

Standard ink items listed below are inventoried in 1 kilogram and gallon containers.

Printing Colors

Non-Standard Ink Items

Non-Standard ink items listed below are special order, non-inventoried colors which may require additional lead time. These items are available in gallon containers.

Printing Colors

Fluorescent Colors

Additives / Reducers

Cleaners / Clean Up