How Should I Store Catalyst Ink?

Some of our regular and special effects inks use a catalyst to add bonding strength and ultra wash fastness to the finished prints.  We've had several inquiries recently regarding the storage of our catalysts, so here is a quick tip from Kieth Stevens on this topic, previously published in Printwear: Typically, catalyst ink's characteristics are hydroscopic, meaning it attracts moisture. Since moisture helps the catalyst harden, keep the catalyst in a cool dry place to prevent this from occurring. Some printers even refrigerate the catalyst to help keep moisture out. Remember, cool air holds less moisture than warm air. Do NOT store the catalyst on top of a flash cure unit or dryer. The extra heat will start the hardening process. Also make sure you have a good, tight seal when closing the bottle if you do not use all the catalyst. You can even lay a piece of plastic over the mouth of the bottle before screwing the cap back on to help get a tight seal and  keep moisture out. Kieth Stevens is the Western regional sales manager for International Coatings. He has been teaching screen printing for more than 10 years and is a regular contributor to International Coatings’ blogs. International Coatings manufactures a complete line of non-phthalate screen printing inks, including a wide variety of whites, specialty inks, special effects inks, color matching systems, additives and reducers. For more information on our products, please visit our website at www.iccink.com.