Increase Ink’s Longevity

Check out this quick tip from Kieth Stevens that was just featured in Printwear's online site on how to improve your ink's longevity:

Have you ever used a wooden stick or better yet, cardboard to take plastisol ink out of the container? Did you forget to take out the stick or cardboard after you were done? The next day or even worse, weeks later, you go to reuse that ink and notice that the ink seems to be a bit different. Does the stick appear to be stained a different color or the cardboard has lost its rigidity and looks greasy?

What has happened is that a portion of the plasticizer from the ink has been absorbed away into the cardboard or stick. This can definitely alter the usability of an ink. You may notice that the viscosity and elasticity properties of the ink have changed. You may also notice that the ink is not able to pass through the appropriate mesh or the cured ink cracks.

To add longevity to your inks and keep them as good as new, store them appropriately. Put the lid on to avoid lint, dust and dirt from settling into the ink bucket and, subsequently, have the contaminant get stuck in the screen. Store inks at a cool temperature (preferably below 90°F/32°C), and keep them out of direct sunlight. Finally, don’t forget to remove any objects such as stirring sticks or cardboard before storing!

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