Storing Plastisol Ink Correctly

Whenever we receive calls from customers who tell us our inks are not performing as expected, we ask them questions to troubleshoot the problem. Usually, we find that the ink has not been cured properly during the printing process. However, we occasionally find that the ink wasn’t stored properly, causing it to lose some of its printing properties. Is there really a right and wrong way to store plastisol inks? Does it really make such a difference? Absolutely! Plastisol is affected by temperature, either hot or cold, which can change the viscosity and printability of the ink. So here are a few things to remember when storing plastisol inks: DO: – Store between 65°F-90°F (18°C-32°C). – Store the ink with the lid tightly sealed on bucket. – Stir prior to use. – Keep it off concrete floors. DON’T: – Store buckets near a flash unit or other source of heat. – Store near an open window where it can be exposed to the sun. – Store on a cold floor, which can raise the thickness or viscosity. – Store near the ceiling or roof where the sun’s radiant heat can affect the stored temperature. – Let it sit on a shipping dock where it can get exposed to the sun, which can partially cure the ink. – Allow it to travel in the back of an open pickup truck, where it can get sun exposure. 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. For more information, visit www.iccink.com and read the company’s blog at internationalcoatingsblog.com. International Coatings manufactures a complete line of phthalate-compliant 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.