3 Scotchlite Transparent Printing Ink Series 200 and 220

Transcription

1 3 Scotchlite Transparent Printing Ink Series 200 and 220 Product Bulletin 200/220 January 1997 Replaces PB 1401 dated September 1989 Health and Safety Information Read all health hazard, precautionary, and first aid statements found in the Material Safety Data Sheet, and/or product label of chemicals prior to handling or use. Description 3M Scotchlite Transparent Printing Ink Series 200/220 is designed for printing on 3M Scotchlite Validation Security Sheeting and Ensure Image Security Sheeting. These inks must be clear-coated with series 260 clear (for annual stickers) or series 265 clear (for multi-year stickers) to give maximum outdoor durability, color transparency and color retention. Approximate coverage, per pound of solid color, is 250,000 square inches. For several runs, and after removing two or three skin formations, a pound of ink will cover approximately 190,000 square inches. Available Colors Scotchlite transparent printing ink series 200 (for letter press) 200 Opaque Black 201 Red 202 Blue 203 Green 204 Gold 205 Magenta Red 206 Yellow 219 Reducing Toner Scotchlite transparent printing ink series 220 (for offset) 220 Opaque Black 221 Red 222 Blue 223 Green 224 Gold 225 Magenta Red 226 Yellow Blending of these inks will produce a wide range of colors. Do not add transparent mixing white or transparent vehicle to reduce color intensity to pastel tints, as this can reduce ink adhesion or cause severe fading. For tints of transparent inks, use a half-tone plate. Opaque white pigments, if used, will cause transparent inks to become opaque. Scotchlite printing inks should be used as supplied. Blending or adulterating with other vehicles, waxes, driers, etc. should not be done. [The high pigment concentration in the red ink (201 or 221) makes it seem heavy but it should also be used as supplied.] One must remove skin or crust from ink in can before working it on a slab, as particles of skin or crust will leave spots on the printed sheeting. Surplus ink left on the slab should be returned to the can immediately. To eliminate skin formation, ink should not be left dormant in the ink fountain. Use an ink vibrator or agitator if the press is so equipped. If not, it will be necessary to occasionally work the ink with a spatula so that the ink will lay against the fountain roller. General Performance Considerations Properly applied and clear coated Scotchlite transparent printing inks are expected to have the same durability as the sheeting to which they are applied. 3M does not warrant these inks for use on other than recommended 3M sheetings.

2 Application Instructions Blending and Toning When blending different colors, do not mix letterpress inks with offset inks; however, reducing Toner 219 is compatible with both. Examples of blended colors are as follows: Color Magenta Desired Red Red Blue Yellow Gold Green Brown X X Maroon X X Purple X X Orange X X Flesh X X Deep Red X X Artwork For reproduction of reflective validation sheeting, use artwork or printing plates suitable for paper or card stock. For best quality, keep the following points in mind: A. To avoid dark, non-reflecting, opaque spots, half-tones should not have areas darker than 80% of the gray scale on a color separation guide. B. When using a half-tone surrounded by color, the deepest tones should not be darker than 30% in a 100-line screen. (When using Zip- A-Tone Sheets, nothing coarser than a No. 03 pattern with one-half reduction is recommended.) C. When using a half-tone as a separate color or line of type, do not use a tone deeper than 50% on a 110-line screen. (When using Zip- A-Tone Sheets, a No. 30 pattern with onehalf reduction is recommended.) Make-Ready Before actual printing, the following should be kept in mind: A. For make-ready or start-up of printing, print several passes on 110-pound card stock. B. Print application instructions and trademarks on reflective sheeting liner before printing on the face-side. Use a fast-drying, half-tone job black (as light as possible.) C. When printing face-side of reflective sheeting, one can wash wet ink off with isopropyl, butanol or heptane. The surface must be dry before reprinting. Previously printed colors that are completely dry will not be removed. D. Trim stock with a sharp guillotine knife to assure proper feeding. Letterpress A. Platen Presses Suitable presses are as follows: Chandler and Price Craftsman (10 x 15) and Kluge Automatic (12 x 18). Other types can also be used. Because reflective validation sheeting is nonporous, air can be trapped between the sheeting and the plate when large areas of solid color are being printed. This trapped air causes unprinted spots. To avoid this problem, use half-tone plates, which will allow the air to escape. Other precautions during make-ready are as follows: 1. The ink rollers should be very clean, free of dried ink and have no cracks. Use seasonal rollers, that is, those suitable for the prevailing climatic conditions. 2. The ink rollers should not show more than a pica in width of ink when left to set on form. (Raise rollers by applying strips of masking tape on bearers.) 3. If possible, use an ink vibrator. For maximum distribution of ink, apply graphite powder on the roller trucks at intervals. 4. Carefully prepared underlays and overlap will increase ink coverage. B. Cylinder Presses Suitable cylinder presses are as follows: Miehle Vertical (14 x 20) Miehle Horizontal (22 x 28) Kelly A (13-1/4 x 20) Miller Simplex (20 x 26) Heidelberg KSBA Do not try to print reflective validation sheeting in sheets smaller than 5" x 6" on these presses. Adding suction cups on the feeder bar will help to feed the sheets. C. Small Duplicators Suitable small duplicators are as follows: Multigraph Davidson Dual Duplicator Offset Suitable offset presses are as follows: Harris (21 x 28) Single Color and Webendorfer (22 x 29) Big Chief Davidson Duplicator, Nos. 221, 223, and 251 Multilith Duplicator, No

3 A. When printing with transparent inks, use a new offset rubber blanket since imperfections in a used blanket can cause visible misprints. B. In order to maintain consistent registry when using the Davidson Duplicator No. 221, 223, and 251, make the following modifications, if not already incorporated in the press: 1. A stronger spring on grippers or the latest model gripper bar assembly. 2. A brush or marble assembly to prevent bounceback of sheeting. 3. A longer and stiffer left guide spring, shaped to contact edge of stock in two places. 4 To prevent marring of the ink film, a coarse grade of sandpaper should be adhered to the lower ejector wheels with double coated tape. Consult your Davidson dealer for assistance in making any necessary changes. C. Multilith Duplicator No If not already incorporated in the press, a brush or marble assembly should be installed to prevent bounceback of the sheeting. D. Davidson and Multilith Duplicators 1. To prevent offsetting, use a synchronized offset dry powder spray. An additional supply of air may be needed on these presses if the sheeting does not feed properly. 2. The installation of an additional large ink distributing roll, adjacent to and touching the top roll will aid in the printing of large solid areas. 3. The installation of a skip feed attachment, so the plate is double rolled with ink, may also be necessary when printing large, solid opaque areas. Registry The backing paper on reflective validation sheeting will absorb or lose moisture depending on the storage humidity. Paper fibers expand as they take on moisture and contract as they lose it. Extreme humidity changes, therefore, will cause sheet dimension variance. This will generally take place immediately after rainfall or a marked change in temperature. A shop closed to the outside weather, with reasonable controlled humidity and temperature, should not be troubled with expansion or contraction of the sheeting. When hair-line registry is necessary, it is important that there be no great humidity or temperature change until after die-cutting. For this reason it is necessary that the sheets be allowed to stabilize to the press room conditions before a run is started. To do this, rack the sheets individually, backing side up, on gray chipboard, and let them stand overnight. The chipboard should be used to form a flat surface so that rack irregularities will not 3 cause wrinkling of the sheeting. Sheeting left in a roll or in stack will not stabilize to room conditions since only the edges are exposed. Once a run is started, keep the sheets in lifts. This will reduce moisture content changes. If the sheeting goes out of register in the middle of a run, after proper initial conditioning, it is probably due to a significant change in shop humidity. The sheeting will return to original size when the humidity returns to approximately the same level as when the run was started. When a large order is to be printed with many emblems, and where hairline registry is expected, print fewer emblems on a small sheet, rather than a large number on a large sheet. This is important in the summer when extreme fluctuations in humidity can cause dimensional instability. At other times of the year, in a heated shop, dimensional change are of a minor nature. A. Adjusting for Registry on a Cylinder Press As paper fibers expand, they cause the greatest change across the web (perpendicular to the grain of the paper of paper fibers). When using nonscored sheeting, the grain should be parallel to the long side, if the long side is fed against the grippers, expansion and contraction will occur around the cylinder. Some of the dimensional change can be compensated for by adjusting overlays for Tympan paper on the impression cylinder. B. Scored Sheeting The scoring in scored reflective validation sheeting runs parallel to the grain of the backing paper. This sheeting should be fed into a cylinder press with the scoring perpendicular to the grippers. Slight expansion or contraction of the sheeting may occur across the cylinder due to compression of the sheeting. No machine adjustment can be made when this occurs. If scored sheets are fed with the scores parallel to the grippers, the sheets may have a tendency to fall on the delivery board in a curl and cause smudging or offsetting of the preceding sheet. Test each individual job before the run to find the best way to feed the scored sheeting into the press. Drying of Inks Reflective validation sheeting will not absorb ink; the ink must dry by oxidation. One color per day can be printed with an overnight dry time between colors. (Do not add driers to try to speed up drying.)

4 The film or ink required for good coverage will cause offsetting if the sheets are piled in large stacks. To prevent this, apply a thin film of regular talc-type dry powder spray. Liquid spray may be used if the nozzle is adjusted so that the spray turns to powder before hitting the sheeting. This spray is then absorbed by each succeeding layer of ink and will not affect durability or reflection of the printed emblem. Excessive spray will result in a rough ink film on subsequent colors and necessitate wiping the face of each emblem before applying the clear coat. Reflective validation sheeting per unit area, is heavier than most papers; therefore, lift height must be correspondingly less to prevent offsetting, even though offsetting sprays are used. The correct lift height will vary with the total printed area and sheet size. Sheets are easier to handle if heavy cardboard is placed on the delivery board so that the printed sheets fall on the cardboard. When a lift of the correct depth is delivered, it can be removed by picking up the cardboard without moving or changing the stack of printed sheets. Because of the variables involved, it is recommended that minimum lift heights be used initially. As experience with printing on reflective validation sheeting is gained, the lift heights may be increased. Clear Coating For durability and maximum reflectivity, apply series 260 or 265 clear to the printed emblems. Use only these clears, as other clears or varnishes do not remain transparent under exposure and can cause loss of reflection. Before applying the clear, wipe off excessive amounts of offset spray with a Detroit TAC rag (Sherwin Williams Co.). A. Clears All validation stickers which have been numbered using series 200 inks must be clear coated with Scotchlite Clear 260 for annual stickers and Scotchlite Clear 265 for multi-year stickers. Scotchlite Clears 260 and 265 may be applied with any coater adapted to coating unmounted paper. Minimum Dry Film Clear Application Thinner Drying Thickness 260 Roll Coat 270 Air Dry 0.4 mil or (.0004 ) Oven Dry Roll Coat 275 Oven Dry 0.4 mil Only (.0004 ) B. Baking Clear Special Instructions 1 Scotchlite Clear 265 is a two part clear which must be mixed immediately prior to use. 4 Immediately prior to use, add Catalyst 265A to 265 Clear in the ratio of 3 ounces (85g) catalyst per gallon (3.8L) of clear. For smaller quantities, maintain this ratio. Mix only the quantity needed, since storage of more than a week of 265 Clear to which 265A has been added is NOT recommended. C. Roll Coating Suitable roll coaters: Chambers Varnish Machine, Potdevin Glue Machine, Poney Gummer. Use a roll coater adapted to coating paper. Reduce the clear viscosity to seconds per No. 2 Zahn viscosimeter. Replace evaporated solvent with 270 or 275 thinner. D. Drying of Clear Coat Clear. a. Oven Drying - 1/2 hour air dry followed by 15 minutes at 170 F F. b. Air Drying - 24 hours minimum with high volume fans directed at racks to aid in air circulation Baking Clear (Oven Dry Only). Air dry for 1/2 hour followed by two hours at 175 F (80 C). To prevent blocking, the clear must be completely dry before the sheets are stacked or packaged. E. Clear Thickness In order to obtain the stated durability the clear coat thickness after drying should be.0004" to.0005" on the processed areas. Test for thickness as follows using a Model 691 B-R2 Federal Caliper or equivalent. 1. Apply pressure sensitive masking tape across entire length of sheeting in the center. Apply clear coating, remove tape and thoroughly dry. 2. Measure the thickness of clear coat by reading caliper at (1) (below) adjacent to taped area, and then at center area (2) (below) where masking tape was applied to base sheeting. An average of several readings should be recorded for each area. OVERPRINT CLEAR 1 2 CALIPER BASE FILM LINER ADHESIVE 3. The difference between these two averaged readings will be the dry thickness of the clear coat.

5 F. Coverage Clears will cover approximately 700 to 1000 square feet (37 to 46 square meters) per gallon (3.8 liters). Cutting Steel die-cutting is the best way to cut a large number of emblems. For more information on cutting, refer to Information Folder 50 (Cutting and Matching Instructions for Scotchlite reflective sheetings). Storage Store in a cool, dry place an use within one year after receiving. Reseal cans after using for maximum life of the product. 3M assumes no responsibility for any injury, loss or damage arising out of the use of a product that is not of our manufacture. Where reference is made in literature to a commercially available product, made by another manufacturer, it shall be the user s responsibility to ascertain the precautionary measures for its use outlined by the manufacturer. Important Notice All statements, technical information and recommendations contained herein are based on tests we believe to be reliable, but the accuracy or completeness thereof is not guaranteed, and the following is made in lieu of all warranties, express or implied. Seller s and manufacturer s only obligation shall be to replace such quantity of the product proved to be defective. Neither seller nor manufacturer shall be liable for any injury, loss or damage, direct or consequential, arising out of the use of or the inability to use the product. Before using, user shall determine the suitability of the product for his/her intended use, and user assumes all risk and liability whatsoever in connection therewith. Statements or recommendations not contained herein shall have no force or effect unless in an agreement signed by officers of seller and manufacturer. 3 Traffic Control Materials Division 3M Center, Building 225-5S-08 3M Canada 3M Mexico, S.A. de C.V. P.O. Box P.O. Box 5757 Apartado Postal Printed on recycled paper St. Paul, MN London, Ontario N6A 4T1 Mexico, D.F