When choosing the right plastic for pad printing there a couple of tips that can help make the decision easier for you.

Plastics vary in terms of texture and surface tension. If the surface tension is lower that the ink, the ink won’t stick. If it is higher than the ink will bond properly to the surface which will make it possible to be designed however you want.

One tip to help you determine if the plastic you are using will work is to drip some water on the surface. If the water beads up then it is not a wise surface to choose. If the water sheets the surface, the ink will adhere properly to the material.

Make sure that whatever mold you are using does not create an adhesion problem and keep the plastic free of any kind of contamination like oils, greases, or condensation. The biggest problems come from unknown surfactants that repel ink, and unidentified additives that make the plastic’s surface hydrophobic and unable to accept ink.

Sometimes when heat is applied to a component the additives migrate to the surface, changing the surface tension and the product’s ability to be printed

Tags: pad printing, plastics for pad printing

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