by John Kaverman, Pad Print Pros LLC When you read the technical data for a pad printing ink, you'll notice that the recommended drying and curing parameters generally are called out separately. This is because drying and curing are two distinctly different things. Drying simply is evaporating the solvents from the printed ink film. Curing is the chemical reaction that … [Read more...] about What are the Differences in Drying and Curing Pad Printing Inks?
Articles
Erler Industries Powers Forward with Automotive Decorating
by Amy Bauer, Plastics Decorating Car sales have surged for US automakers, with 2013 marking the best year since 2007's pre-recession levels. The appliance industry, too, is growing again. It is a stark contrast to the challenging days of 2008's global economic downturn and the auto industry's steep sales declines. For plastics decorator Erler Industries, Inc., … [Read more...] about Erler Industries Powers Forward with Automotive Decorating
Optimizing the Parameters for Microwave UV Curing
by Madeline Kraizel and Hallie Smith-Petee, Nordson Corporation UV curing can be a fairly simple process spanning many industries. A coating is applied to a part and passed under a UV lamp, which cures the coating almost instantaneously. UV curing is used on many products, from cell phones and car headlights to magazine covers and medical devices (See Figure 1). There … [Read more...] about Optimizing the Parameters for Microwave UV Curing
Breakthrough Additives Enhance Plastics Laser Marking
by Scott R. Sabreen, The Sabreen Group, Inc. The newest generation of laser marking additives formulated into polymers is a substantial advancement in technology which is proven both enabling and cost-saving. Progressive material science formulations achieve superior marking contrast, line edge detail and speed on plastics that traditionally have been difficult, if not … [Read more...] about Breakthrough Additives Enhance Plastics Laser Marking
After Gridlock, Plastics Industry Looks to Federal Policy Modernization
by William Carteaux, SPI Looking back on 2013 – a year marked by partisan bickering in Washington that resulted in the first government shutdown in over 17 years – we in the plastics industry are hopeful that at least a few key issues are ripe for bipartisan solutions in 2014. Importantly, though, where consensus cannot be reached despite our best efforts, we must continue to … [Read more...] about After Gridlock, Plastics Industry Looks to Federal Policy Modernization