Matching the series to your product
The first step in evaluating Comec PLT4 Pad Printing Ink is to identify the actual substrate. Do not decide by product name alone without knowing the plastic type, metal coating or textile structure. Prepare a sample with the production substrate and record any surface treatment.
Technical data notes
Material names, ratios and times in this section are preserved from the series technical records. Do not transfer an additive ratio to another series; read each ratio together with the adjacent product code and operating conditions.
| PRODUCT SERIES | PLT4 |
|---|---|
| INK TYPE | Two-Component |
| PRINTING METHOD | Pad Printing |
| PRODUCT GROUP | Comec |
| General Properties | A two-component pad printing ink with a glossy finish and good opacity · . After 7-8 hours of polymerisation it offers excellent resistance to mechanical and chemical effects. · pad printing inks comply with (EC) EN 71.3 and European Directive 2002/95/EC (RoHS). |
| Pad Printing Ink Applications | Cellulose acetate · Thermosetting materials · Polycarbonate · Polyester · Acetate resins · Materials such as pretreated polypropylene and polyethylene · Glass · Metal · Painted surfaces (epoxy and oven-cured coatings) |
| Mechanical and Chemical Resistance | PLT4 offers excellent resistance to many organic solvents, chemicals and diluted acids. · Lightfastness level DIN 6-8 provides resistance to fading caused by light. |
| Preparation | Mix ink with PLH hardener at 4:1 (4 parts ink, 1 part hardener). · For transparent inks and clear varnishes, the ratio is 3 parts ink to 1 part hardener. · Use ink containing hardener within 6-8 hours of preparation. · Dilute and mix the ink with 10-20% PLA thinner. · In warm conditions, when printing fine details or halftone images (e.g. 80-120 lines per cm), use some PLD retarder. · It is recommended to use the ink 15-20 minutes after adding hardener. |
| Drying and Curing Properties | Dries in 10-15 minutes at an ambient temperature of 20°C. · For drying within seconds, use hot-air circulation ovens (60-80°C) positioned over a rotary table or conveyor, or high-output spot heat sources (air or infrared). · The ink cures fully in 5-6 days. · Colours shown in the chart are representative. Request a sample for the actual colour. |
| Colour Range | 24 standard colour options. · The COMEC colour range includes 24 standard glossy colours and CMYK colours. |
| Additives | PLH hardener. · PLT4/70 clear varnish. |
Three separate decisions in sample preparation
| Substrate | Verify the material and any coating; do not select a series by product name alone. |
|---|---|
| Preparation | Match hardener, thinner and other additive codes to the series. Record the quantities used in the mixture. |
| Inspection timing | Plan initial appearance inspection separately from application durability testing. Drying and curing are different processes. |
Evaluate colour and durability separately
A sample close to the colour reference does not automatically meet application durability requirements. Record colour appearance, artwork clarity and required performance under use conditions as separate inspection headings. Label every sample with material details when testing the same series on different substrates.
Preparing for a technical discussion
- Comec PLT4 Pad Printing Ink product name and colour to be used
- Substrate raw material and coating information
- Pretreatment applied and production environment
- Required visual result and conditions the print will encounter in use