Water transfer printing technology, most are based on a plane or planar substrate such as decorative printing, film gravure, offset printing paper; screen printing substrate more, can print some irregular surfaces, such as plastic bottles; adaptability than screen printed printing and progress, but the scope is too narrow. The common point of these printing methods is to utilize the flexibility of the substrate to transfer the images on the plate to the substrate by pressure. Transfer technology belongs to indirect printing, graphic printing not by so directly on the substrate surface, printing, very much can transfer the substrate shape and type of materials, such as pressure water transfer printing technology is the use of water to add coating on the surface of an object, the transfer printing technology. Water transfer printing technology classification According to the characteristics of water transfer, can be divided into drape water transfer and water transfer.
1. water drape transfer printing
The so-called drape water transfer, refers to the decoration of all the surface of the object, the workpiece should be able to cover the whole surface (stereo) for pattern printing, this is its advantages; butthe disadvantages are also obvious, that is by flexibility of the carrier in full contact with the substrate inevitably occur when tensile deformation, so. In fact, the transfer to the surface of the object image to achieve fidelity. For the transfer of water transfer paper printing ink color ismostly by decorative color and simple repetitive pattern, no fine print sensitive film; water transfer film is composed mostly of flexible water soluble film manufacturing, transfer film for three-dimensional transfer is difficult for small text and the level of image transfer replication.
2. water transfer
Water transfer is the transfer paper on graphic transfer to process the substrate surface, it is like the heat transfer process, just rely on hydraulic pressure transfer, water transfer printing technology is a recently popular graphic information, it can transfer a small area on the substrate surface, similar to shift printing printing but the investment effect, low cost, operation process is relatively simple, very popular with users. Water transfer process without activator, avoid organic solvent pollution, has obvious advantages in the production of handicrafts and decorations.
Water transfer material
Water transfer printing material refers to the surface of the substrate processing can transfer the overall picture printing film, the base material can be plastic film, or water transfer paper. Thisprinting film as the image carrier, it appears to be a great progress in
printing technology, because there are a lot of products is difficult to direct printing, and with this carrier, people can use mature printing technology to print the first graphic will be printed on the carrier, then the image transferred to the substrate. If you have a high degree of heavy, strange shape, or small items, you can use the transfer process. For the single water transfer process, its adaptability is very wide, almost can not transfer products, used to transfer material of water transfer with water bestrow transfer film and water transfer paper.
(1) water drape transfer film
Similar to the production process of heat transfer membranes, the water transfer printing film is made by using an intaglio printing machine and a traditional printing process, and is printed on the surface of the water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol film. The substrate of water transfer printing film has a high rate of extensibility and is easily attached to the surface of the object easily. This is also the main reason why it is suitable for transferring on the surface of the whole object. But it is also obvious that the flexibility is great, that is, in the process of printing and transfer, the surface of the film is easy to deform. The second is the transfer process. If the processing is not good, the film may break. In order to avoid this shortcoming, we often put the water transfer coating printing film on the graphic design, with no specific shape, deformation does not affect the ornamental repeated patterns. Water transfer printing film can obtain high elongation in gravure printing, the cost can be reduced, with precise automatic tension control system of gravure printing machine, one can print 4 to 8 colors, Overprinter accuracy is higher. Gravure printing water transfer film using water transfer printing ink, and compared with traditional ink, water transfer printing ink water resistance is good, dry way isvolatile drying.
(2) water transfer paper
The substrate water transfer paper is a special paper, soluble in water, from the aspect of structure, and drape water transfer film is not much difference, but the production process is very different. Water transfer paper is on the surface of the substrate by screen printing or offset printing to manufacture a transfer pattern, as shown in figure 1. Screen printing water transfer printing ink is a kind of special water resistant ink, and offset water transfer printing ink can be replaced by general offset printing ink, use special water transfer offset printing ink better. It is difficult to make water transfer printing by screen printing, but the ink layer is very thick. The printing and drawing of printing water transfer paper can achieve higherresolution. Water transfer paper printing ink jet printer, is now the most popular method of making and using the printer and computer more easily according to their own preferences personalized photo, so popular. The production process of water bestrow transfer film and water transfer paper as shown in figure
3. Water transfer printing process
1). water drape process
(1) film activation
The drape water transfer film on the surface of the tile to transfer water, graphic layer up, keep the water in the water tank cleaning, and in a neutral state, with the activator in the graphic surface evenly spraying, the graphic layer activation, easy separation and carrier film. Activator is a kind of organic mixed solvent based on aromatic hydrocarbons. It can dissolve and destroy polyvinyl alcohol rapidly, but it will not damage the picture and text layer, make the picture and text be free. The principle of film activation is shown in figure
(2) water drape transfer process
Will need water transfer items along the contour gradually close to the water transfer film, graphic layer will be under the pressure of the water slowly transferred to the product surface, adhesion due to adhesion of ink and printing materials or special coating inherent. Transfer process, the substrate and water coated film laminating speed to maintain uniform, avoid film wrinkles and make graphic unsightly. In principle, we should ensure proper stretching of the picture and text, and avoid overlap as much as possible. In particular, the overlap and excessive overlap can make people feel confused. The more complex theproduct, the higher the demand for Water temperature is an important parameter affecting the quality of transfer, the water temperature is too low, may cause the dissolution of substrate film, water temperature is too high, and easy to cause damage to graphics and text, causing deformation of text. The automatic water temperature control device can be used to control the water temperature in a stable range. The mass of the workpiece for the shape is relatively simple, unified, and water transfer equipment special instead of manual operation, such as a cylindrical workpiece, which can be fixed on the rotating shaft, on the surface of the films to rotate to make the graphic layer transfer, drape
water transfer process as shown in figure
4.After the transfer of printing and painting, but also for the following steps.
Tidy up
Remove the workpiece from the tank, remove the remaining film, and then rinse off the floating layer which is not attached to the surface of the product. Pay attention to the water pressure can not be too large, otherwise it is easy to transfer the graphic damage.
Drying
Remove the moisture on the surface of the product, in order to transfer the ink layer thoroughly drying; in order to increase the adhesion fastness, you can use the hair dryer to dry, or you can put the product in the drying box drying. Plastic products drying temperature can not be too high, generally at 50~60 degrees C, the temperature is too high, easy to substrate deformation; metal, glass, ceramics and other materials drying temperature can be appropriately improved.Spraying protective paint In order to enhance the environmental resistance of graphics and text, spray paint on the surface. Spray paint can be used solvent light oil, spray after natural drying or heating drying; also can use UV light oil, ultraviolet curing drying. In contrast, UV curing is more adaptive to environmental protection requirements.Solvent based varnish should be used in combination with a range of hardening agents, such as water transfer printing light oils sold by general equipment in Dongguan, Changan, It is a kind of varnish with polyurethane resin as the connecting material. It should be used with PU hardening agent. The thickness of coating can be controlled by adding proper amount of diluent to improve the viscosity of varnish. Attention should be paid to drying in oven. For different printing materials, spraying light oil is divided into three types, that is suitable for plastic materials light oil, flexible materials for light oil and suitable for metal, glass and other non absorbent material light oil.
2. water transfer process
(1) environmental factors
Cleaning the substrate surface is a necessary condition for high quality printing, which is the same for any printing process. To ensure that the substrate is completely bare state transfer; in addition, a clean and tidy working environment conducive to transfer ink layer tightly attached on the surface of the substrate, the transfer effect of floating dust can most easily in the air.
(2) the activation of water transfer paper
Water transfer paper can be divided into water transfer paper and stripping dissolved water transfer paper, water transfer paper can peel graphic after activation and substrate can achieve separation, transfer; dissolved water transfer paper activated substrate dissolved in water, and in the free state to achieve transfer. The activation of water transfer paper activation and drape water transfer film is different, it is immersed in water transfer paper, the graphic and separated from the substrate, without special solvent, as
shown in figure 5,The process is simpler. The specific process is to first transfer the graphic water transfer paper into the required specifications, put into a clean sink, soak for about 20 seconds, so that the mask and substrate separation, ready for transfer. Water transfer process as shown in figure 6, Take out the water transfer paper gently close to the substrate surface, with squeegee pressure map technology, so that the water squeezed out, keep the graphic tile in the specified position, natural drying. The stripping water transfer paper, natural drying and then placed inside the oven drying, in order to improve the fastness graphic, drying temperature at 100 degrees celsius. Because the stripping water transfer paper by surface has a layer of protective varnish, no longer spray protection. But there is no water soluble transfer paper graphic surface protective layer, natural drying need to spray varnish treatment, spraying UV light oil curing machine for curing. When spraying varnish, we must pay attention to prevent dust falling on the surface, otherwise, the appearance of the product will be greatly affected. The coating thickness is controlled by adjusting the viscosity of the varnish and the amount of paint sprayed. Excessive spraying results in a decrease in uniformity. For the larger transfer area of the substrate, using screen printing for glazing, you can get athicker coating, but also very effective protection measures.
Application of water transfer printing
1. printing materials
Water transfer technology can be used to decorate most of the articles in daily life, such as plastic, metal, glass, ceramics, wooden flat and molded body. According to the need for coating before transfer,you can print materials are divided into the following two categories.
(1) material that is easy to transfer
The printing properties of some materials in plastics, such as polystyrene (PS), ABS, organic glass, polycarbonate (PC), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material, without coating can transfer printing transfer principle and similarity principle.
(2) materials that need coating
Non – absorbent materials such as glass, metal and ceramics, as well as non – polar materials, such as polyethylene and polypropylene, need to be coated with special coatings to carry out water transfer. The coating is a kind of paint with good adhesion to the transfer material. It can be processed by screen printing, spray coating and roller coating. From the perspective of printing, coating technology to solve the problem of surface decoration for many not printed materials, many transfer process is now popular, such as heat transfer, hot melt transfer, ceramic decal, pressure-sensitive transfer, are needed in the surface of the substrate by coating processing.
2. water transfer printing products
(1) telecommunications products
In today’s wide range of mobile phones, people are more and more interested in personalized decoration of mobile phone products. Besides, the famous mobile phone manufacturers work hard on quality,Unique appearance is also the hot spot of competition.
Generally speaking, the shell of mobile phone is made of plastic injection, and adding various pigments in the ingredient is a more traditional way of decoration, but this method has higher cost and is not easy to change. In the rapidly changing information society,people’s aesthetic taste is very difficult to grasp the inconstant in policy. Using this method is obviously difficult to meet the trend of human pursuit of fashion, and water transfer printing technology can make mobile phone shell decoration more personality, colorful.
(2) decoration industry
The characteristics of water transfer printing technology is the most easy to implement personalized, which in itself is love change and individuality young, so many young people in the application of technology transfer on the occasion, such as leisure teahouse, hall and indoor window can be water transfer for decoration, and the regular water transfer process change of decorative patterns, in order to obtain fresh feeling; in the furniture industry, painting once occupied the important position, the rise of the water transfer process in recent years, changed the furniture decorative pattern is single, drab, serious
environmental pollution at present.
(3) arts and crafts
This is a rely on appearance to conquer the world of consumers, to win customers immutable and frozen face is futile. Performance of water transfer technology in surface finishing of crafts is an investment should not choose one of too big. Water transfer printing is difficult to say what special advantages, but can not help but admit that it will many of the last century’s 70s antique into the new generation in twenty-first Century, to get people’s favor. Examples in this regard, the clock on the wall beyond count, such as table frame, roof chandelier. Obviously, water transfer technology is available in a new way to achieve specific substrate surface decoration, and decoration graphic novel, high quality. But for now, the process of water transfer process * basically stay in the tedious work manual, also can not complete the precise positioning of the polychromatic, mechanical process is relatively slow. These problems limit the further development of water transfer technology. Brief introduction of water transfer printing process With the improvement of product packaging and decoration requirements, the application of water transfer printing has been developed and used more and more widely. The principle of indirect printing and perfect printing effect to solve the problem of surface decoration of many products, mainly used to transfer all kinds of ceramic, glass paper etc..
– transfer objects widely
1. printing of ceramic decal. Can be used in ceramic tableware,ceramic water and other daily-use ceramics pattern making, can be used for ceramic tiles made of decorative tiles,waistline, ceramics andother building decoration.
2. decorative glass. Water can be used for glass, glass bottles, all kinds of ads mugs, glass containers and decorative glass.
3. helmet decals printed. Widely used in motorcycle helmet, helmet and other surface pattern design.
4. sporting goods decals. Such as tennis rackets, fishing rod on the surface of trademark and logo; metal fittings decals, such as making a bicycle and motorcycle fitting patterns and text; making toys models surface decals, printed carpentry colored paper; fashionable tattoo stickers; the other is difficult to directly print the decal. Two 、water transfer printing process The production of water transfer paper, paper pattern, drying,soaking, paste products
1. water transfer decal. Computer processing according to the pattern of the output film printing, and then in the water transfer printing paper (specially good paper without treatment) on the pattern of all kinds of printing, and printing cover oil at the end of the paper on the printed pattern. Another method is to use a color laser printer to print the pattern directly onto the water transfer base paper and then transfer it to water.
2. flower soaking. The printed paper into the water, soaking 30 s removed from the water, so it can slip can be. Note that the soaking time should not be too long, otherwise it will dissolve the glue on the surface of the paper.
3. patterns posted.
The first will be posted in surface processing, and then soakedpaper posted to it, then the excess water scraping, drying.
4. drying. Articles such as metals, ceramics, and glass are placed in the oven and baked at 140 for 20 min; the plastic is baked 60 min at a temperature of 70 degrees; candles, helmets, or tempered glass are not baked.
5. finished goods. Spray a layer of transparent lacquer on the surface of the baked goods. After 12h drying, the flower surface and the decorations are permanently joined together. If you don’t do this process, you can, but the fastness is poor. In a word, the printing company can develop special business according to the special need of water transfer according to its own business need. Color Pattern Coating Known as environmentally friendly technology, is also the latest in a highly efficient printing, probably related to his printing ink from the process. Water transfer using the water pressure and the activator to peel layer dissolved water transfer vector film transfer, basic process is as follows: a) film printing: the polymer film printed on different patterns; two) primer spray: many materials must be coated with a layer of adhesive, such as metal and ceramic, if transfer to a different pattern, must use a different color, such as the use of wood basic brown coffee color yellow, white for stone grains; three) extension of the film: let the film flat on the water, and the membrane extends smoothly; four) activation: a special solvent (activator) the transfer film pattern activate ink state; five) transfer: the use of pressure to activated pattern printed on the printed material; six) washing: will be printed on the workpiece residual impurities of water wash; seven) drying: drying the workpiece to be printed, depending on the material temperature The primality and melting point; eight) spray paint: spray the transparent protective paint protection is printed surface; nine) drying: spray paint surface drying.
Water transfer printing technology has two kinds, one is called water transfer technology, the other is a drape water transfer technology transfer, the former mainly completes the text and pictorial pattern, the latter tendency to transfer the whole surface of the product. Cubic Transfer uses an aqueous film that is easily dissolved in water to carry pictures and text. Because of the excellent tension of the water film, it is easy to wrap on the surface of the product to form a picture and text layer, and the surface of the product is like a spray paint to get a different appearance. Drape printing technology can be used to drape colored patterns on any type of workpiece and solve the problem of printing three-dimensional products for manufacturers. Surface coating surface also in the product with
different lines, such as striae, wood, jade and marble pattern, but also avoid color printing often is the general board of the virtual. In the printing process, the surface of the product and its integrity can be avoided because the product surface does not need to contact the printed film.
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