Globally, especially in China, UV printers, UV flatbed printers, flatbed printers, and platform printers have all achieved double-digit growth rates in recent years. UV printing is fast, high-quality, and more environmentally friendly than solvent-based printing. Beyond these advantages, the biggest highlight of UV flatbed printing is its ability to print on a diverse range of substrates. UV flatbed printing can achieve excellent results on materials that were previously unsuitable for printing, such as glass, ceramics, metal, acrylic, and wood. However, due to the rapid drying of UV inks and the smooth surfaces of glass, ceramics, metal, acrylic, and certain types of wood, UV inks often struggle with adhesion and can easily peel off. Therefore, despite many manufacturers promoting "coating-free" UV printing, in practical market applications, especially in industrial settings with higher demands, using coatings to aid UV ink adhesion is a necessary process.
Choosing the right coating (flatbed printer coating or pre-treatment solution) for UV printers, UV flatbed printers, flatbed printers, and platform printers is crucial not only for ensuring print quality but also for protecting expensive equipment. Since UV printer coatings have not been around for long, many users of UV flatbed printers are not fully aware of their properties. The quality of UV printer coatings on the market varies widely. Selecting the wrong coating can damage the equipment.
When choosing a coating for UV flatbed printers, it is essential to consider the following six factors:
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1. Adhesion: There are various methods to measure adhesion, such as the cross-cut test. For higher-quality print products, you can also test whether the printed image peels off after immersion in water or boiling. Adhesion is a critical factor in evaluating UV printer coatings. High-quality UV printer coatings should pass the cross-cut test and remain intact after water immersion or boiling.
2. Leveling: Leveling is a common performance indicator in coatings, referring to the ability of a coating to automatically smooth out brush marks or spray particles after being applied to a surface. Poor leveling in UV printer coatings can affect the decorative quality of the printed product. More importantly, if brush marks do not disappear, the uneven coating surface may rub against the printer's nozzles, causing significant damage. High-quality UV printer coatings should have a well-formulated composition that levels quickly after application.
3. Film Transparency: As high-value decorative products, UV prints generally have high aesthetic requirements. This means that UV printer coatings should form a colorless, transparent film. Some two-component coatings based on epoxy resin on the market tend to yellow, which can negatively impact the decorative effect.
4. Weather Resistance: For UV-printed products, especially outdoor signs and billboards, the prints must remain bright and colorfast over time. Specifically, this requires UV printer coatings to have UV resistance. Some UV flatbed printer coatings may yellow under prolonged exposure to light, making them unsuitable for outdoor use. Even for indoor UV prints, it is generally advisable to use coatings with weather resistance to ensure product quality.
5. Ease of Use: Currently, some UV printer coatings on the market are two-component or multi-component products that require mixing according to the manufacturer's instructions, which can be inconvenient. In contrast, single-component UV flatbed printer coatings that do not require mixing offer greater convenience.
6. Product Safety: Safety is another critical factor when selecting UV printer coatings. Solvent-based UV printer coatings not only have strong odors but also pose safety risks if stored improperly, and they are inconvenient to transport.
Given the high investment in UV flatbed printers, it is advisable to choose safer water-based UV printer coatings. If solvent-based coatings must be used, it is recommended to store them separately from the UV printer to eliminate safety hazards.
