Thermal transfer and water transfer technology

The printing method of transferring the graphic image on the intermediate carrier film to the substrate with corresponding pressure is called transfer printing. According to the different pressure, transfer is divided into: thermal transfer, water transfer, air transfer, screen transfer, low temperature transfer.

A. Thermal transfer technology

Thermal transfer is a technique of printing a pattern on a heat-resistant adhesive sheet and printing the pattern of the ink layer onto the finished material by heating and pressurizing. Even for patterns of many colors, since the transfer job is just a process, customers can shorten the operation of printing patterns and reduce the loss of materials (finished products) due to printing errors. With the use of thermal transfer film printing, multicolor patterns can be patterned at a time without trapping, and simple devices can also print realistic patterns.

Thermal transfer equipment is used to decorate aluminum-shaped materials and all kinds of metal plate materials, which can achieve the effect of wood products or marble. Thermal transfer equipment is based on the principle of thermal sublimation. It can quickly transfer the desired wood grain or marble pattern to the surface of aluminum-type powder coating and penetrate the inside of the coating in 3-5 minutes. Micron. Aluminium transfer production process: First, the film is used to heat transfer film before cutting the required size. The second is to use the transfer ultrasonic packaging machine that will cut the good transfer film according to the size of the workpiece to ultrasonically weld the workpiece into the bag. The third is to insert the workpiece wrapping bag made of the transfer film on the packaging platform. The fourth is to place the transfer film on the heat transfer machine platform, and then put 18 aluminum materials. Connect the two ends of the aluminum material to the vacuum tap and lock it. Open the vacuum switch. The transfer film is tight at this time. Close to aluminum. The trolley automatically sends the aluminum material to the baking oven. The baking oven automatically raises the temperature by 220 degrees and keeps it warm for 3 minutes. The cart automatically exits the baking oven. The fifth is to loosen the vacuum tap and remove the workpiece. Sixth, remove the transfer film and check the quality of the workpiece.

Lithography thermal transfer production process, one is to use a film cutting machine to heat transfer paper roll cut into the required size. The second is to attach the thermal transfer paper film to the surface of the workpiece and put it on a flatbed hot stamping machine. The third is to push the flat plate to the heating zone of the platen heat transfer machine, press the pressure plate switch, the platen presses the thermal transfer paper tightly on the workpiece, and heats and insulates for one minute. The fourth is to raise the pressure plate, push the workpiece to the section, remove the transfer film and remove the workpiece and check it.

Thermal transfer technology is widely used in electrical appliances, Daily necessities, building materials and other decorative materials. Due to its anti-corrosion, impact resistance, aging resistance, wear resistance, fire resistance, and its ability to remain in outdoor use for 15 years without discoloration, nearly all of its products are made using this method. For example, when you open the phone case, you can see a large number of bar code labels inside. Many label requirements can withstand the test of time, long-term no deformation, no fading, can not wear due to contact with the solvent, not because of the high temperature deformation, discoloration, etc., it is necessary to use a special material print media and printing materials to ensure these characteristics, General inkjet and laser printing technologies cannot be achieved.

Water transfer technology

Known as the more environmentally-friendly technology, it is also a newly developed high-efficiency printing production, probably related to his separation from printing inks. Water transfer uses water pressure and activator to dissolve and transfer the peeling layer on the water transfer carrier film. The basic flow is as follows: a) printing of the film: printing various patterns on the polymer film; 2) spraying the primer : Many materials must be coated with a layer of adhesive, such as metal, ceramic, etc. Different background colors must be used to transfer different patterns. For example, brown, brown, khaki, etc Etc. 3) Extension of the membrane: Let the membrane lay flat on the surface of the water and stretch the membrane until it is flattened. 4) Activation: Transfer the pattern of the transfer membrane to the ink state with a special solvent (activator); 5) Transfer: Use The water pressure will print the activated pattern on the printed material; 6) Washing: Wash the impurities remaining in the printed workpiece; 7) Drying: Dry the printed workpiece, the temperature depends on the prime and melting point of the material. And set; eight) spray paint: sprayed with a transparent protective paint to protect the surface of the printed object; 9) Drying: The surface of the surface finish of the sprayed paint is dry.

There are two types of water transfer technology, one is water mark transfer technology, and the other is water drape transfer technology. The former mainly completes the transfer of text and photo designs, while the latter tends to complete the entire product surface. Transfer. Cubic Transfer uses an aqueous film that dissolves easily in water to carry images. Due to the excellent tension of the water drape film, it is easy to wrap around the surface of the product to form a graphic layer, and the surface of the product has a completely different appearance like a paint spray. Drapery transfer technology can apply color patterns to any shape of workpiece to solve the problem of stereoscopic product printing for manufacturers. Curved surface coating can also add different lines on the surface of the product, such as skin texture, wood grain, emerald grain, and marble stone, etc., and can also avoid the often-existing virtual position in the general surface printing. In the printing process, since the surface of the product does not need to be in contact with the printing film, damage to the product surface and its integrity can be avoided.



Source: Graphic Arts