Akulon (PA6 and PA66)
The relatively high heat deflection
temperature and solvent resistance of Akulon PA6 and
PA66 make them excellent resins for printing and drying at elevated
temperatures. Pretreatments are normally not necessary, due to the strongly
polar character of the material. However, acceptable mould release-agents and
moisture levels should be ascertained.
Stanyl (PA46)
Due to its strongly polar character,
Stanyl does not usually require any form of pretreatment. Printing should
however take place on dry-as-molded products. Together with a thermal after
treatment (i.e. curing) this ensures that sufficient adhesion between the inks
and the polyamide substrate is achieved.
Solvent containing inks suitable for Stanyl consist of
solvents based on ketones, glycol ethers, alcohols and/or esters, binding
agents based on nitrocellulose, vinyl chloride copolymers or thermoplastic
polyamides, and pigments based on azo and phtalocyanine compounds.
Arnite (PBT and PET)
Arnite can be
printed with practically all known printing systems. The chemical resistance
of polyester is so good that inks generally have poor adhesion to the surface
of the part. A primer should be used for all standard inks.
Arnitel (TPE)
Arnitel is easy to print,
provided that no silicone-containing mold release agents or other products
with an adverse effect on adhesion were used. No special adhesion promoters
are necessary. Arnitel can be printed with several printing techniques,
including sublimation printing.
Xantar (PC), Xantar C (PC + ABS) and Stapron E (PC + PET)
If no mold-release is used and the parts are not touched with bare hands, the
only necessary cleaning
operation might be blowing with clean air. Cleaning with a compatible solvent
is necessary if parts have been contaminated with oil, grease, mold-release or
other foreign materials.
It should always be checked that the ink system is not too aggressive. Organic
solvents may cause stress cracking. Chlorinated and aromatic solvents, as well
as ketones, should generally be avoided, although they may sometimes be used
in other solvent systems as adhesion promoters to etch the surface. Solvents
should evaporate easily and leave the printed part completely. Waterborne inks
and inks based on aliphatic hydrocarbons (mineral spirits, heptane, hexane and
alcohols) are generally compatible with PC.
Hot curing temperatures up to 120ºC (250ºF) are generally acceptable for
Xantar PC.
