Solvents for pad printing inks are specialized chemical additives that adjust viscosity, control drying speed, and enable proper ink transfer from the pad to the substrate. Pad printing ink solvents are also known as thinners or retarders, and they are generally categorized by their evaporation speed, from slow to fast.
Pad printing solvents are compatible with several specific types of inks, and Inkcups offers the following pairings:
A pad printing ink solvent is a specialized chemical catalyst that adjusts the viscosity of ink, controls the drying speed, and encourages proper ink transfer from the pad to the substrate.
Solvent is best used when a pad printing ink needs to be broken down or diluted. By chemically adjusting the viscosity of the pad printing ink with a solvent, the ink adheres to substrates more readily and dries more evenly.
Effectively, yes. Almost all pad printing inks require some kind of solvent or thinner so that the ink transfers cleanly from the plate to the pad itself. Some inks are classified as “one-component”, and the one component they need to be mixed with is a solvent.
Are there any downsides to using a solvent on pad printing ink?
Yes, using too much solvent can break down a pad printing ink beyond the point of usability, and the action of adding solvent to pad printing ink can create high VOC emissions that are toxic without proper ventilation. An ink that has too much solvent added with bleed on the substrate and can damage batches of product and equipment.
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