Thermally-sensitive Inks/Labels
“Thermoprint” Irreversible Colour-change Inks
We offer an ink/lacquer, a “chemithermal”, which can either be coated down onto label stock to produce the familiar “thermal-label”, or can be printed down as a heat-sensitive patch on a printed label. As the surface area required for the variable information (batch-code, sell-by date, bar code), is frequently only a small proportion of the total, it will be cost effective to print this patch when the rest of the label is printed. Compared with the use of thermal label stock, the printing of a small patch of our chemithermal ink can produce much improved margins for the printer.
The normal colour change would be white to black, e.g. TFBK90 (Thermoprint, Flexo, Black, 90C), although other colours and temperatures can be offered.
Thermoprint inks are also used in the manufacture of Security packaging. As tamper-evidence (TE) inks, they offer improved colouration characteristics, better printability, better colour stability, and savings on ink consumption of up to 50% compared with other TE inks.
Let us offer you a FREE sample of Thermoprint; and let us offer a FREE demonstration of how you can get a better TE effect and save on cost.
“Thermoswell” Volume Change Inks
We offer inks (for flexography, screen or gravure), either water-based or solvent-based, which, after coating and drying, will expand when heated. The temperature of the expansion is 100-130C, and this produces a tactile effect or a “soft-touch” feel. Volume increases of a few percent up to several hundred percent are possible. The swelling could be accompanied by a colour change such that “intaglio” text (and codes) could be written by a laser beam. A special form of Thermoswell ink is under development, as a means of printing Braille.
Thermochromic Inks
Thermochromic inks change colour, reversibly when heated. The lifetime of these inks is normally very limited because of the degradation caused by exposure to the UV in sunshine. However, Siltech offers a range of UV protected Thermochromic inks with increased lifetime of up to 10 times. A range of colours and change-temperatures is available.
“Thermocheck” Thermal-cure Indicators
Indicator labels are offered for showing when a baking or annealing process at an elevated temperature has taken place. A typical colour change would be red to black.