There are many different types of inks, but there are only a few ways of curing the ink. "Curing" is the process at which inks are chemically dry. This means that the ink can sometimes air dry or dry to the touch, and still not be permanent. Inks can only become permanent when they are "cured". This is especially important with t-shirt printing, since washability is a factor to consider for the life of the print.
The equipment required for curing inks varies widely, and is directly related to the ink selection. Some inks cure with a chemical catalyst, some require a conveyor dryer, and other inks require no specialized equipment at all.
Review the following ways that ink may be cured:
Evaporation
Evaporative inks require no specialized equipment to dry. The ink dries when exposed to
air. The solvent evaporates into the air, and that is how we get the name.
Heat Setting
Inks that require heat to cure are called "thermosetting" inks. Thermosetting
inks may require some expensive equipment for curing. This is one of the most widely used
type of inks and curing processes. The inks do not air dry, and require a heat source for
curing. Some thermosetting inks are placed in a household dryer or ironed to cure the ink.
Usually a large conveyor dryer is used. They are rather expensive.
Ink Catalysts
"Ink catalysts" are chemical agents that are added to ink. The catalyst causes a
chemical reaction that begins to harden the ink. The drawback to using a chemical catalyst
in the ink, is that the ink actually begins to dry immediately after the introduction of
the catalyst. This may cause problems, if the printing can not proceed quickly. The ink
may dry in the screen and render the screen useless.
Ultraviolet Inks (UV)
"UV" inks are dried by using special flourescent ultraviolet light to cure the
ink. This is a very specialized type of ink for specific applications. The drawback to the
use of these inks is that the lighting situation must be controlled throughout not only
the drying (curing) process, but during the printing as well.
Review the page again to be sure that you understand the material. REMEMBER, YOU WILL BE TESTED ON THIS MATERIAL!
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