The Use of Activated Carbon in Screen Printing Inks

Screen printing is a process where ink is transferred to a substrate through a mesh, using a stencil to block out areas that do not allow the ink to pass. In this process, a blade or squeegee is moved across the screen to fill open mesh holes with ink, followed by a reverse stroke that causes the screen to momentarily touch the substrate along a contact line.

For specially formulated black inks, the use of activated carbon powder is crucial to prevent color transfer and provide adsorbent properties when needed. This particular black ink acquires the desired characteristics by being applied to various substrates.

Activated Carbon Properties:

Specific properties must be met by the special activated carbon:

• Methylene Blue Adsorption: >30mg"/g
• pH Value: 6 - 7 (Neutral)
• Particle Size: <20 microns
• Iodine Number: 1100mg"/g
• Bulk Density: 0.41g"/cm3

These features are essential to ensure the desired quality and performance in screen printing inks. Methylene blue adsorption facilitates effective ink transfer to the substrate, while a neutral pH value prevents color transfer. Particle size and iodine number ensure a homogeneous ink structure, and bulk density contributes to the ink having the desired properties during application.

This special activated carbon plays a significant role in the production of high-quality and effective inks in the screen printing industry.