ECOTRANS® AQ PRINTABLE ADHESIVE TECHNICAL INFO

Ink Range

1kg, 5kg, 20kg and 250kg.

Additives

1kg, 5kg and 25kg.

Inks

3 years from date of manufacture in unopened containers.

Additives

3 years from date of manufacture in unopened containers.

Notes:

1. Products must be stored in the supplied containers with closed lids.
2. Products must be stored in between 5°C and 35°C, out of direct sunlight and away from any heat sources.

ECOTRANS® AQ (82-08-) inks and adhesives are water based inks used to produce stretchable, soft handle and flexible multi-layer heat transfer labels with unrivalled 100% stretch and return memory.  

ECOTRANS® AQ Ultimate Stretch has been developed to provide stretch of up to 200% for single colour tagless heat transfer labels. Suitable applications include tagless care labels on elastic, Lycra, Spandex, intimates and sportwear apparel.

ECOTRANS® (86-OK-)

ECOTRANS® inks are low odour solvent based inks used to produce stretchable, soft handle and flexible multi-layer heat transfer labels.

LITHOTRANS® (10-10-)

A fast-drying vegetable oil based single pack ink system suitable for producing durable printed transfers when used on offset lithographic printing machines. A super high definition transfer that generates photographic quality transfers by co-use of white backer by screen printing ECOTRANS® ATHLETIC 82-08-HS- water based high stretch ink with hot melt powders or printable adhesives. 

None.

1. Why are my printed substrates sticking together (blocking)?

• This is often caused because the prints have not been thoroughly dried.
• Ensure the drying temperature and duration is correct.
• Ensure the drying method has sufficient air flow and extraction to ensure all solvents are removed from the prints.
• Consider increasing the drying temperature and/or duration for larger print designs.
• If printing on a roll-to-roll screen machine, adjust re-wind tension to prevent rolls being re-wound too tightly.  

2. Why are my prints missing details?

• This can be caused by dust, other particles or dried adhesive blocking the screen. Ensure the screen is thoroughly cleaned.
• Dust or other particles can also settle onto the substrate preventing the adhesive from printing correctly.
• Ensure the screen snap-off distance is uniform to prevent uneven squeegee pressure distorting the print.
• Consider using a dyed/yellow screen mesh instead of a white screen mesh for sharper prints.
• Ensure screens are in good condition with a consistent mesh tension accross the screen.

3. Why do my prints feel greasy?

• Prints can sometimes feel greasy and appear to have liquid on the surface.
• This is often caused because the prints have not been thoroughly dried.
• Ensure the drying temperature and duration is correct.
• Ensure the drying method has sufficient air flow and extraction to ensure all solvents are removed from the prints.
• Consider increasing the drying temperature and/or duration for larger print designs.

4. Why are my transfers not releasing from the release substrate?

• Ensure the appropriate release substrate is used.
• Check the release substrate is within its expiry date.
• Confirm the release substrate has been printed on a side with a release coating if not double sided. 
• Check both the inks and the additives are within shelf life and expiry dates.
• Ensure the inks are fully cured before attempting to transfer.
• Ensure a compatible adhesive is used. 
• Ensure that the maximum temperature specified in the drying conditions has not be exceeded when using ECOTRANS® AQ Printable Adhesives.
• Ensure sufficient time has elapsed between printing the inks and adhesives and attempting to transfer. 
• Ensure application temperature is correct. If the platen temperature is too low then the adhesive may not melt completely and therefore not be able to flow into the application substrate correctly. Be aware that the platen temperature can reduce after multiple transfer applications.
• Ensure the platen pressure is correct. If the pressure is too low then the adhesive may not be pushed into the application substrate sufficiently to adhere and pull the printed heat transfer label from the release substrate. Please note that the inlet pressure does not equate to platen pressure.
• Ensure the application dwell time is correct. If the dwell time is too short then the adhesive may not melt completely and therefore unable to flow into the application substrate.
• Ensure the application instructions are followed for cold-peel or hot-peel release substrates.
• Hot Peel release substrates can typically be removed 1-2 seconds after application.
• Cold peel release substrates can typically be removed 10 seconds after application.

5. Why are my transfers changing colour immediately after application?

• Ensure the appropriate release substrate is used.
• To confirm that the discolouration is not due to the release substrate, process this through the drying tunnel and heat-press without having been printed. Some substrates are known to yellow with heat and this can affect the shade of the print.
• Ensure the platen temperature is correct. If the platen temperature is too high this may cause dye migration from the application substrate to the transfer causing discolouration.
• Consider using ECOTRANS® AQ Dye Migration Blocker to reduce discolouration caused by dye migration.
• Consider printing additional layers of ECOTRANS® AQ Dye Migration Blocker. 

6. Why do my prints have liquid pockets on the surface?

• Prints can sometimes appear to have liquid pockets on the surface. 
• This may be caused because the prints have not been thoroughly dried leaving trapped moisture within the transfer.
• Ensure the drying temperature and duration is correct.
• Ensure the drying method has sufficient air flow and extraction to ensure all solvents are removed from the prints.
• Consider increasing the drying temperature and/or duration for larger print designs.
• Ensure the appropriate release substrate is used.
• Ensure the release substrate is stable at drying and application temperatures and does not suffer from shrinkage.

7. Why are my applied transfers not stretching as expected?

• Ensure correct adhesive has been used.
• Ensure correct ink range has been used.
• Confirm that crosslinker has been added to the inks at the specified percentage and mixed thoroughly. Adding excessive crosslinker can reduce the flexibility of the applied heat transfer labels therefore limiting stretch as well as potentially reducing wash & durability performance.
• Consider increasing the number of layers in the transfer construction as a multi-layer transfer usually stretches more than a single layer transfer due to increase film weight.
• Consider using ECOTRANS® AQ Ultimate Stretch  to give the most stretchable heat transfers.

8. Why are my applied transfers tearing when stretched?

• This may be due to inconsistent screen printing of the inks causing an uneven film weight, mesh-marks or pinholes creating weak spots within the transfer.
• Examine each layer after printing and drying to ensure a uniform film thickness.
• Ensure correct adhesive has been used.
• Ensure correct ink range has been used.
• Confirm that crosslinker has been added to the inks at the specified percentage and mixed thoroughly. Adding excessive crosslinker can reduce the flexibility of the applied heat transfer labels therefore limiting stretch as well as potentially reducing wash & durability performance.
• Ensure the application substrate is suitable for the selected ink range and adhesive used.
• This may be caused because the prints have not been thoroughly dried leaving trapped moisture within the transfer.
• Consider using ECOTRANS® AQ Ultimate Stretch  to give the most stretchable heat transfers.

9. Why are my transfers wrinkled or distorted after drying?

• This may be caused because the PET film is not heat stable at the current drying temperature.
• Consider using a PET film that is heat stable at the required drying temperature.
• Consider reducing the drying temperature and increasing the duration if it is not possible to change the PET film.

10. Why are my applied transfers not meeting the expected wash or durability performance?

• This is often caused because the prints have not been thoroughly dried.
• Ensure the drying temperature and duration is correct.
• Ensure the drying method has sufficient air flow and extraction to ensure all solvents are removed from the prints.
• Consider increasing the drying temperature and/or duration for larger print designs.
• Confirm that crosslinker has been added to the inks at the specified percentage and mixed thoroughly. Adding excessive crosslinker can reduce the flexibility of the applied heat transfer labels therefore limiting stretch as well as potentially reducing wash & durability performance.
• Check both the inks and the crosslinker are within shelf life and expiry dates.
• Ensure crosslinker has not been added to the screen printable adhesives.
• Ensure additives are not used in excess of the recommendations.
• Ensure printed substrates have been allowed to stand for a minimum of 24 hours before application. 
• Ensure the applied transfers are given the required 48 hours after application before testing.
• To improve colour fastness to rubbing and abrasion resistance, consider mixing the first printed layer with clear ink or if not possible, print a protective first layer of clear ink.

Please read the Safety Data Sheets (SDS) before use.

All information is given in good faith but without warranty expressed or implied.

Version 3.14 Published 02 September 2024.