SCREENFAB® SB Technical Information

SCREENFAB® inks are used to produce flexible and durable direct screen printed fabric labels for apparel, sportswear, healthcare, workwear and promotional items.

SCREENFAB® inks are:

• STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® Product Class I compliant
• Restricted Substance List (RSL) compliant to the World's leading brands
• EU REACH Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 compliant
• RoHS compliant
• Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) compliant
• washable up to 95°C
• suitable for printing on or applying to a wide range of substrates
• non-hazardous
• formulated to be free from APEO, cadmium, formaldehyde, organotin, phthalates and PVC

SCREENFAB® SB solvent based inks are used to produce flexible and durable direct screen printed fabric labels for apparel, sportswear, healthcare, workwear and promotional items.  

STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® Product Class I

Adidas A-01 Test Standard

Nike, Inc. Chemistry Playbook & Restricted Substance List May 2020

85-01-

Screen

Laundering / Washing

AATCC TM61 Colorfastness to Laundering: Accelerated

AATCC TM135 Dimensional Changes of Fabrics after Home Laundering

ISO 105-C06:2010 Colour fastness to domestic and commercial laundering

ISO 105-C08:2010 Colour fastness to domestic and commercial laundering using a non-phosphate reference detergent incorporating a low-temperature bleach activator

ISO 6330:2012 Domestic washing and drying procedures for textile testing

Marks and Spencer Fabric Durability (C15)

Marks and Spencer Print Durability (P5)

Dry Cleaning

AATCC TM86 Drycleaning: Durability of Applied Designs and Finishes

ISO 105-D01:2010 Colour fastness to drycleaning using perchloroethylene solvent

Bleach

ISO 105-C09:2001 Colour fastness to domestic and commercial laundering — Oxidative bleach response using a non-phosphate reference detergent incorporating a low temperature bleach activator

Chlorine

ISO 105-E03:2010 Colour fastness to chlorinated water (swimming-pool water)

Tumble Dry

ISO 6330:2012 Domestic washing and drying procedures for textile testing

Ironing

ISO 105-X11:1994 Colour fastness to hot pressing

Abrasion

AATCC TM8 Colorfastness to Crocking: Crockmeter

ISO 105-X12:2016 Colour fastness to rubbing

ISO 12947-2: 2016 Determination of specimen breakdown

Notes:

1. Fluorescents and Metallics are washable up to 60°C.

Mixing Colours

Mixing Opaque White (85-01-M-WHITE)

Mixing Black (85-01-M-BLACK)

Mixing Clear (85-01-M-CLEAR)

Mixing Yellow 1 (85-01-M-1)

Mixing Orange 2 (85-01-M-2)

Mixing Pink 3 (85-01-M-3)

Mixing Red 5 (85-01-M-5)

Mixing Green 6 (85-01-M-6)

Mixing Violet 10 (85-01-M-10)

Mixing Ultramarine 16 (85-01-M-16)

Mixing Yellow 24 (85-01-M-24)

Mixing Blue 34 (85-01-M-34)

Fluorescents

Mixing Fluorescent Yellow 46 (85-01-M-46)

Mixing Fluorescent Orange 47 (85-01-M-47)

Mixing Fluorescent Red 48 (85-01-M-48)

Mixing Fluorescent Pink 49 (85-01-M-49)

Mixing Fluorescent Magenta 50 (85-01-M-50)

Metallics

Metallic Gold (85-01-1-871)

Metallic Silver (85-01-1-877)

Shimmer Silver (85-01-9-SS)

Security Inks

IR Visible Blue (85-01-9-IRVB)

IR Visible Green (85-01-9-IRVG)

IR Visible Red (85-01-9-IRVR)

UV Visible Blue (85-01-9-UVVB)

UV Visible Green (85-01-9-UVVG)

UV Visible Orange (85-01-9-UVVO)

UV Visible Red (85-01-9-UVVR)

UV Visible Yellow (85-01-9-UVVY)

Colour Matching

A mixing guide is available on request to allow customers to match to Pantone colours.

PERFECTOS® can match colours to samples or colour references.

SCREENFAB® SB Reducing Medium T (85-AD-RMT)

Use up to 25% to thin the ink as necessary.

SCREENFAB® SB Retarder (85-AD-RE)

Use up to 5% if the ink dries too fast.

SCREENFAB® SB Accelerator (85-AD-AC)

Use up to 10% if the Ink dries too slow. 

 
Notes:

1. We recommend to only use the additives listed above to ensure the printed fabric labels produced with SCREENFAB® SB inks, additives and crosslinkers are STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® Class 1 compliant.
2. We recommend not to use >25% of any combination of additives in SCREENFAB® SB inks.

SCREENFAB® SB White Cap Crosslinker (85-AD-WC)

Use as directed in Usage Instructions.

Notes:

1. We recommend to only use the crosslinkers listed above to ensure the printed fabric labels produced with SCREENFAB® SB inks, additives and crosslinkers are STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® Class 1 compliant.
2. We recommend not to mix different SCREENFAB® SB crosslinkers together.

Fabrics

Acrylic

Acetate satin

Coated Nylon Taffeta (PU & Acrylic)

Cotton

Organza

Polycotton

Polyester satin and taffeta

TENCEL™

Wool

Reflective Materials

3M Sew-On-Material

3M Pressure Sensitive Material

3M Heat Adhesive Transfer Films

Unitika Fabric Laminated

Unitika Heat Applied

Other Substrates

Tyvek®

Notes:

1. Substrates to be printed must be tested for suitability with the SCREENFAB® SB ink system prior to production runs being carried out. Always test application fully before beginning production run as there is often considerable variance in substrates from different manufacturers and even between different batches.
2. The substrate must be STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® Class 1 compliant to ensure the printed fabric labels produced with SCREENFAB® inks and additives are STANDARD 100 by OEKO-TEX® Class 1 compliant.

Recommended Usage

• SCREENFAB® SB White Cap Crosslinker (85-AD-WC) must be added to SCREENFAB® SB (85-01-) inks at 10% and mixed thoroughly.
• The inks are now ready for printing. 
• Printed substrate must be heat cured in a fabric curing oven at 125°C for 6 hours. Some substrates may require longer times.

Temperature Sensitive Substrates

• If the substrate is temperature sensitive or a fabric curing oven is unavailable then SCREENFAB® SB can still be used.
• SCREENFAB® SB White Cap Crosslinker (85-AD-WC) must be added to SCREENFAB® SB (85-01-) inks at 10% and mixed thoroughly.
• The inks are now ready for printing. 
• The printed substrates must be air cured for a minimum of 48 hours before wash & durability performance is attained.

Notes:

1. SCREENFAB® SB inks mixed with SCREENFAB® SB White Cap Crosslinker (85-AD-WC) will irreversibly harden after 4 hours. If printing is interrupted for more than 4 hours then the screen mesh must be cleaned thoroughly to avoid ink irreversibly hardening in the screen.
2. SCREENFAB® SB inks mixed with SCREENFAB® SB White Cap Crosslinker (85-AD-WC) have a pot life of 4 hours.

• The optimum print room temperature is 18-20°C.
• The optimum relative humidity is 50-60%.
• We recommend using in a well ventilated area.
• We recommend that hot air dryers are turned on and allowed sufficient time to reach the required drying temperatures before printing commences.
• The screen emulsion must be suitable for use with solvent based inks.
• For maximum opacity we recommend printing with a screen mesh of 61T.
• We recommend a square edged triple layer squeegee with 65/95/65 shA.
• The squeegee must be suitable for use with solvent based inks.
• We recommend that ink is replenished onto the screen in smaller quantities more frequently rather than larger quantities less often to keep the screen open. This will improve production efficiency and reduce downtime as printing will not need to be stopped for screen cleaning.
• If printing is interrupted for more than 4 hours then the screen mesh must be cleaned thoroughly to avoid ink hardening in the screen 
• We recommend to only mix the required quantity of ink and crosslinker to reduce wastage.

• Remove excess ink from squeegee and screen mesh immediately.
• Use PERFECTOS® Cleaner (99-10-56 / 99-10-S40) for final cleaning the of the squeegee and screen mesh to prevent ghosting.
• Ensure all ink is removed from the squeegee and screen mesh to avoid damage.

Notes:

1. The screen mesh must be cleaned thoroughly within 4 hours of when printing has stopped to avoid ink irreversibly hardening in the screen. 

Inks

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

Additives

1kg, 5kg and 25kg.

Crosslinkers

1kg, 5kg and 25kg.

Inks

3 years from date of manufacture in unopened containers.

Additives

3 years from date of manufacture in unopened containers.

Crosslinkers

1 year 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.

None.

None.

1. My printed substrates are sticking together (set-off).

• This is often caused because the prints have not been thoroughly dried.
• Consider reducing the quantities of SCREENFAB® SB Reducing Medium T (85-AD-RMT) and SCREENFAB® SB Retarder (85-AD-RE) additives to reduce ink drying time.
• Consider adding SCREENFAB® SB Accelerator (85-AD-AC) to reduce ink drying time.
• 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 not meeting the expected wash or durability performance?

• This is often caused by incorrect heat curing. 
• Ensure the fabric curing oven is operating at the correct temperature.
• Check the thermostat is working correctly.
• Make sure the prints are being heat cured for the correct duration. If curing time is not sufficient then expected wash performance will not be attained.
• Ensure the fabric curing oven has adequate air extraction and air movement around the prints. If the fabric curing oven is over-filled or the prints are too tightly stacked then the prints may not cure sufficiently.
• For coated or non-porous substrates ensure the substrate is not too tightly wound on the core to allow for the prints to cure sufficiently.
• Ensure the correct amount of crosslinker has been added to the inks and mixed thoroughly.
• Check both the inks and the crosslinker are within shelf life and expiry dates.
• Confirm the substrate is suitable.

3. Why are my prints not opaque? 

• This can be caused by dust, other particles or dried ink blocking the screen mesh. Ensure the screen mesh is thoroughly cleaned.
• Consider double flood / double stroke options to increase the volume of ink printed.
• Consider reducing the quantities of SCREENFAB® SB Reducing Medium T (85-AD-RMT), SCREENFAB® SB Retarder (85-AD-RE) or SCREENFAB® SB Accelerator (85-AD-AC) if wanting to produce the most opaque prints.
• Ensure screens are in good condition with a consistent mesh tension across the screen.
• Consider using additional layers of emulsion to make a high build screen to increase the volume of ink printed.
• Consider a screen mesh with a lower screen mesh count to increase the volume of ink printed.
• Consider using a screen mesh with thinner threads.
• The weave and calendering of the substrate can affect the ability to produce opaque prints. Highly calendered substrate with a smooth surface finish may produce a more opaque print.

4. Why are my prints showing mesh marks?

• This may be caused by the thickness of the screen mesh filaments preventing an even coating of ink. Where possible use thinner threads or a finer screen mesh.

5. Why are my prints missing details?

• This can be caused by dust, other particles or dried ink blocking the screen mesh. Ensure the screen mesh is thoroughly cleaned.
• Dust or other particles can also settle onto the substrate preventing the ink 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.

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

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

Version 8.7 Published 28 July 2020