New, high performance binder for lamination inks helps to enhance print quality on packaging film and optimize productivity

The flexible packaging industry is growing in complexity: as the variety of substrates widens and they become increasingly sophisticated, printing inks need to meet numerous, ever more demanding requirements. Inks for laminations have to withstand the lamination process and deliver the bond strength necessary for the respective application. They must also allow high speed printing and ensure excellent graphic quality.

Binders are a crucial component of lamination printing inks. HI-THANE A-890K from SONGWON is an aliphatic, solvent based polyurethane ink binder for use in the manufacture of gravure printing inks for a variety of laminates.

This new binder is distinguished by its exceptionally high lamination bonding strength on various plastic films, especially PET, nylon and OPP. Its outstanding heat resistance makes it suitable for use in both retortable and non-retortable flexible packaging laminates. With its very high re-solubility, HI-THANE A-890K counteracts scale formation in gravure printing cells, improving print quality and reducing machine maintenance.

HI-THANE A-890K is suitable for use in pigment grinding to help achieve the required rheological properties and the smaller particle sizes that increase the color strength of prints. It can be used on its own or together with other binders, such as vinyl chloride vinyl acetate and polyvinyl butyral copolymers.

SONGWON will be giving a technical paper at the NPIRI Fall Technical Conference 2017, the venue for technical training, information exchange and professional networking in the graphic arts disciplines. The Conference takes place at the Hilton Chicago Oak Brook Hills Resort and Conference Center.