For Screenprint - detailed information 
| Quality |
Water-covering capacity |
Particle size distribution |
Apparent density |
Optical characteristics |
Leafing/Non Leafing |
| |
(cm²/g) |
D10 (µm))
|
D50 (µm)
|
D90 (µm)
|
(g/cm³) |
|
|
| O6 |
7500 |
16 |
58 |
130 |
0,28 |
coarse/very brilliant |
L |
| O8 |
9000 |
10 |
40 |
85 |
0,25 |
coarse/very brilliant |
L |
| 880 |
12000 |
8 |
30 |
70 |
0,25 |
fine/brilliant |
L |
| 8880 |
15000 |
6 |
20 |
50 |
0,23 |
fine/brilliant |
L |
| 8980 |
22000 |
4 |
14 |
40 |
0,23 |
fine/brilliant |
L |
| 70000/2/NL |
_ |
5 |
15 |
38 |
0,21 |
fine/brilliant |
NL |
| 80000/A |
35000 |
2 |
7 |
19 |
0,23 |
very fine/high coverage |
L |
| 90000/A |
>35000 |
2 |
5,5 |
16 |
0,23 |
very fine/high coverage |
L |
Indicative Formulation
Aluminium: 6 - 10%
Binder: 90 - 94%
Suggested water based binder: metallic clear LFW (sun chemicals)
How to Formulate
1/ Add maximum 10% of water to lower viscosity. The addition of a cross linker may be required.
2/ Mix the aluminium powder gradually to binder using a slow rotation mixer (50 rpm).
3/ After printing, dry and cure for 3 minutes at 160° Celsius.
Note
Use a binder with a neutral PH or low acidity degree for optimal stability results.
Ammonia and derivates will attack the pigment and lower the metallic effect.
A coarse screen should be used to avoid clogging.
The metallic printing paste should be applied last of all colours.
Particle Size of Metallic Pigments
The D90-particle size of metallic pigments needs to be at least three times smaller than the particle size of each square of the screen mesh.
Note
Aluminium grades for screen printing on textile are usually applied last after all the other colours; this is done:
1. to prevent the metallic pigment from being taken away with the next screen while the coating is not fully dry yet;
2. to retain an optimal metallic effect, which will not be the case if the aluminium coating is printed over with other colours.