Printcolor Series 784 - Pad Printing Ink
Technical Information & APPLICATIONS
Printcolor’s Series 784 Pad Printing Ink is a cutting-edge, quick-drying 2-component ink system renowned for its exceptional durability, high chemical resistance, and outstanding weather resilience. Specifically formulated to excel on challenging substrates such as metals, coated materials, and a wide variety of plastics, Series 784 ensures vibrant, consistent, and precise results across technical and decorative applications.
Ideally suited for industries with rigorous demands, Series 784 is perfect for automotive components, including alloy aluminum wheels, exterior trims, and under-the-hood graphics, meeting US Military Specification A-A-208B for exceptional durability. Its advanced chemical resistance makes it a preferred choice for cosmetic packaging, ensuring graphics remain vibrant and intact against aggressive cosmetic ingredients. Furthermore, the ink’s excellent outdoor durability makes it ideal for weather-exposed items such as signage, equipment labels, and industrial components.
Engineered to deliver professional-grade performance, Series 784 supports a broad spectrum of applications, from intricate designs on cosmetic containers to technical markings on automotive parts. With compatibility across various auxiliary agents, including thinners, accelerators, and hardeners, this versatile ink system offers seamless integration into production workflows. Whether for bold, durable prints on metal or weather-resistant designs on plastics, Printcolor’s Series 784 Pad Printing Ink is the solution for today’s demanding printing challenges.
Printcolor Series 784 - MADE IN SWITZERLAND
High Performance 2-Component Pad Printing Ink for Metals, Plastics, and Coated Surfaces
The Printcolor Series 784 is a high-performance, quick-drying 2-component pad printing ink system designed to meet the most demanding requirements. Featuring a glossy finish and highly opaque formulation, Series 784 provides exceptional resistance to chemicals, abrasion, and weather, making it ideal for use on challenging substrates such as metals, coated materials, and various plastics. Tailored for industries requiring durability and precision, Series 784 is certified to meet US Military Specification A-A-208B and is widely utilized in automotive applications, including exterior components like alloy aluminum wheels and under-the-hood graphics. Its robust formulation also makes it an excellent choice for cosmetic packaging, ensuring lasting print integrity against harsh cosmetic ingredients. This adaptable ink delivers vibrant, long-lasting results across a wide range of applications, including automotive components, promotional items, coated products, and technical parts. Its superior durability and reliable adhesion make it a trusted choice for both decorative designs and demanding technical printing tasks. Whether for bold branding on coated surfaces or intricate detailing on industrial components, Series 752 offers unmatched performance and versatility to meet modern printing demands.
Recommended Substrates
| Substrate | Rating | Hints |
|---|---|---|
| ABS, SAN, Copolymers | ★★★★ | |
| Acrylic Glass (Casted PMMA) | ★★★★★ | |
| Coated Surfaces / Powder Coatings | ★★★★★ | |
| Duroplasts | ★★★★★ | |
| Metal | ★★★★★ | |
| PET-A | ★★★★ | |
| Polyamide (PA) | ★★★★★ | |
| Polycarbonate (PC) | ★★★★★ | |
| Polyester, Non Pre-Treated | ★★★ | |
| Polyethylene (PE), Pre-Treated | ★★★★★ | |
| Polypropylene (PP), Pre-Treated | ★★★★★ | |
| Polystyrene (PS), Glossy | ★★★★ | |
| Polystyrene (PS), Injection-Molded Parts of Acrylic Glass | ★★★★★ | |
| Polystyrene (PS), Mat | ★★★★ | |
| Rigid PVC | ★★★★★ | |
| Tritan™ (Copolyester) | ★★★★★ |
Legend: ★★★★★ Very well suited | ★★★ Detailed pre-tests necessary
Resistance Characteristics
| Feature | Rating | Hints |
|---|---|---|
| Abrasion Resistance | ★★★★★ | |
| Alcohol and Gasoline Resistance | ★★★★★ | |
| Drying | ★★★★ | Ink film is quickly surface dry |
| Flexibility | ★★★ | |
| Gloss | ★★★★★ | Highly glossy |
| Light Fastness | ★★★ | |
| Pigmentation | ★★★★★ | |
| Resistance to Hand Sweat | ★★★★★ | |
| Temperature Resistance | ★★★★ | |
| Water Resistance | ★★★★★ | |
| Weather Resistance | ★★★★★ |
Legend: ★★★★★ Very good product properties | n/a No information available
Product Range (MS Basic Colors)
| Article | Color | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 784-1005 | MS Light Yellow | HP |
| 784-1005/HD | MS Light Yellow (High Opaque) | HP, HD |
| 784-1105 | MS Medium Yellow | HP |
| 784-1205 | MS Dark Yellow | HP |
| 784-2005 | MS Orange | HP |
| 784-3005 | MS Red | HP |
| 784-3005/HD | MS Red (High Opaque) | HP, HD |
| 784-3105 | MS Magenta Red | HP |
| 784-3305 | MS Magenta | HP |
| 784-4005 | MS Violet | HP |
| 784-5005 | MS Blue | HP |
| 784-5005/HD | MS Blue (High Opaque) | HP, HD |
| 784-6005 | MS Green | HP |
| 784-6005/HD | MS Green (High Opaque) | HP, HD |
| 784-8005 | MS Black | HP |
| 784-9005 | MS White | HP, HD |
HP: High Pigmented HD: High Opaque
Other Colors (Metallic, Medical & More)
| Article | Color | Type |
|---|---|---|
| ST Colors | ST Color Chart | |
| ST Metallics | ST Color Chart | |
| ST Neon Colors | ST Color Chart | |
| Special Colors | Pantone®, HKS, RAL and after customers sample | |
| 784-00 | ST White | |
| 784-00/HD | ST White, Highly Opaque | |
| 784-04 | ST Transparent Paste | |
| 784-05 | ST Varnish | |
| 784-05/MT | ST Varnish, Mat | |
| 784-06 | ST Retarder Paste | |
| 784-33 | ST Black | |
| 784-33/B | ST Black, Intensive |
Auxiliaries
- Thinner: Series 700-017 (15-30% by weight)
- Thinner (free of PAH): Series 700-037 (15-30% by weight)
- Retarder*: Series 700-018 (5-20% by weight)
- Accelerator: Series 700-019 (15-30% by weight)
- Accelerator (Fast, free of PAH): Series 700-041 (15-30% by weight)
* Blended with Series 700-017
Hardener
- Series 700-HDI:
- Application: Fast drying for duroplasts, aluminum, and sheet metals
- Addition Ratio: 4:1
- Reactivity: High reactivity from 15°C
- Resistance Against Chemicals: Good
- Outdoor Resistance: Not recommended
- Series 700-HDS:
- Application: Extra-resistant for duroplasts, aluminum, and sheet metals
- Addition Ratio: 4:1
- Reactivity: Medium reactivity from 23°C
- Resistance Against Chemicals: Excellent
- Outdoor Resistance: Excellent
- Series 700-HDA:
- Application: Universal use for duroplasts, aluminum, and sheet metals
- Addition Ratio: 4:1
- Reactivity: Medium reactivity from 20°C
- Resistance Against Chemicals: Very good
- Outdoor Resistance: Very good
Common Applications
- Technical Components: Printed control panels for industrial machinery; keypads and switches with durable markings; electronics casings for devices like remote controls or home appliances; tools or instruments with printed scales or measurement indicators.
- Automotive Parts: Pad-printed logos and emblems on alloy wheels; printed markings under the hood, such as oil caps or engine covers; dashboard components, including buttons and knobs; exterior automotive parts like side mirrors or fuel tank covers with decorative graphics.
- Childcare Articles: Printed designs or labels on baby bottles or sippy cups; toys with durable, non-toxic pad-printed designs; plastic feeding utensils or plates with decorative markings; safety gear like helmets or protective pads for kids.
- Rotary Pad Printing (Caps): Beverage bottle caps with branded or decorative prints; cosmetic jar lids with printed logos or product details; printed closures for industrial or household chemicals; medical vial caps with safety instructions or branding.
Curing
- Recommended Curing: Curing of the ink system depends on the temperature, the used hardeners, and the layer thickness. A minimum temperature (see point “hardener”) over a period of 5 to 10 days must be guaranteed to reach maximum resistance. By increasing temperature, the ink film cures more quickly, and chemical resistance is reached sooner and higher.
- Series 700-HAD: 7 days (at minimum temperature)
- Series 700-HDS: 10 days (at minimum temperature)
- Series 700-HDI: 5 days (at minimum temperature)
- Forced Drying: From 20 minutes at 140°C up to 60 minutes at 80°C
Processing
- Drying: Drying of Series 784 depends on the layer thickness as well as on the substrate. Usual parameters are:
- Air: Physically drying
- Dryer: Oven, IR-dryer, or continuous dryer
- Pot Life: MS colors and its blends have a pot life of 4-8 hours, depending on the hardeners used and environmental conditions. Metallic colors may have a significantly shorter pot life.
- Cleaning: Use Neo-Solv 114
Special Features & Tips
- Adhesion on Non-Pretreated PP: Adhesion can be improved by the addition of Series 700-PP (20% by weight). In this case, the ink must be used as a 2C ink.
- Detail Reproduction and Printability: Series 784 convinces with excellent detail reproduction and printability.
For the full technical document, please refer to the Technical Data Sheet.