What Products Are Used In Screen Printing?

Screen printing involves several products and materials to create prints on various surfaces like fabric, paper, glass, and metal. Here are the primary products used in screen printing:

1. Screen: Typically made of polyester mesh stretched over a frame, screens are the foundation of screen printing. They come in different mesh counts, which determine the level of detail and ink deposit.
2. Emulsion: Emulsion is a light-sensitive substance applied to the screen. It hardens when exposed to light, creating a stencil for the design. There are different types of emulsions based on the printing needs (water-based, solvent-based, or dual-cure emulsions).
3. Ink: Screen printing inks can be water-based, solvent-based, or plastisol. Water-based inks are eco-friendly but require more attention to drying and curing. Solvent-based inks are durable but may have environmental considerations. Plastisol inks are PVC-based and require curing at high temperatures.
4. Squeegee: This tool is used to push the ink through the screen and onto the printing surface. Squeegees come in various shapes, sizes, and hardness levels to suit different printing needs.
5. Printing Substrate: This refers to the material being printed on, such as fabric (t-shirts, textiles), paper, glass, metal, or plastics.
6. Flash Cure Unit: For curing plastisol inks, a flash cure unit is often used. It quickly dries the ink between colors or layers before the final curing process.
7. Exposure Unit: Used to expose the screen with the design onto the emulsion-coated screen. It typically includes a light source and a vacuum to ensure good contact between the film positive and the emulsion.
8. Screen Printing Press: A screen printing press holds the screen in place and allows for precise registration of colors and layers. Manual and automatic presses are available depending on the production scale and complexity of the designs.
9. Chemicals: Various chemicals are used in screen printing, such as screen cleaning solvents, emulsion removers, and degreasers, to clean screens, remove old designs, and prepare screens for new prints.
10. Drying and Curing Equipment: Depending on the ink type, drying and curing equipment like conveyor dryers or heat presses are used to ensure the prints are properly cured and durable.

Take-A-Way

These are the basic products used in screen printing, and there can be variations and additional tools depending on the specific printing requirements and techniques used.