Arcene PP Water-Based Inks

Arcene PP is a range of water-based flexographic and gravure inks for printing on treated, coated and nonwoven polypropylene substrates used in hygiene articles. The inks are supplied as a ready-to-use system that gives optimum shelf life together with on-press flexibility for the control of colour intensity, opacity and press performance.

The low-VOC formulation integrates into existing production processes and contributes to sustainability targets. Arcene PP inks meet the authenticity and regulatory requirements of the hygiene segment and are formulated to support printing on compostable substrates, subject to end-use qualification.

• Water-based, low-VOC ink system
• Highly pigmented for brilliant colours; mono-pigmented for clean, pure shades
• Good flexibility and adhesion on treated, coated and nonwoven PP
• Segment-specific formulation development to meet end-use resistance requirements
• Low foaming and constant printing behaviour
• High light fastness, above 5 on the 1 – 8 Blue Wool Scale
• Fast-drying — no thermal oxidation or additional curing required
• Supplied ready to use at printing viscosity

Arcene PP is designed for femcare and babycare applications. To avoid direct contact between the ink film and the skin, the printed layer should be positioned away from the wearer — reverse printed or covered by a nonwoven top sheet — and every ink must be qualified by the producer of the hygiene article in the final construction. Arcene PP must not be used for other end uses without prior discussion with your Arctic Materials representative.

Arcene PP is not suitable for:

• food packaging with direct contact between the printed surface and the foodstuff;
• pasteurisation, sterilisation or other high-temperature processing;
• untreated or poorly treated polyolefin films, on which water-based inks cannot develop adhesion.

Arcene PP suits filmic and fibrous substrates, typically treated, coated and nonwoven polypropylene. As with all water-based systems, adhesion and printability depend far more on the quality of the polypropylene surface than is the case with solvent-based inks. Ideally the film should be corona treated and printed in line.

Because of the wide variety of substrates available, Arcene PP inks should be fully evaluated prior to commercial use.

A complete range of vibrant, heavy-metal-free organic and inorganic colours is available, together with opaque whites and a reducing medium. Because the range of pigments approved for hygiene applications is limited, not every desired shade can be realised; special shades and brand colours are matched against a reference sample. Please contact your Arctic Materials representative for the current Arcene PP shade card and product codes.

Anilox configuration. Arcene PP suits conventional and ceramic aniloxes and cylinders and rubber or photopolymer plates. The theoretical ink volume of the anilox is decisive: a higher transfer volume increases colour intensity, whereas a finer, lower-volume anilox is required for process and fine-line work.

Viscosity and dilution. Stir thoroughly until homogeneous. The ink is supplied at printing viscosity; good results are achieved at 20 – 25 seconds for flexo and 16 – 20 seconds for gravure, Ford Cup 4 mm at 25 °C. If thinning is needed, add only a 1 : 1 mixture of isopropyl alcohol and water, and no more than 10 % in total. No other diluent should be used. If the ink is over-reduced, refill with fresh ink and use the thin ink as an addition component.

Drying. Dry with hot-air dryers or IR lamps at a maximum of 70 °C. Water and volatile amine must be removed completely from the ink film before rewinding; sufficient air volume and velocity matter as much as temperature.

Anilox care and press hygiene. Water-based inks dry by evaporation and, once dry, form a film that is difficult to remove.

• Never run the anilox roll dry with the ink chamber loaded against it — this causes doctor-blade wear and scoring.
• Whenever ink is in the chamber, keep the anilox turning so cells do not plug with drying ink.
• For longer stops, drain ink back to the pump reservoir and clean aniloxes and cylinders promptly.
• At the end of a run, flood the aniloxes and cylinders with ink before draining, then wash with water without delay.
• Wet ink washes up with plain water; for deep cleaning use a 9 : 1 mix of water and a water-based anilox cleaner. Dried-in ink may require ultrasonic or laser cleaning.
• Follow a documented cleaning schedule and record cell-volume checks so colour-strength drift can be traced to anilox condition.

Arcene PP inks are water-based and are not classified as highly flammable. Store in tightly sealed original containers between 10 °C and 30 °C, away from solvents, UV light and high temperature; for long-term storage do not exceed 25 °C. Protect strictly from freezing — freezing irreversibly breaks the polymer emulsion and renders the ink unusable.

Keep containers tightly closed to prevent evaporation, loss of volatile amine and skinning. Mix thoroughly before application.

Shelf life. 6 months from the date of manufacture in unopened original containers stored as above.

Waste disposal. Water-based ink must not be discharged untreated to drains or watercourses. Dispose of in accordance with good industrial practice and all applicable regulations.

Formulated in accordance with the current CEPE / EuPIA guidelines and the EuPIA Exclusion Policy for printing inks and related products. The formulations exclude:

• substances classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic for reproduction (CMR categories 1A and 1B) or as acutely toxic under Regulation (EC) No 1272/2008 (CLP);
• pigments based on compounds of antimony, arsenic, cadmium, chromium VI, lead, mercury and selenium;
• dyes, solvents, plasticisers and other materials listed in the Exclusion Policy. A copy of the supporting declaration is available on request.

Water-based products contain in-can isothiazolinone biocides, including methylisothiazolinone, to prevent microbial contamination in the liquid state. These may cause allergic skin reactions in already sensitised individuals; handle with the personal protective equipment detailed in the Safety Data Sheet.

All Arctic Materials products are designed with end-use safety built in and must not be mixed with products from other manufacturers.

Indirect food-contact applications. It is the responsibility of the food packer to ensure the packed food is safe, and of the converter and packer/filler to ensure that migration does not exceed applicable legal or industry limits. Under a mutual non-disclosure agreement, Arctic Materials will provide a Statement of Composition detailing any potentially migratable components in its products.

The current Technical Data Sheet is available to download. Safety Data Sheets and regulatory declarations are issued by our technical department on request.

The Safety Data Sheet, Statement of Composition, EuPIA Exclusion Policy declaration and heavy-metal / regulatory declarations for this range are issued on request by our technical department, and the Statement of Composition is released under a mutual non-disclosure agreement.