Heat Transfer Printing & Technical Parameters

Heat Transfer Printing

Sublimation is a process in which some substances move directly from solid to gas status at a given temperature. The wood grain transfer printing process is the inks penetrate into the powder coated layer at a high temperature, finally getting a decorated effect on the surface.

1.Transfer with Glue:

Use glue to paste the paper in contact with the substrate which has painted by powder coating. The function of glue is to ensure the layer of printed ink and substrate are closely adhere and to avoid creases in mutual contact. Send the wrapped profiles to the sublimation machine for heat transfer. The correct transfer parameters should be determined by the users according to the machine and the shape/weight of materials. Remove the paper after printing, and clean the surface of profiles.

1）.Advantages: It is suitable for non-standard profiles and easy to operate.

2）.Disadvantages: It may cause fuzzy or watermark by using glue. The penetration depth of ink is limited and weather resistance of decorated result will be affected without pressure.

2. Transfer with vacuum:

Wrap the profile with paper by masking tape (the layer of printed ink is in contact with the substrate that has painted by powder coating), then put the profile into the PET bag, and procced through the sublimation machine with vacuum. To achieve a good transfer printing, a vacuum negative pressure of 0.3-0.6Mpa is recommended, but should be determined by the users according to the machine and the shape/weight of materials. Air blow and take off the PET bag and paper after printing, then clean the surface of profiles.

1）.Advantages:
Since the transfer paper are directly adhere to the substrate coating under vacuum, the printing result is more clear and glossy with stronger ink permeability, and effectively improve the weather resistance of decoration.

2）.Disadvantages: It is not suitable for non-standard profiles

Technical Parameters

1）.The layer of paint on the substrate must have a thickness of 60-80 microns。

2）.The temperature and time for the curing of powder coating: 200℃，15mins（Refer to powder coating manufacturer requirements）

3）.The recommended transfer parameters of out-door series are:
● Flat Press (sample test): 205℃，200secs
● Vacuum transfer: 185℃+，15mins+
● Glue transfer: 210℃，16mins
The correct transfer parameters should be determined by the users according to the machine and the shape/weight of materials. It’s recommended to +5℃ and +5min based on the standard transfer.

Notices:
It has a high requirement for worker’s skill when paper wrapping before vacuum.
① Make sure to avoid creases in mutual contact between the paper and the substrate.
② Carefully check the adhesion of paper especially there’re fillisters of the profile. Use hand to press the paper, to avoid any gap between the printing layer and the substrate, which may cause a missing printing.