Summarized below are the typical properties that can be expected with the Aqua HS Ink System. For more specific performance requirements, guidance from a Siegwerk technical specialist is available.
Technical Specifications
| AQUA HS INK SYSTEM | |
| Gloss | Varies |
| Water Resistance | Very Good |
| Grease Resistance | Fair |
| Detergent Resistance | Good |
| Alkali Resistance | Poor |
| Alcohol Resistance | Poor |
| Block Resistance | Good |
| Heat Resistance | 275ºF, 40psi, 1.0 second |
| COF/ Slide Angle | Varies |
General Specifications
| GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS | |
| Viscosity | average 17-23" 3 zahn n |
| pH | average 9.0-9.3 |
| % Solids Range | 36.0-60.0% |
| % VOC Range | 1.46-3.57% |
| Weight / Gallon | 8.8-12.0 |
| Flashpoint | 150-2000ºF |
Anilox Recommendation: 4.0 – 8.0 bcm
Substrates: Various fheat shrinkable films (PET-G, PVC, OPS, etc.)
Press Maintenance
| Press Maintenance | |
| Refresh | EC001551 - Film pH Adjuster |
| Extender | EH11988 - Extender |
| Defoamer | EC001375 – Aqua Film Defoamer |
| Lower Viscosity | Water or Ph Adjuster |
| Clean Up | WC005B2002 – Ink Magik EH011051 – Clear Flex EC001369 – Clear Cell |
Applications
The Aqua HS ink system is formulated especially for printing heat shrinkable films. Aqua HS ink capable of delivering high impact graphics with maximum flexibility and scratch/scuff resistance to minimize “scoring” and “scratching” during sleeve formation and application. While Aqua HS is ideal for the reverse printing of heat shrink labels, Aqua HS is not designed for surface printing of heat shrinkable labels. Surface heat shrink labels will lose adhesion and scratch resistance upon shrinking and will thus fail in the field. For best result, a “last down” opaque white or overprint varnish should be applied to provide sufficient resistance properties. Environmental Inks and Coatings recommends that the opaque white and/or overprinting varnish be catalyzed or cross-linked with 3-5% of EH012409, Aqueous Special Catalyst for maximum resistance properties. Aqua HS adheres well on most PVC, PET-G and OPS heat shrinkable films, but as with any system the adhesion should be evaluated before actual production runs.
Blending Colors
`
| Blending Colors | |
| Fade Resistant (FR) | |
| EH011988 – Extende | HSX05500 – Rhodamine FR |
| HSX05200 – Process Blue FR | HSX05530 – B/S Red FR |
| HSX05230 – Carbazole Violet FR | HSX05570 – Y/S Red FR |
| HSX05280 – Reflex Blue FR | HSX05600 – Green FR |
| HSX05300 – Yellow FR | HSX05700 – Opaque White FR |
| HSX05320 – DNA Orange FR | HSX05900 – Black FR |
| Standard | |
| HSX05240 – Methyl Violet | HS05310 – Yellow |
| HSX05250 – Reflex Blue | HSX05520 – Lithol Rubine |
| HSX05290 – Purple | HSX05540 – Rhodamine |
| Screen Process Colors | |
| EH026894 – Cyan Blue FR | EH056368 – Magenta FR |
| EH033486 – Yellow FR | EH091785 – Black FR |