HYDROCHROMIC INK FEATURES
- Changes from color to no color when wet
- Exposes images and texts when product gets wet
- Reversible or irreversible options
- SpotSee has the ability to find the correct fit for the customer’s project
Hydrochromic Ink
Thermostar Hydrochromic Ink is available as Irreversible or Reversible. There are two types of Irreversible Hydrochromic Ink. The first changes from a color to clear (or white, if printed onto white substrate) when exposed to water and remains so when dry again. The second dissolves and washes off the surface, revealing a message below. The Reversible Ink is white in appearance but becomes translucent when exposed to water and reverts to a white state when dry.
These inks can be featured in a variety of applications revealing that a product has been exposed to water. For example, high-end promotional items, game cards, labels, and packaging.
STANDARD COLORS
- Irreversible: Blue and Black
- Reversible: White
PRODUCT RANGE
- Water Based Wet & Reveal – Reversible
- Solvent Based Wet & Reveal – Reversible
- Wash & Win – Irreversible
- Solvent Based Flexo
Hydrochromic Ink Applications
- Promotional Items
- Labels
- Packaging
- Toys
- Diagnostic Testing
- Coupons
- Mailers
- Giveaways
- Exposure to water indication for the warranty market
Wet and Reveal Screen Ink Application Example
Wet and Reveal Screen Ink is a water-based screen ink which dries to give a white opaque print. When wet, the ink film takes up water and becomes transparent allowing any print beneath to become visible. If the water dries out, the opacity is regained, and the original white print is restored.
A heavy print is required, which means the ink is supplied as a screen ink. More than one print may be required to obscure an underlying print. As the coating weight of wet & reveal ink is increased, the transparency when wet can be reduced, so careful tests should be carried out to determine optimum printing parameters. Careful choice of underlying text and patterns can help by selecting something that will be easier to hide.
Wet and Reveal Screen Ink can be printed on various substrates such as paper, cards, print receptive plastics and even textiles. Tests should be carried out to determine suitability for the substrate and application chosen.
When a highly permanent print on textiles is required, the dried wet and reveal print can be crosslinked by baking for 3 – 5 minutes at 130ºC.
Good results have been seen with prints on absorbent substrates without additional curing. However, if a crosslinked film is desired, but temperature treatment is not an option because of the choice of substrate, then chemical crosslinking agents such as aziridine may be employed.
Color
Reversible- white to clear
Color
Irreversible- blue to black
Events
Single event
