Pre-treating plastics for inkjet printing

[mrfranswa]

Hello everyone, I need some help: What pre-treatments can I use for inkjet printing, what's cheap, and what's easy to get?

I'm looking to print on various plastics using an inkjet printer. As of right now, I print prototypes on inkjet transparencies, (has the sticky solution which binds the inkjet material to the substrate), which are then UV coated using my coater. The result is fantastic, however I want to start printing on tons of different substrates. What is the coating they put on these plastics to make them inkjet compatible? Furthermore, is there a cheap readily-available solution? I've heard krylon acrylic matte spraypaint works:

http://www.jerrysartarama.com/disco...ign=shopping&gclid=CI2C96L0g74CFW5eOgodxBUAYA

Any thoughts? I don't want to spray a piece of plastic and then have it jam my print heads.

 

[Grandad35]

The acrylic coatings are used to seal the surface and provide some UV protection after the ink has been laid onto the paper - they are not meant to be printed on.

I have zero experience with this product, but they claim that it will do what you want. It should not contact your print head, so it shouldn't cause a clog.

Bear in mind that most plastic surfaces have a low surface energy and that water based coatings (like this appears to be) may not "wet out" on the plastic. There are ways to make these surfaces more receptive, but these techniques aren't something that you can do at home.

 

[mrfranswa]

Yes, but there are numerous smaller version corona treatment machines available, including a lot from china. From what I read, other than the sound it produces ozone, (which would need a vent). I'm guessing the last option would be asking my material supplier to ship me stock with corona treatment?

 

[Grandad35]

Yes, but there are numerous smaller version corona treatment machines available, including a lot from china. From what I read, other than the sound it produces ozone, (which would need a vent). I'm guessing the last option would be asking my material supplier to ship me stock with corona treatment?

I am only familiar with production sized units, but be sure to look at the voltage produced (typically in the kV range), as well as the ozone that will be generated, which can easily exceed the maximum safe exposure levels. I have seen people cough up blood after working around a production corona treater that isn't enclosed and vented using negative pressure.

Getting the material pre-treated is a good idea, but the treatment level will drop over time. In production, most converters treat the surface when the film is produced and then again just before it is coated. There is a strange phenomena that makes it very difficult to treat a surface that isn't first treated shortly after manufacture. Also be aware that it is possible to over-treat a surface, so this isn't something that is easily done free hand.