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- What is the shelf life of the dyne 38 test pens?
- How does a Dyne Pen work?
- What other printing inks does Printec offer?
- What does the StopGap pen do?
- How long does the ink of the test pen need to stay wet to pass?
- What dyne level should I start testing with?
- Can I reuse a dyne pen on multiple parts?
- What are the target dyne levels required for common plastics like PE, PP, and PET before printing or laminating?
- What makes sausage casing inks different from regular packaging inks?
- What types of ink bases are used for sausage casings?
- What is the shelf life of the dyne 38 test pens?
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The Printec test markers can be stored 6 month or even longer depending of the usage.
Dyne solutions are notoriously sensitive because they are precise chemical mixtures. Generally, dyne pens and bottled inks have a shelf life of 6 to 12 months from opening, provided they are stored properly at room temperature.
Over time, volatile components in the ink evaporate every time the cap is removed, which subtly changes the surface tension of the fluid and ruins the calibration. - How does a Dyne Pen work?
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The Printec Dyne 38 quick test pen serves to check the surface treatment of most polymer based materials. . Dyne Test Pens are easy to handle, perfect for the quick spot checks on the production floor, and very easy to read. Dyne 38 test pens are often used during plasma surface modification, corona surface treatment and flame treatment to determine the surface energy level and cleanliness of a substrate, in industries such as packaging and converting, automotive, aerospace, medical device manufacturing and more . To test, simply draw the Dyne Test pen across the material surface, the liquid will either form a continuous film on the surface or draw back into droplets. If the Dyne test fluid remains as a solid film for 3 seconds or more then the material will have a minimum Dyne surface energy.
- What other printing inks does Printec offer?
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Sausage casing printing inks. Printec offers a broad range of printing inks especially suited for the varying materials in the printing of sausage casings. They are furthermore suitable for the printing on shrink bags and lid-films. In addition, overprint varnishes are available in matt, satin and gloss. With very good heat stability in various cooking processes with distinguished shrink, wrinkle and chemical resistance. Also for soup, stew etc. filled food goods.
- What does the StopGap pen do?
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In the furniture industry, printec provides primers and adhesion promoters that ensure strong, reliable bonds. These products act as a bridge between difficult surfaces—like PVC, PP, and ABS—and adhesives, making them ideal for tasks like edge banding and applying 3D laminate foils.
The company's solutions are developed by experts who understand the challenges of wood processing and are compliant with all legal and industry standards. They are free of harmful chemicals like NEP, NMP, pyrrolidone, and toluene.
These primers use highly dispersed silica to maximize the surface area, which helps the adhesive anchor firmly and permanently. This not only guarantees a durable connection but can also extend the lifespan of furniture finishes by delaying aging processes.
printec offers its products in various liquid delivery forms to fit the needs of any project, ensuring efficiency and high performance for different materials. - How long does the ink of the test pen need to stay wet to pass?
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The universal standard is 2 to 3 seconds. If the ink line holds its shape as a solid, continuous film for at least 2 seconds before splitting or shrinking, the material's surface energy meets or exceeds that pen’s dyne rating. If it beads up instantly, it's a fail.
- What dyne level should I start testing with?
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If you are completely unsure of your material's surface energy, it is best to start right in the middle—typically with a 38 or 40 dyne pen. If a 38 dyne pen stays wet out seamlessly, step up to a higher number (like 42) to pinpoint the exact threshold. If the 38 dyne ink immediately beads up, step down to a lower number (like 34 or 36) and repeat the process until you find the highest value that holds for 2 to 3 seconds.
- Can I reuse a dyne pen on multiple parts?
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While you use a pen multiple times, you must be incredibly careful about contamination.
If you roll a felt tip over a surface that has oils, plasticizers, fingerprints, or dust, the felt tip will absorb those impurities. This contaminates the tip, permanently altering how the ink dispenses and giving you inaccurate readings on subsequent tests. - What are the target dyne levels required for common plastics like PE, PP, and PET before printing or laminating?
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For printing or laminating, plastics generally need to meet specific target surface energy levels to ensure inks, adhesives, and coatings don't peel, scratch, or bead up. Untreated plastics usually have low surface energy (around 28 to 32 dynes/cm), so corona, plasma, or flame treatment is used to bring them up to these target thresholds.The industry-accepted target dyne levels for Polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene (PP), and Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) vary based on the specific process being used:Target Dyne Levels by ProcessPlastic SubstrateSolvent-Based PrintingWater-Based PrintingUV/Digital PrintingAdhesive LaminationPE (Polyethylene)38 – 40 dynes/cm42 – 44 dynes/cm44 – 48+ dynes/cm40 – 42 dynes/cmPP (Polypropylene)38 – 40 dynes/cm42 – 44 dynes/cm44 – 48+ dynes/cm40 – 44 dynes/cmPET (Polyester)42 – 44 dynes/cm46 – 48+ dynes/cm48 – 52+ dynes/cm
- What makes sausage casing inks different from regular packaging inks?
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The primary difference is food-grade certification and durability under extreme conditions.
Sausage casing inks must be specifically formulated to withstand the harsh environments of meat processing without bleeding, peeling, or migrating into the meat itself. They are subjected to high humidity, boiling water, steam, smoke houses, and intense mechanical stretching during the stuffing process. - What types of ink bases are used for sausage casings?
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Depending on the printing equipment and the casing material, manufacturers generally use three types of ink systems:
Water-Based Inks: Often preferred for porous casings like cellulose or collagen. They are environmentally friendly and offer excellent adhesion once cured.
Solvent-Based Inks: Typically alcohol- or acetate-based. They dry incredibly fast via evaporation, making them ideal for high-speed printing on non-porous plastic (polymer) casings.
UV-Cured Inks: These inks dry instantly when exposed to ultraviolet light. They provide high contrast and razor-sharp text, but they require specialized low-migration formulas to ensure no uncured photoinitiators penetrate the casing.
