How to adjust silicone ink to solve mesh marks in screen printing?
Adjust viscosity + increase leveling property
Reduce viscosity: If the silicone is too thick (e.g., viscosity > 5000cP at room temperature), add a special silicone thinner (such as silicone oil-based thinner) according to the manufacturer's instructions. The addition amount should be ≤ 5% to avoid excessive impact on curing hardness. Stir evenly and let it stand for 10 minutes to defoam, ensuring that the ink has sufficient fluidity to fill the mesh holes.
Improve thixotropy: If the silicone "thickens quickly after scraping and does not level", a small amount of leveling agent (such as acrylate leveling agent) can be added with the addition amount of 0.1%-0.3% to improve the automatic leveling ability of the ink after scraping and cover the mesh marks.
Choose "high-filling type" silicone: Prioritize silicone inks with fine particle size (e.g., particle size ≤ 5μm) and high resin content. Such inks are easier to fill the mesh gaps and reduce the residual marks.