Different types of screen printing silicone do have some differences in curing time, which is mainly related to the following factors:
1. Types of screen printing silicone
The formula of screen printing silicone for different purposes is different, and its curing time will also be different:
Ordinary screen printing silicone:
Used for general fabric printing, such as cotton, polyester, etc.
Curing time: usually 3-5 minutes (heat curing, temperature 120°C to 150°C).
Elastic silicone:
Used for highly elastic fabrics, such as spandex, lycra, etc.
Curing time: slightly longer, usually 4-6 minutes, because it is necessary to ensure the resilience and adhesion of the silicone.
Transparent silicone:
Used for special effect printing, such as transparent gloss or three-dimensional effect.
Curing time: usually 5-8 minutes, because the formula of transparent silicone is more sensitive to temperature.
High temperature silicone:
It is more heat-resistant and suitable for fabrics that are subsequently processed at high temperatures.
Curing time: may be shorter, usually 2-4 minutes, because its formula is suitable for fast curing.
2. Curing method
The curing method has a significant impact on the time difference:
Heating curing:
Silk screen silicone usually requires a heat press or oven for heating curing.
Curing time: 3-8 minutes at 120°C-150°C, depending on the type of silicone.
Natural curing:
Some specially formulated silk screen silicone can be cured naturally at room temperature.
Curing time: Usually takes 12-24 hours or more, which is not suitable for scenes that require rapid production.
UV curing:
Some special silk screen silicone uses UV (ultraviolet) curing.
Curing time: Usually completed within a few seconds to 1 minute, which is extremely efficient, but requires professional UV equipment.
3. Environmental conditions
Temperature:
The higher the temperature, the faster the silicone cures. For example, curing at 150°C may only take 3 minutes, but at 120°C may take more than 5 minutes.
Humidity:
High humidity environments may extend the curing time, especially for naturally curing silicone.
Ventilation conditions:
A well-ventilated environment can accelerate the evaporation of solvents, thereby speeding up the curing process.
4. Thickness of silicone layer
Thin layer silicone:
Thin layer silicone has a shorter curing time, usually 3-5 minutes.
Thick layer silicone:
Thick layers of silicone (such as three-dimensional patterns or stacking effects) require longer curing time, usually 5-10 minutes, to ensure complete curing inside.
5. Effect of additives
Catalyst:
Silicone with added catalyst cures faster and can shorten the curing time.
Retarder:
Some special processes require extended operation time, and retarder will be added to extend the curing time of silicone.
Summary
The difference in curing time of screen printing silicone mainly depends on the following factors:
Silicone type: 3-5 minutes for ordinary silicone, 4-6 minutes for elastic silicone, and longer for special silicone.
Curing method: Heating curing is the fastest (3-8 minutes), and natural curing is the slowest (12-24 hours).
Environmental conditions and process requirements: Temperature, humidity and silicone thickness will affect the curing time.
If you need faster production efficiency, you can choose high-temperature fast-curing silicone or UV-curing silicone; if it is a fabric with higher process requirements, you need to choose the appropriate curing time and method according to the specific usage scenario.