Inks and Coatings

Manufacturing inks and coatings requires a great deal of flexibility, and the industry has recently seen a need for research and development of new, improved, functional materials for a multitude of applications. Formulation scientists look to the SpeedMixer for rapid development and QC testing of inks and coatings. Common applications include paints utilizing functional fillers and high-value materials in waterborne and solvent-based systems, low-VOC coatings, energy-curable printables, and loading high-solids concentrations. Formulating this diversity of coating chemistries might normally lead to cross contamination of formulations. The SpeedMixer removes that risk by eliminating the need for cleaning equipment between batches.

Problem: Difficulty reducing particle size and even pigment dispersion.

Solution: The ability to micronize dry pigments prior to dispersing or wet grind pigments in solution for increased potency is a perfect application of the SpeedMixer. Carbon black, titanium dioxide, calcium carbonate, and coloring/plastic pigments can be equally reduced and dispersed into resins, oils, and solvents. Hegman gauge testing of these dispersions can produce results of 7.5 or higher, and can be achieved consistently and reproducibly in minutes.

Problem: Ineffective functional coatings due to non homogeneous dispersions or entrained air.

Solution: SpeedMixing creates even dispersions of fillers and removes the need for downstream material processing prior to coating application. This is easily done by creating high shear in the mixing technology, and eliminates the need for using additional dispersion or grinding equipment. Using a vacuum SpeedMixer to degas coatings is often a necessary step to eliminate disparity in conductivity, or insulative properties. Degassing is performed in conjunction with mixing/dispersion of these fillers or additives, which significantly increases efficiency and throughput.

Problem: Difficulty creating highly filled Metallic / Conductive inks and electronic coatings.

Solution: Development of highly-loaded metallic or conductive inks can be done quickly at scales unachievable by other technologies. These high concentration formulas can be used as is, or used as a pre-dispersion/precursor to final formulations, aiding in the manufacturing process. High value materials such as silver inks, or other polymeric conductive inks are best made in small batch sizes and benefit from limited waste. SpeedMixing maintains precise levels of homogeneity in materials of varied density and viscosity, even in very small sample sizes. Maintaining an even dispersion of materials at various scales is difficult, using the SpeedMixer to help prep these specialized inks and coatings gives a wide range of flexibility in batch size.

General Inks and Coatins Expertise

• Ink types:
  • Plastisol, lithographic, heat-set, magnetic, color-changing, carbonizing, fluorescent, phosphorescent
• Silicone, epoxy, and urethane specialty coatings
• Thermal, sonic, and electrically insulative coatings
• Elimination of three-roll milling or ball milling