Water-Based Gravure Inks for PP and PET Film
Printers running polyolefin and polyester film look for a water-based gravure ink for PET film and PP that holds adhesion on a low-energy, non-absorbent surface. chemlinkai engineers ink and primer together, starting from the treatment level on your roll, so the print survives lamination heat and aging on the actual structure you ship.
How the system works
PP and PET films have no porosity and low surface energy. A water-based ink cannot anchor mechanically; it must wet a treated surface and build chemical grip, which makes the treatment level on your film the first specification, not a detail.
We work from the film surface outward. You supply the film type and its treatment level; we screen the binder and wetting package against that surface, then decide whether a thin primer or tie layer is required before color. Where the construction needs it, the ink, primer and top coat are supplied as one system so every interface is accountable to the same formulation team.
- Surface-energy and contamination check on your actual film roll
- Primer or direct-print decision made from test data, not preference
- Heat and aging resistance tested through lamination and post-forming
- In-house resin development keeps binder chemistry under our control
Why does water-based gravure ink release from PET film — and how is adhesion secured?
Adhesion loss on PET follows a pattern that is worth checking in order. First, the surface: if corona or plasma treatment has decayed, or slip additives have migrated to the surface, no binder will hold. Second, contamination: dust, oil or moisture from the unwind can block contact. Only after those two checks does binder selection matter, because the resin must match the polar groups available on the treated PET surface.
The formulation answer is a binder and additive package chosen for the specific film, plus a process answer: we specify the minimum treatment level and the drying profile. When we supply a water-based gravure ink for PET film, the adhesion test is run on your film at your treatment level — not on an idealized lab substrate.
Representative system parameters
Guidance ranges for gravure inks on PP and PET film. Final values are confirmed on your film and treatment level.
| Parameter | Representative range | Remark |
|---|---|---|
| Solids content | 28 – 42 % | Set for opacity on clear film |
| Viscosity (DIN 4 cup, 25 °C) | 15 – 30 s | Gravure transfer window |
| pH | 8.0 – 9.5 | Stability window for the resin package |
| Fineness of grind | ≤ 5 μm | Checked per production batch |
| Recommended film treatment | 38 – 44 dyn/cm (film-dependent) | Verified on your roll before the trial |
| Heat resistance | Method-specific — set by trial | Tested through your lamination profile |
| Storage stability | 6 months sealed, 5 – 35 °C | Re-dispersion procedure provided with supply |
Representative ranges for system selection — typical values — batch TDS on request.
Where the ink sits on the film structure
On film, the printed layer sits between the decorative film core and the functional top coating — every interface in this stack is adhesion-tested, not just the ink-to-film bond.
Verified data on adhesion, heat resistance and aged retention on PP and PET film is published after customer and company approval. Request current test results via the form.
PP / PET film inks — common questions
Direct answers for film printers, laminators and QC engineers.
Do we need a primer on every PET or PP film?
No. The decision is based on the film type, its treatment level and the performance window. We screen direct-print against primed routes on your film and supply whichever passes with margin.
What information do you need to run the adhesion test?
Film type and supplier, treatment level if known, lamination temperature, and the adhesion and aging criteria from your customer specification. A roll sample of a few meters is ideal.
How quickly can we get a first adhesion result?
Lab drawdowns and initial adhesion screening are typically reported within the first working weeks of the engagement. Dates are confirmed when the sample arrives.
Is the system supplied with documentation for export?
Yes — TDS, SDS, COA and compliance statements for the agreed application and destination. Documents are released after verification and confirmed at inquiry.
Why does adhesion vary between rolls of the same film?
Treatment decay and slip-additive migration are the usual variables, not the ink. We check the treatment level on each roll and give you a go / no-go threshold for the press.
Documentation
Documents are released per application and destination after final verification.
Documents marked “pending” are released after final verification — request the current version through the form and we will send it with the applicable scope.
Run an adhesion test on the film you actually use.
Send film rolls, treatment data and your lamination profile. We return a written adhesion assessment and, where the route is clear, the system proposal for production.