Pad printing inks for TPE

TPE (commonly referred to as “thermoplastic elastomers”) are plastic materials that combine an elastic polymer chain within a thermoplastic material. Different proportions of elastic plastics and thermoplastics, along with various mixing ratios, result in a customized material

TPE materials can be categorized into different groups. Due to the wide range of TPE materials and blends, it’s challenging to provide a single pad printing ink that suits all TPE types.

The majority of TPE varieties exhibit insufficient surface tension, necessitating flame or Corona pre-treatment to achieve strong adhesion. For optimal outcomes, certain TPE types may benefit from treatment with a PP adhesion promoter. Additionally, post-treatment methods such as heat application, a Leister blower, or flame treatment are often employed to enhance adhesion

Because the processing conditions differ from one printer to another, conducting preliminary tests is always necessary!

Based on our experience, we have created the chart