General Information About Plastisol Inks

Plastisol inks are widely used in garment printing. They are easy to print, do not dry in the screen, can be very opaque on dark garments, and will adhere to most textiles. They are composed primarily of two ingredients, PVC resin and plasticizer (a thick, clear liquid). Plastisol inks have one outstanding characteristic, they must be heated to dry. For a complete cure, they must reach 290-330º F.

Plastisol inks can be printed on virtually any surface that can withstand the heat required to cure the ink and is porous enough to permit good ink penetration. Plastisol inks do not color the fibers like a dye. Instead the ink wraps around the fibers and makes a mechanical bond with the fabric. For this reason, they will not adhere to non-porous substrates such as plastic, metal, and glass.

We now carry Union Ink. Find out more about them at their website: www.unionink.com