As discussed in Screen Printing Magazine’s article, “Hot Tips for Heat Measurement,” managing heat is one of the most critical yet challenging aspects of the garment-printing process. Heat plays a crucial role in ensuring high-quality prints, but if not properly monitored, it can lead to a range of issues, from undercured prints to scorched garments.
In screen printing, maintaining the right heat conditions in dryers and flash-curing units is essential for achieving consistent results. Each combination of garment, ink, and application requires specific temperature settings, making it vital to regularly measure and adjust the heat levels in your equipment.
Failure to measure heat accurately can result in several problems, including prints with poor washfastness, heat transfers that don’t adhere correctly, and overflashed underbases that hinder subsequent ink layers from bonding properly. These issues not only affect the quality of the final product but can also lead to wasted materials and increased production costs.
To avoid these pitfalls, screen printers must utilize a variety of temperature-measurement tools to monitor the heat during production. The most common tools include:
- Temperature tapes: These adhesive strips change color when exposed to heat, indicating the approximate temperature of the garment.
- Non-contact pyrometers: These electronic devices measure temperature from a distance without touching the material, making them ideal for quick checks during production.
- On-contact pyrometers: These devices use a probe to measure temperature directly from the garment, providing more precise readings.
- Doughnut probes: These are designed to accompany the product through the dryer, continuously recording the heat conditions to ensure consistent curing.
While none of these devices provide absolute temperature values, they offer essential guidelines that help screen printers achieve optimal curing and consistent quality in their prints.
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Article with all rights reserved, courtesy of screenprintingmag.com.