Indispensable accessories for heat transfer industry: glue, ink
September 26 15:59:15, 2025
[China Packaging Network News] As a rapidly growing industry, thermal transfer is gaining more attention in the market, but capturing a share of it can be challenging. Do you know the differences between gravure printing, screen printing, and color printing? What types of inks and pastes are required for each process? Today, we’re addressing common concerns from users to help you better understand inks and adhesives, while also helping you avoid common mistakes when shopping.
1. Gravure Printing
Gravure printing is a direct method where ink stored in engraved cells is transferred directly onto the substrate. This technique produces high-quality prints with clear lines and rich depth. It's widely used in book printing, packaging, and decorative applications. However, gravure printing typically involves longer production cycles, higher costs, and is most cost-effective for large-volume runs. What kind of ink is best suited for this process?
1.1 LX-402 Back Coating Ink
This ink helps prevent static and adhesion issues between the finished glue layer and the back during production. It’s usually applied using a 200-line coating roller, with a coating temperature ranging from 80°C to 140°C, and a cloth speed of 40–80 meters per minute.
2. Screen Printing
Screen printing works by pressing ink through a mesh stencil onto the substrate, reproducing the original design. It’s known for its simplicity, low cost, ease of use, vibrant colors, long shelf life, and quick turnaround. So what inks and pastes are needed?
Let’s start by understanding the basic sequence for screen printing inks:
Transparent Paste → Gold Onion Paste → White Paste → Anti-Sublimation Paste → Adhesive
Now let’s break down each component:
2.1 Transparent Paste
There are two main options: 301 Ordinary Transparent Paste, an economical acrylic-based coating, and 305-A4 Advanced Elastic Transparent Paste, a more flexible and eco-friendly polyurethane-based option.
2.2 Gold Onion Paste
BB-030 Gold and Green Onion Paste offers high transparency and is ideal for adjusting green tones.
2.3 White Paste
Options include 301-B White Paste and 304-B High Wear-Resistant White Paste (acrylic-based), as well as 305-B and 305-AB High-Elasticity White Paste (eco-friendly polyurethane-based).
2.4 Anti-Sublimation Paste
303-H Sublimation Mastic is designed to block TC cloths and sublimation dyes.
2.5 Hot Melt Adhesive
HMA-200A: Economical, suitable for most fabrics.
HMA-529C: Best for all fabric types, offering excellent elasticity and wash fastness.
HMA-531A: High-elasticity polyurethane, ideal for washing water applications.
HMA-533: Offers good elasticity and wash resistance, though not as superior as HMA-529C.
2.6 Screen Printing Ink
Screen printing inks have high viscosity, which means they dry slower. They are often used for detailed prints and require careful handling. Our range includes W-110 Transparent, W-102 White, and other W-series colors—solvent-based, polyurethane-grade inks that offer high tensile strength, good rebound, and excellent washability. These inks are suitable for heat transfer and have passed SGS EU environmental standards. PA-102 PVC White Joint Ink is specifically designed for PVC sheet heat transfer, offering strong adhesion and coverage.
3. Color Printing
Color printing can be done directly or indirectly, where images or text are printed on a plate and then transferred to paper or other materials using pressure. This method delivers vibrant colors, wide color gamut, and smooth transitions, surpassing traditional printing techniques.
Now, what about color printing inks? There are several types: sublimation color printing ink, UV color printing ink, low-temperature color printing ink, and high-temperature color printing ink.
3.1 Sublimation Color Printing Ink
Made from imported disperse dyes, this ink offers high transfer efficiency and bright colors, ideal for offset color printing.
3.2 UV Color Printing Ink
Tough UV inks are used for heat transfer color printing, providing bright colors and excellent alkali and wear resistance. They can also be used for soft PVC materials.
3.3 Low-Temperature Color Printing Ink
Suitable for low-temperature heat transfer, 302-B Red is a custom product known for its fast drying and washable properties.
3.4 High-Temperature Color Printing Ink
Designed for high-temperature heat transfer applications.
For gradient heat transfer, color printing is essential. Pay attention to the gradient effect, as metal colors like gold and silver cannot be achieved through color printing. These must be done via screen printing instead.
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MOQ
12,000pcs/24.000pcs
Delivery time
50-55days
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AS,ABS
Cup size
12.1mm & 12.7mm
color
Injection color,
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paper carton
Place of Origin
Zhejiang
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