UV / EB · LOW MIGRATION · FINE FILTRATION
UV and EB inks contain no solvent to evaporate, so everything that goes into the ink stays in the cured film. That makes contamination control and filtration the defining requirements: metal wear, media fragments and oversize particles end up on the substrate.
UV ink production is a contamination problem. Ceramic or PU contact parts, high-purity zirconia media and fine filtration protect the formulation, and the milling stage is selected for a narrow distribution rather than maximum throughput.
Grinding media wear, metal contact parts and seals are the usual sources. In a solvent-based ink the effect is diluted; in a UV ink there is no evaporation step, so any wear particle remains in the product.
Ceramic-lined or PU-lined chambers with zirconia media reduce metal contact. Where the specification requires it, dedicated media and dedicated equipment for a single product family is the practical control.
UV inks are usually milled to a fine, narrow distribution because the cured film is thin and any coarse particle is visible. A nano bead mill with small zirconia media achieves the distribution, at lower throughput than a production disc mill.
Filtration after milling removes oversize particles that would otherwise damage the print head or show as defects. Filter rating is chosen against the application, not as tight as possible.
| Stage | Equipment | What it decides |
|---|---|---|
| Dispersion | High-speed disperser | Pigment wet-out |
| Fine milling | Ceramic/PU nano bead mill | Narrow distribution, low contamination |
| Filtration | Bag filter with fine rating | Oversize removal |
| Filling | Filling machine | Pack accuracy, no light exposure issues |
To limit metal contact and the wear particles that would remain in the ink. In UV systems there is no solvent evaporation to remove them.
Usually a finer mill with tighter contamination control. The principle is the same, but the distribution requirement and the material contact parts differ.
Fine enough that no particle is visible in the cured film, with a narrow distribution. The exact target depends on the application and the print process.
It can, with cleaning and compatible materials, but the contamination control requirement is stricter for UV. Many plants keep dedicated equipment for UV to avoid cross-contamination.
Send the ink type, the pigment system, the target fineness, the batch size and whether the line must run solvent or water-based products. POLYC MACHINE engineers will confirm the configuration and state where a trial is required before performance is guaranteed.