Author Topic: inks for polypropylene shopping bags  (Read 4006 times)

Offline Sbrem

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inks for polypropylene shopping bags
« on: October 18, 2019, 09:22:31 AM »
Hey all, what are folks using for this nowadays? We used to do them years ago, but had to apply a primer first to get ink to stick to them. We just ASI them now, rather than bother with it. But, a customer of ours who owns a couple of businesses we print for, picked up 2500 bags, with a pocket on on side that he wants to put his wife's pizza shop logo onto. Any suggestions? I'd dig, but I'm buried...

Steve
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Offline kirkwad

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Re: inks for polypropylene shopping bags
« Reply #1 on: October 18, 2019, 09:52:11 AM »
Any of One Stroke's ELT series inks. We use the ELT-X for better opacity.

Offline Colin

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Re: inks for polypropylene shopping bags
« Reply #2 on: October 18, 2019, 10:38:43 AM »
Steve - do you need a primer still?

What version of the bags are they?

If standard Polypropylene bags, any of the many low cure inks on the market will work fine.
Been in the industry since 1996.  5+ years with QCM Inks.  Been a part of shops of all sizes and abilities both as a printer and as an Artist/separator.  I am now the Ink and Chemical Product Manager at Ryonet.

Offline Sbrem

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Re: inks for polypropylene shopping bags
« Reply #3 on: October 18, 2019, 01:09:12 PM »
Steve - do you need a primer still?

What version of the bags are they?

If standard Polypropylene bags, any of the many low cure inks on the market will work fine.

Well, it's easier to order them from an ASI supplier when we sell them, because of our previous experience with them. I'm not even sure we still have any of that primer anymore, we got rid of a lot of chemicals when we moved last year. These are insulated (shiny foil) bags from Hit Promotional Products, no style number. Made in China, and that's about it as far as knowing what kind of polypropylene they may be. I'll check to see if we have any low-cure inks on the shelf.

Steve
I made a mistake once; I thought I was wrong about something; I wasn't

Offline RICK STEFANICK

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Re: inks for polypropylene shopping bags
« Reply #4 on: October 18, 2019, 04:04:05 PM »
They will never be washed so cure is not a issue.
Specializing in shop assessment's, flow and efficiency

Offline Frog

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Re: inks for polypropylene shopping bags
« Reply #5 on: October 18, 2019, 05:28:22 PM »
They will never be washed so cure is not a issue.
But I would think that adhesion (or lack thereof) and abrasion come into play the way that bags get handled.
That rug really tied the room together, did it not?

Offline Colin

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Re: inks for polypropylene shopping bags
« Reply #6 on: October 18, 2019, 06:30:40 PM »
They will never be washed so cure is not a issue.
But I would think that adhesion (or lack thereof) and abrasion come into play the way that bags get handled.

That is certainly my concern as well.
Been in the industry since 1996.  5+ years with QCM Inks.  Been a part of shops of all sizes and abilities both as a printer and as an Artist/separator.  I am now the Ink and Chemical Product Manager at Ryonet.

Offline broadway

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Re: inks for polypropylene shopping bags
« Reply #7 on: October 18, 2019, 06:38:41 PM »
I put nylonbond in my inks.

Offline Sbrem

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Re: inks for polypropylene shopping bags
« Reply #8 on: October 20, 2019, 12:29:16 PM »
I put nylonbond in my inks.

So I've read, but there isn't any nylon in polypropylene (I don't think, I'm not a chemist). We do have some for jackets of course, so I will have to check it out if other folks have it working for them. Thanks all.

Steve
I made a mistake once; I thought I was wrong about something; I wasn't

Offline Frog

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Re: inks for polypropylene shopping bags
« Reply #9 on: October 20, 2019, 12:39:15 PM »
I put nylonbond in my inks.

So I've read, but there isn't any nylon in polypropylene (I don't think, I'm not a chemist). We do have some for jackets of course, so I will have to check it out if other folks have it working for them. Thanks all.

Steve

Perhaps the Nylobond also helps on the adhesion on this material. No specific knowledge of that fact here, but it also can help lower temp curing if a heat based ink is used.
That rug really tied the room together, did it not?

Offline balloonguy

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Re: inks for polypropylene shopping bags
« Reply #10 on: October 20, 2019, 05:05:54 PM »
I have used air dry inks on these many times. It has worked great for us.
When you dig grave will you make it shallow so that I can feel the rain?

Offline mimosatexas

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Re: inks for polypropylene shopping bags
« Reply #11 on: October 21, 2019, 02:59:25 PM »
which specific inks?

Offline balloonguy

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Re: inks for polypropylene shopping bags
« Reply #12 on: October 21, 2019, 03:44:28 PM »
I use nazdar 9600 and 7200 series. I have used both on these several times with no issues.
When you dig grave will you make it shallow so that I can feel the rain?

Offline broadway

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Re: inks for polypropylene shopping bags
« Reply #13 on: October 23, 2019, 08:27:59 AM »
I put nylonbond in my inks.

So I've read, but there isn't any nylon in polypropylene (I don't think, I'm not a chemist). We do have some for jackets of course, so I will have to check it out if other folks have it working for them. Thanks all.

Steve
I only do small jobs in house, all 1 color. I have IR dryer, no air with 6' of heat. I just zip them through the dryer so they are dry to the touch and they are not melted. The ink should be very hard after 2 days. No problems at all.
Peter
Perhaps the Nylobond also helps on the adhesion on this material. No specific knowledge of that fact here, but it also can help lower temp curing if a heat based ink is used.

Offline Admiral

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Re: inks for polypropylene shopping bags
« Reply #14 on: October 23, 2019, 02:01:46 PM »
Throw me in with the under-cure route.  I did originally use Nylobond and that helps so you don't melt the bag and get a full cure that can't scratch off.  Changed to doing an under-cure at 295F in a gas dryer.  5 degrees or so under bag melt temp and only 25 degrees off full cure temp.

This way no additive, no scrap ink, use plastisol which is quickest.