What Is a Silicone Ink ?
Silicone ink are synthetic inks with silicon as the main ingredient.
It is the most commonly used of all inks. Strictly defined, it is modified by adding acrylic resin to silicone resin, so it is called acrylic silicone ink, but it is often referred to by omitting acrylic. Since it has siloxane bonds that are resistant to oxidation and have strong bonding strength, it exhibits excellent properties such as heat resistance, weather resistance, water resistance, and chemical resistance. Currently, it is positioned as the standard ink for exterior wall coating from the viewpoint of cost performance.
Uses of Silicone Ink
Silicone inks are most commonly used for painting exterior walls due to their high cost performance. It has excellent heat resistance, water resistance, and weather resistance, and has a service life of 10 to 15 years.
Inexpensive acrylic and urethane inks have a service life of less than 8 years, indicating the high performance of silicone inks. Although alkali inks are less expensive per unit, silicone inks are more advantageous in terms of running costs, so silicon inks are generally chosen for exterior wall painting of houses. In addition, it should be noted that price and performance vary depending on the silicon content.
Types of Silicone Ink
Silicon ink can be divided into two types as follows.
1. One Component Silicone Ink
Silicone only works on silicone. It cannot print on metals or other materials. In addition, they are more durable than water-based inks and can be kept clean for a long period of time. On the other hand, care must be taken during application due to the strong thinner odor.
2. Two Component Silicone Ink
The basic characteristics are the same as those of silicone inks, but they have the advantage of being more durable and less susceptible to deterioration compared to one-component inks. It is easier to use than the one-component type because it can be used with a wider range of materials than the one-component type, but it must be used immediately after mixing, so it requires more time and effort to control the amount used.