SOFTOUCH SERIES SFT

DESCRIPTION: SofTouch is a range of high-intensity, ready-for-use plastisol blending colors. Printed on white or light-colored fabric, or a flash-cured underbase, these plastisols can achieve exceptional soft-hand. Their viscosity/rheology, chemistry and pigmentation is specifically engineered for printing through fine screen meshes, up to 305/inch.

SUBSTRATES AND APPLICATIONS:

SofTouch Plastisols are formulated primarily for printing onto cotton, polyester and blends of cotton/polyester. It is recommended for use on T-shirts, sweatshirts, and other, similar garments.

NOTE: Fibrillation can occur when garment fibers break loose from low ink-deposit prints during washing and drying, causing the ink to appear slightly faded. This effect, common to all textile inks, can become more evident as ink deposit decreases with the use of finer meshes.

NOTE: The performance of ink should be pretested on all fabrics. Fibrillation, washfastness, ink adhesion and other required properties should be confirmed prior to production runs.

Like all plastisols, SofTouch series inks should not be dry-cleaned or directly ironed.

UNDERBASE WHITES: For best results on dark garments, SofTouch needs to be printed over an opaque, flash-cured underbase white. Choice of underbase white will depend on fabric, processing conditions and end-use requirements. One of the AGW Great White plastisols may be used to print an underbase. Please refer to our AGW Great Whites Product Data Sheet for more complete recommendations.

PROCESSING CONDITIONS: For brightest colors on dark fabric, SofTouch must be printed onto an underbase white with sufficient opacity to hide the fabric. However, excessive deposit of underbase white will decrease the soft-hand of the overall print.

COLOR MATCHING: SofTouch is available in standard colors, fluorescents, black and base. SFT-S103 Opaque White is recommended for blending with these to achieve any required shade.

SofTouch blend formulas are available to allow simulation of 1000 PantoneÒ1 colors, supported by a SofTouch formula prediction database installed on Datacolor International computer hardware/software, and a fax "Hotline" for same day predictions.

SofTouch fluorescents are integrated into the 1000 blend formulas and the color prediction database, to allow excellent matches of exceptionally bright and clean Pantone colors.

A computerized Formulator weighing scale is available to further assist in color management by allowing easy retrieval and weighing of special color-match formulas.

DRYING/CURING: SofTouch Plastisols must reach a temperature of at least 300° F/150° C for optimum fusion. A curing schedule of 300° F/150° C for 2-3 minutes is recommended.

MODIFICATION: Viscosity may be reduced by the addition of up to 5% by weight Viscosity Reducer ST-265 or up to 15% by weight of Curable Reducer ST-356. Mix well before printing.

NOTE: Excessive viscosity reduction may decrease film strength, washfastness and cure.

PROCESS COLORS: All SofTouch process colors match the SWOP color standards. Color density may be adjusted by adding SofTouch Process Base SFT-S139.

SFT-S170 Black may be used for both solid-area and 4 Color Process Printing.

STENCIL: All types may be used. Direct photoemulsions or capillary films are recommended.

SCREEN MESH: 305/in. (120/cm) monofilament mesh is recommended. This mesh is recommended for maximizing the soft-hand characteristics of SofTouch.

SQUEEGEE: All types may be used. 60-70 durometer polyurethane squeegee, with a rounded or sharp edge, is recommended.

WASH-UP: SofTouch Plastisols may be cleaned from screens and processing equipment with ET-28 Solvent.

STORAGE: For maximum shelf-life store below 100° F/38° C.

COVERAGE: The ability of SofTouch to be printed through finer screen meshes allows greater coverage than possible with conventional plastisols through traditionally coarser meshes. The following table, detailing various manufacturer’s published mesh parameters, illustrates the potential coverage increase possible with finer meshes.

 
 
Mesh2
Threads/inch
Thread diameter
(m )
Mesh opening
(m )
% Open Area
Theoretical Ink
Volume
123
80
118
34
45.9
125
80
124
37
50.0
156
64
92
32
38.1
158
65
101
39
45.0
195
55
70
29
27.5
196
55
70
29
29.0
230
48
55
25
21.0
230
48
53
25
22.0
305
34
44
28
15.9
305
34
41
28.5
16.0
355
34
28
16
9.6
355
34
29
16
9.0
2All mesh in table is plain weave.

Standard Colors:

SFT-M111 G.S. Yellow

SFT-M115 R.S. Yellow

SFT-M119 Orange

SFT-M125 B.S. Red

SFT-M149 B.S. Green

SFT-M157 Ultra Blue

SFT-M159 G.S. Blue

SFT-M181 Cerise

SFT-M185 Violet

SFT-S103 Opaque White

SFT-S170 Black

Process Colors:

See prior section on Process Colors.

SFT-S231 Process Yellow

SFT-S235 Process Cyan

SFT-S240 Process Magenta

SFT-S139 Process Base

SFT-S170 Black

 
Fluorescents:

SFT-F911 Fluorescent Pink

SFT-F913 Fluorescent Red

SFT-F915 Fluorescent Orange

SFT-F917 Fluorescent Yellow

SFT-F919 Fluorescent Blue

SFT-F920 Fluorescent Magenta

Modifiers:

ST-265 Viscosity Reducer

ST-356 Curable Reducer

 
HEALTH AND SAFETY: As with all inks, gloves and safety goggles should be used when handling this product. For more complete information, refer to the relevant Material Safety Data Sheet.

In accordance with information received from suppliers, the full SofTouch series is formulated without heavy metals and complies with 16 CFR, Part 1303, ANSI Z66.1-1964, ASTM F 963 and CONEG packaging regulations.

 SofTouch plastisols, including fluorescents, are formulated to be formaldehyde-free.