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PolyCol Project

Description:

POLYCOL PROJECT is a presensitized SBQ-photopolymer emulsion for graphic printing with most ink systems including water-based inks. High resolution and very good mesh bridging combined with its wide exposure latitude make it suitable for fine detail and 4-color process printing. POLYCOL PROJECT is specifically designed for using with direct projection units.

Pre-sensitized -- ready to use.

To achieve a good stencil, the mesh must be degreased with a commercial degreaser such as KIWO Degreaser 1:20 or PREGAN A9 and must be free of dirt, dust, ink residues and ghost images. Rinse the screen thoroughly using low water pressure to remove any degreaser remaining on the screen. A foaming degreaser such as KIWO DEGREASER 1:20 or PREGAN A9 helps to determine proper and complete rinsing. See KIWO DEGREASER 1:20 or PREGAN A9 technical data sheets for details.

POLYCOL PROJECT has excellent coating properties on mesh counts of 156-470 threads per inch (62-85 threads per cm).  Typically screens for direct projection systems are coated only 1-1 wet-on-wet, or very thinly with wet-on-dry coatings from the printing side of the screen.

Dry the screen in complete darkness, or under safelight conditions, with the screen in horizontal position with the substrate side down. Temperature, relative humidity and airflow affect the drying time. The screen must be dried thoroughly before exposing to achieve highest resistance to ink and ink cleaners. A temperature of 86°-104°F (30°-4°C) at a relative humidity of 30% -50% and moderate airflow are optimum conditions. Drying at room temperature and in uncontrolled conditions may lead to inconsistent results and varying screen resistance.

Expose with blue actinic light at a wavelength of 320-380 nm. A metal halide lamp provides best results. Due to the different design and light sources of the available direct projection systems, no absolute values can be given in regard to exposure time. Depending on the distance between light source and screen and the degree of enlargement the exposure time varies between 1 and 8 minutes (280 white mesh).

Optimum exposure time needs to be determined through individual testing.

Contact KIWO if you have further questions regarding exposure time.

Develop the screen using full tap water and a medium spray pattern. Adjust the water temperature to lukewarm or slightly colder. Rinse thoroughly from both sides of the screen. Vacuum off any excess water or blot it off with newsprint paper. This will avoid runs or scum from under-exposure in the open areas.

Post-exposing the screen after developing and drying can be very effective. Post exposure times should be 1-2 times the original exposure time.

The emulsion can be chemically post-hardened using HARDENER AWR or HARDENER HP to improve water resistance. HARDENER HP improves the resistance, but the emulsion remains reclaimable. HARDENER AWR results in a permanent stencil with outstanding resistance. See HARDENER AWR or HARDENER HP Technical Data Sheets for details.

When printing with solvent based inks, retouching, blocking out can be done with KIWO TOUCH-UP and KIWO BLOCKOUT. For water resistance stencil, block out and retouch with KIWO BLOCKOUT WR/MV or use POLYCOL PROJECT (dry thoroughly and re-expose completely prior to using HARDENER AWR or HARDENER HP). See KIWO TOUCH-UP, KIWO BLOCKOUT, and KIWO BLOCKOUT WR/MV Technical Data Sheets for details.POLYCOL PROJECT can be decoated with emulsion removers such as KIWO STENCIL REMOVER. Before decoating, ensure the screen is completely cleaned of ink or ink cleaning chemical residues. If water beads up on the stencil, degrease the screen prior to decoating. See the KIWO STENCIL REMOVER Technical Data Sheet for details. If the screen was chemically hardened with HARDENER AWR, reclaiming is no longer possible.

When under-exposed, the emulsion can cause emulsion haze after reclaiming. To remove haze, use KIWO HAZE REMOVER or PREGAN PASTE. Use the haze removing products with the KIWO INK WASH and haze remover activator or KIWO ULTIMATE INK WASH. These products are also very effective at removing ink haze. See separate Technical Data Sheets for these additional products for more details.

Viscosity: approx.: 4,000 mPas
Solids Content: approx.: 33%
Color: light blue
Storage: 1 year at 68°F/20°C
Potlife: 1 year at 68°F/20°C
Precoated screens: 8 weeks in complete darkness at 68°F/20°C
Freezing: protect against freezing
VOC: none
TLV: n/a HMIS rating: Health – 1
Flammability – 0
Reactivity – 0

1 Quart, 1 US Gallon, 5 US Gallons, 32 US Gallon Drum.

For additional product information, please visit www.kiwo.com or call PCS at (919) 266-4463.

Thank you for choosing KIWO.

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