Plastisol screen-printing ink
Also known as: plastisol ink, PVC plastisol, screen-printing plastisol
PVC-based opaque screen-printing ink that sits on top of the fibre and cures at 150–170 °C — the global standard for T-shirt printing.
Description
Plastisol is a 100 % solids ink system of PVC particles suspended in a plasticiser (traditionally phthalates, today increasingly phthalate-free). It contains no solvent, does not dry in air and only cures thermoplastically under heat: at around 150 to 170 °C the PVC particles fuse with the plasticiser into an elastic, wash-resistant colour film.
Because plastisol sits on top of the fibre instead of soaking in, it delivers exceptional opacity — even on black grounds — and vivid, long-lasting colours. Best results on cotton and cotton blends; on polyester a barrier under-base or low-bleed plastisol is required to control dye migration. Environmental concerns: PVC and phthalates, so PVC-free or bio-plastisol alternatives are gaining ground.
- 100 % solids system, no solvents
- Cures at 150 to 170 °C
- Very opaque, elastic, wash- and crack-resistant
- The industry standard for textile screen printing for decades
Properties
| Chemistry | PVC particles in plasticiser (100 % solids) |
|---|---|
| Curing | 150–170 °C, thermoplastic |
| Best substrates | Cotton & blends, polyester with barrier under-base |
| Hand | Sits on surface, tactile (topical print) |
| Ecology | PVC/phthalates critical — alternatives: PVC-free, bio |
Related product categories
Sources & references
2- Wikipedia: Plastisol Wikipedia — Freie Enzyklopädie https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastisol
- ScreenPrinting.com: What Is Plastisol Ink? screenprinting.com https://www.screenprinting.com/pages/what-is-plastisol-ink-sp230084
