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ECOBRITE ™ Organic Inks Heavy-Metal-Free Ink Technology for Glass
ECOBRITE™ Organic InksHeavy-Metal-Free Ink Technology for Glass
Choice, Durability and PerformanceEcoBrite inks are available in solid thermoplastic and liquid paste formulations. The thermoplastic ink is a single-component, dry solid that does not require a catalyst or mixing. Once melted, it flows readily through standard printing screens in a production environment, with excellent stability on hot screens. Customers can maintain normal printing speeds using EcoBrite inks.
The liquid paste ink is a ready-to-use, viscous liquid, or “cold color.” On the screen, the paste ink has excellent flow characteristics that enable a high-definition print image, provide excellent gloss and bake with brilliant color clarity.
EcoBrite inks can be used at high-speeds over areas large and small, offering excellent detail, including fine halftones, and the ability to print multiple colors and color-on-color applications. Once cured, EcoBrite inks have excellent adhesion and durability, maintaining color and gloss even after 30 cycles or more of hot, caustic washing. Printing mistakes are easily corrected because rejected glassware and ceramics can be recovered and reprinted.
Technical Information
Inks from a Global Coatings LeaderA global leader in coatings, glass and chemical technology, PPG has leveraged its decades of expertise in organic and resin chemistry, pigment dispersion and glass surface adhesion to create a premier organic ink for decorating glass and ceramic containers.
Briliant, Environmentally Responsible ColorEcoBrite inks are among the industry’s most colorful and can be created in a spectacular spectrum of shades – even in fluorescents, phosphorescents and metallics. EcoBrite ink colors are formulated to be strong, bright and highly opaque, which means redder reds, yellower yellows and bluer blues.
EcoBrite inks get their bold, bright hues from a patented, epoxy-based formula that contains no heavy metals. Unlike ceramic inks that contain cadmium, lead, chromium or other heavy metals, EcoBrite inks are environmentally friendly. Decorators using EcoBrite inks can rest easy knowing that they comply with environmental regulations, such as Proposition 65 in California and the CONEG Toxics in Packaging legislation being adopted throughout the United States.
EcoBrite inks are odorless and safe to handle, requiring no environmental compliance forms, hazardous waste removal or other special procedures. Unwanted air emissions are significantly reduced compared with traditional ceramic inks. The organic formulation also makes them ideally suited for post-consumer recycling because the contaminant-free inks can be eliminated when the glass is melted.
Energy Efficiency and Cost Savings Decorators can experience energy savings of 75% or more after converting from traditional ceramic inks to EcoBrite inks. That’s because EcoBrite inks cure at much lower temperatures and have a longer shelf life than traditional inks. With a much lower density and better hiding and coverage than ceramic inks, EcoBrite inks enable the decoration of at least twice as many pieces using the same amount of ink by weight.
Decorators and their customers also can reduce material and shipping costs because these unique inks do not compromise bottle-bursting strength, enabling production of thinner, lighter-weight glass containers.
Beautifully Decorated Glassware and CeramicsGlass and ceramic decorators around the world are finding freedom in using ECOBRITE™ inks for bottles, containers, tumblers and ceramic
mugs. With a rainbow of bright, bold hues available, EcoBrite organic inks by PPG are easy to use, environmentally gentle, cost efficient and
rugged – all of which makes them easy on the bottom line. EcoBrite inks get their rich color from a proprietary, patented formula that is free of
toxins and heavy metals, making brighter designs possible in almost any shade. Curing at low temperatures that help maintain glass strength,
they are compatible with most standard commercial decorating equipment and lehrs printing at normal speeds.
Ink Properties
Thermoplastic Inks Use screen temperatures 50-100°C (120-212°F)
Paste Inks Use screen temperatures 15-50°C (60-120°F)
Printability Able to print large areas, fine detail and color-over-color designs
Colors Available in a wide range of standard and custom colors with no heavy metals
Useful Life on Screen Will run indefinitely at printing temperatures
Cure Temperature 175-185°C (350-365°F) for 45 minutes
StorageInks should be stored at 35°C (95°F) or cooler temperatures for maximum shelf life; when properly stored, shelf life should be six months or longer
Physical Properties
Specific Gravity 1.1-1.5
Physical State Solid thermoplastic hot-melt or paste (viscous liquid)
Performance Characteristics*
Caustic Durability Maintains gloss and color after exposure to 30 or more cycles of hot caustic washing
Ice Water Stability Passes cross-hatch adhesion tests after 72 hours at 0°C (32°F)
Abrasion Resistance Passes abrasion tests on AGR line simulator before and after pasteurization or caustic rinsing
Pasteurization Withstands standard conditions of beer pasteurization
Dishwasher Resistance Maintains adhesion, color and gloss after >200 dishwasher cycles
* All performance testing conducted using PPG-recommended glassware/label design and pretreatment.
PPG Industrial Coatings
One PPG PlacePittsburgh, PA 15272 USA
North [email protected]
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The PPG logo is a registered trademark of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc. EcoBrite and Bringing innovation to the surface are trademarks of PPG Industries Ohio, Inc. All other third-party trademarks are property of their respective owners.
A Global PartnerNo matter where your products are made, PPG has the capability to provide a consistent global coatings platform that ensures your coatings look and perform the same with every application. With manufacturing and product development capabilities in every region of the world, PPG is able to ensure consistent raw material supply and formulate coatings that can be manufactured cost-effectively in specific locales.
PPG provides a full range of customer support services – provided by knowledgeable sales, technical and manufacturing personnel trained in multiple coating technologies – from strategic locations throughout North America, South America, Europe and the Asia/Pacific region.
Our quality-assurance and evaluation team tests new color formulations in our commercially-equipped printing laboratory before approving and releasing them into production, ensuring optimum performance in most printing operations. PPG ECOBRITE™ ink specialists can work with you to match ink colors or to help you create custom colors for new designs.
Contact us today to learn more about the benefits and unique performance advantages of using EcoBrite inks.
PPG Global Headquarters / PPG North AmericaPittsburgh, PA USA1.888.774.2001
PPG South AmericaSumare, Sao Paolo, Brazil+ 55.19.3864.6000
PPG EuropeRolle, Switzerland+ 41.21.822.30.00
PPG Asia PacificHong Kong, China+ 852.2861.0918
PPG Regional Headquarters
Regional Headquarters
Manufacturing Facility
Design Studio
The technical data presented in this brochure is based upon information believed by PPG to be currently accurate. However, no guarantees of accuracy, comprehensiveness, or performance are given or implied. Continuous improvements in coatings technology may cause future technical data to vary from what is in this brochure. Contact your PPG representative for the most up-to-date information.
Statements and methods described herein are based upon the best information and practices known to PPG industries, Inc. However, procedures for applications mentioned are suggestions only and are not to be construed as representations or warranties as to performance or results, nor does PPG Industries, Inc. warrant freedom from patent infringement in the use of any formula or process set forth herein.
