Union Ink™ Low Cure Inks

Low Cure, Low Bleed Inks

With the continued growth of polyester and blended fabrics, screen printers may face challenges when choosing the right ink for each garment type, including overcoming dye migration and achieving a softer hand-feel. The dyes used in most polyester fabrics can migrate into printed ink surfaces when cured at the standard (320℉/160℃) temperatures, resulting in discolored prints.

These inks are formulated to cure at a lower temperature to minimize the opportunity for dye-migration, while also lowering energy consumption, lowering production space temperatures, and preventing shrinkage of heat-sensitive fabrics. This an ideal ink for use on garments that are prone to bleed. 

The new and improved Union Ink Gen 2 low cure inks are creamy with improved printability, offering a softer hand and a matte finish with an improved fiber mat-down. They also afford finer control when printing onto unpredictable fabrics.

Union Gen 2 low cure, low bleed inks are designed for cotton/poly blends as well as 100% polyester. This series offers multiple under base options including Grey Blocker for faster flashing, Black Blocker for dye sublimated garments, UPLC1071 Low Cure Poly-White designed for use on 100% polyester with excellent bleed resistance, and UPLC1073 Low Cure/ Low Bleed Polar White designed for use on cotton/poly blends with an excellent mat down. In addition to a full offering of popular athletic team colors, there is a low cure viscosity reducer: K2912 Viscosity Buster LC.

This flexible temperature range/high opacity series allows printers to lower dryer temperatures when the dye instability of the garment demands it, and affords the option to cure at standard temperatures when sharing a belt with garments coming off of other presses.