Liquid Laminates for UV digital print on aluminum

[Turnergraphics]

I'm putting a UV digital print on some outdoor aluminum sign blanks and planning to roll on Marabu's Production Clear liquid laminate. I'll wipe down the sign blanks with denatured alcohol before printing. Marabu says to test the liquid laminate first, but the tech at Marabu was not convincing that it's going to work well on aluminum. Is this going to work or am I about to create a headache for myself?

Richard T

 

[gregwallace]

Never tried uv coating aluminum. The production clear is made for better adhesion on difficult substrates like coroplast. If you don't mind me asking, where do you get your uv coating from?

 

[MikePro]

why liquid laminate?
maybe go with an Acrylic Polyurethane clear coat?

 

[artbot]

so you will print on raw aluminum the coat with a liquid overlaminate? no way. total failure.

if you must print on an aluminum finish, at least use dibond which already has a tested coating over the aluminum so that both your ink and laminate will have something to bind to.

liquid clears for aluminum are extremely tricky. it's taken me 12 years to develop my own coating. and the ones that work require special application and are extremely hot solvent based.

just because it looks good and doesn't scratch off means nothing. the aluminum will build an oxide layer under your print and clear coat over the year/s and the print will lift off like a pretty rainbow snow flake.

 

[Gino]

For the most part, aluminum expands and contracts at a very rapid speed. Your vinyl will not and your liquid laminate even less, unless it is a water-based clear. Then you have 1/2 a chance. Clearshield has a nice water-based clear, so you might wanna check it out.

 

[Turnergraphics]

Never tried uv coating aluminum. The production clear is made for better adhesion on difficult substrates like coroplast. If you don't mind me asking, where do you get your uv coating from?

Probably going to get it from AlumaPanel in Greer SC

 

[Turnergraphics]

artbot

So what do I do Artbot? Where can I get a hot solvent based? BTW I'm using Dibond

 

[Turnergraphics]

MikePro

MikePro I used a sort of acrylic on my garage doors and it cracked. I'm hesitant to try it on the sign.

Turner

 

[Turnergraphics]

How about Nazdar 9700 solvent based clear? That's some deadly stuff. Maybe it would do the best for outdoor durability.

Turner

 

[tbullo]

I have used Clearshield on many outfield fence panels. These were printed vinyl onto aluminum. These mostly stayed out for 2-3 years, so we have had no issues.

 

[artbot]

starting with dibond is good. a hot solvent on the ink isn't an option. it will attack it. i'd say the final coat should be a water based automotive clear.

http://us.ppgrefinish.com/PPG-Refinish/Features/RefinishHome/Waterborne

ppg seems to be the most common, think dupont also is popular. this is a product that i really want to start using at my shop because of the properties of the clear coat.

 

[CreatedDesigns]

The only waterbased clear coat from PPG has to be forced dried at 140 for 40min and cannot be air dried. But maybe some of you have a heated booth. Also I have a Envirobase system but have never used the waterbased clearcoat.

 

[rubo]

was fighting the same issues last couple of months - here is what I have so far - 3 different flatbeds:
HP (don't know the model) 60" machine prints on dibond brushed aluminum - tried automotive clearcoat, Marabu coating - none worked, bubbles up the ink, the image pills off the surface.

Flora and Gerber - had the prints done today, same media, Marabu ClearShield water based liq. lam an hour ago - so far so good, the stuff dries as I write this, no bubbling or anything of sorts.
The prints will be indoors, not much handling - just hang them up and take them down for the show. I hope it will work - my printer is broken so I'm running around different shops trying things - I print on aluminum with waterbased inks and everybody is happy

 

[Turnergraphics]

I appreciate the tips. Still not sure what to do since Artbot says the aluminum will oxidize under the liquid laminate clear coats. I assume clearshield is just such a liquid laminate. I'll be coating a UV digital print on Dibond. I was hoping to make a very durable outdoor sign. I'll look for a waterbased air dry 2 part automotive clear coat I suppose.

 

[Turnergraphics]

just because it looks good and doesn't scratch off means nothing. the aluminum will build an oxide layer under your print and clear coat over the year/s and the print will lift off like a pretty rainbow snow flake.[/QUOTE]

When Artbot says it will flake after coating, do you mean even on Dibond?

 

[CreatedDesigns]

I am not positive but I do not think a 2 part waterbased air dry clear even exist yet. The PPG clear is a 3 part and cannot be air dried. You could look at BASF and Dupont (or whatever the name is now since Dupont sold the auto paint side) oh and Valspar like Debeer or even Akzo Nobel <- high end stuff. $850+ just for a kit of clear.

http://www.akzonobel.com/packaging/brands_products/metal_packaging/index.aspx

 

[Turnergraphics]

I'll call some these automotive coatings companies and report back what they say. I spoke with one today but I don't remember whether he said it was water based. He did say it would air dry in a day.

 

[artbot]

i mentioned peeling because the original entry mentioned an aluminum blank. that would entail working with raw aluminum (which i do and have for years).

dibond on the other hand has a polyester coating that will not peel/oxidize off of the substrate. so you're good there.

one other thing, when spraying uv cured ink, it can often need an adhesion promoter before clear coating. some of these ink crosslink into a "non-stick" plastic. after a lot of testing, i prefer good old bulldog adhesion promoter in the giant spray can for small/medium jobs. i've done side by sides with about five different ones and bulldog worked the best.

one (often hated) clear that will not attack your ink is frog juice.

so, this is indoors? i thought it was outdoor. outdoor clear coating is much touchier than indoor.

 

[Turnergraphics]

Its Outdoor. Thanks again!

 

[CreatedDesigns]

I just logged in to my accounts with PPG, Dupont and BASF and only PPG has a waterbased automotive clear. Not sure what paint manufacture you called but these three you can cross of your list.