Time to share

[rjssigns]

Hexane: I posted in the decal forum and no one had an answer regarding resistant materials. Understandable since many of you don't make industrial labels. So I called my engineering contact and made a lab appointment. I spent about 20 minutes with various materials and pure hexane. Oracal 3751RA/290G, IJ180c/8519,8519 no effect. My labels need only contend with vapor so I did the logical thing and covered them with hexane. LOL Did the Same with some calendared laminate, nothing. Shocking thing were some unlaminated 4mil labels. Hexane didn't touch the ink. Roland Eco-Sol MAX.

Fair warning though. Hexane is an extremely mild solvent. I have no bloody clue about anything else they may come in contact with. Nor do I have answers as to what other chemicals will effect whatever you're using.

WARNING: All testing was done in a controlled lab environment using correct PPE with a chemical engineer present. I do not recommend nor condone anyone doing any testing of anything on their own. EVER!

 

[rjssigns]

Hi Pat,

Labels are for a web offset printer. Hexane is a major component of gasoline. It is also in printing inks and blanket wash(to clean presses and dryers). Although blanket wash has things in it that are good at removing skin and lungs too. It is used for extracting things like peanut and other oils. The list is seemingly endless for uses. Had a short chat with the chemical engineer and she rattled off dozens of things. Seems to be in our everyday lives yet no one knows about it.

Thanks for the Lexedge tip too.

 

[Gino]

It's also being replaced by n-heptane which seems to be on a fast rise in all areas. Hexane poisoning according to one source is high in China, due to the overuse of this thought of... harmless product.