In-mold label ink additives should be chosen after separating film wetting from process foam and finished-label handling. CHLUMIWE® 2100 is the documented difficult-plastic wetting route. CHLUMIAF® 3062 is the documented printing-ink defoamer route. CHLUMIAG® 3501 is not a first recommendation because its public page gives no dosage or quantified in-mold-label rub, blocking or molding endpoint.
No general additive page proves heat resistance, ink-to-label adhesion, label-to-container bonding, migration compliance or survival through the molding cycle. Validate those properties on the actual label film, ink, print method and resin container.
In-mold label ink decision map
| Observed failure | First controlled check | Route if confirmed |
|---|---|---|
| Ink beads, pulls back or leaves poor coverage on PE, PP or PET label film | Film grade, treatment level/age, contamination, ink viscosity and surface tension | 2100 wetting ladder |
| Foam follows mixing, pumping, chambering or return circulation | Foam generation/decay, density and cured voids | 3062 defoamer ladder |
| Print blocks, scuffs or changes friction | Drying/cure, residual solvent/water, film weight and stack condition | Correct ink/process, then test handling |
| Label distorts, delaminates or loses appearance during molding | Label construction, container resin and molding window | No additive decision without a molding trial |
| 제품 | Published fit | Supplier guidance | Boundary |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHLUMIWE® 2100 | 100%-active modified polysiloxane; difficult PE/PP/PET and printing-ink wetting | 0.1–1.0% total; grind, stir or post-add; UV/solvent/water systems | Avoid mixing with other additives; wetting does not prove molding performance |
| CHLUMIAF® 3062 | 100%-active nonionic silicone defoamer; printing inks | 0.1–0.5% total; UV/solvent/water systems | Use only for measured air; solvent dilution needs stability/performance testing |
| 클루미아그® 3501 | Printing, overprint varnish, release and anti-sticking applications listed | Any-stage addition; UV/solvent/water systems | No public dose or quantified label-handling result |
Control the label film before adding anything
Record polymer family, film supplier and grade, multilayer construction, print side, surface treatment method, dyne level and time since treatment. Include slip and antiblock packages already present in the film. Mold-release contamination, treatment decay and the wrong print side can imitate an additive shortage.
Use the production ink technology, pigments, film weight and drying or UV dose. A wet drawdown on freshly treated laboratory film is not equivalent to a printed roll that will be stacked, die-cut, stored and molded.
Use 2100 for confirmed wetting failure
2100 is 100% active and its public page supports spreading and wetting on polyethylene, polypropylene and polyester packaging surfaces. Start near the low end of the 0.1–1.0% total-formula range after treatment and cleanliness are controlled.
Measure coverage, edge definition, pinholes, color density, gloss, adhesion, drying/cure, rub, blocking and coefficient of friction. Improved wetting can also change intercoat or lamination behavior, so repeat downstream tests at every passing dose.
Use 3062 only for measured process air
3062 is a defoamer, not a wetting or adhesion promoter. Compare foam after standardized high-speed mixing and after the actual pump or chamber loop. Measure wet foam, density and cured pinholes so dewetting is not mistaken for air.
If dilution is required in a solvent ink, follow the public instruction to test both dilution stability and defoaming performance. Select the lowest level that controls air without crater formation, gloss loss, color change, poor adhesion or print inconsistency.
Why 3501 is not in the first trial
3501 is listed for printing inks, overprint varnishes, release coatings and anti-sticking use, but the page provides no recommended dosage. It also provides no quantified rub, block, friction or in-mold handling endpoint. Obtain a current TDS and a specific technical rationale before adding it to the trial.
Measure print handling before molding
ASTM D5264 provides a controlled rub comparison for printed materials. ASTM D1894 measures static and kinetic coefficient of friction for plastic film and sheeting; its result is empirical and should be correlated with actual feeding and stacking.
Define conditioning, receptor, load, cycles, contact orientation, dwell and temperature. Check face-to-face and face-to-back blocking, ink transfer, gloss marking, offset, curl and feed behavior. Do not use a lower COF as automatic proof of better molding or label placement.
Repeat these checks after realistic roll or stack storage. Wound-roll pressure, warm warehouse exposure and treatment aging can reveal transfer or feed changes that are invisible on freshly printed single sheets. Preserve the blank so the additive effect is separated from natural film-to-film variation.
Run the complete conversion and molding sequence
- Print production film at controlled ink weight.
- Dry or cure inside the real line window and condition the roll.
- Rewind, stack or sheet, then die-cut and feed through the label-handling path.
- Mold with the production container resin, temperature, pressure and cycle.
- Inspect graphics, distortion, adhesion, edge lift, odor and resistance after conditioning.
Keep compliance product-specific
A marketing application statement does not establish food contact, low migration, recyclability or restricted-substance compliance. Define market, container contents, barrier, ink position and customer specification, then request current declarations for the exact product and dose.
Send label film and treatment data, ink chemistry, print method, current additives, circulation conditions, drying/cure, rub/block/COF results, molding parameters and compliance requirements. Ask Longchang Chemical to compare 2100 and 3062 for the measured failure.