{"id":10693,"date":"2026-07-17T00:00:56","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T00:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/longchangchemical.com\/?p=10693"},"modified":"2026-08-09T13:20:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-09T13:20:10","slug":"shrink-sleeve-ink-additives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/longchangchemical.com\/nl\/shrink-sleeve-ink-additives\/","title":{"rendered":"Shrink Sleeve Ink Additives: Adhesion, Rub & Shrink"},"content":{"rendered":"

Shrink sleeve ink additives<\/strong> must survive printing, seaming and rapid dimensional change on a specific film. Separate substrate wetting from process foam and post-print blocking. Then test the selected route on the actual PETG, PVC, OPS or other film, in the intended print orientation, through the real shrink curve. No additive can correct a binder\/film mismatch.<\/p>\n

\n
\n
Film<\/strong>
Resin, treatment and shrink curve<\/div>\n
Print<\/strong>
Wetting, air and drying<\/div>\n
Convert<\/strong>
Block, seam, rewind<\/div>\n
Shrink<\/strong>
Image, adhesion and rub<\/div><\/div>
Original shrink sleeve ink map: qualify the printed film before and after the production shrink profile.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Define the film and print construction<\/h2>\n

Record film chemistry, gauge, machine\/transverse orientation, surface treatment level and age, primer, print side, reverse- or surface-print construction, ink binder, color sequence, white ink, overprint varnish, seam chemistry, rewind tension and storage. PETG, PVC and OPS do not share one shrink curve or solvent tolerance. A candidate must be approved on the purchased film grade, not on a generic plastic panel.<\/p>\n

Measure surface treatment before printing and after realistic storage. If treatment decay or contamination causes the wetting failure, adding more surfactant may hide the problem briefly while leaving weak adhesion.<\/p>\n

Choose among supported and gated routes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Route<\/th>\nPublic evidence<\/th>\nFirst-screen use<\/th>\nBoundary<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
2100 wetting grade (confirm current brand)<\/a><\/td>\nTwo live Longchang records use different brand-family names for a similar 2100 wetting grade; confirm the exact product, TDS and COA before using the published dose and system claims<\/td>\nFilm wetting, spread and adhesion-related surface entry<\/td>\nPublic data do not prove a specific shrink percentage, seam compatibility or post-shrink adhesion<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
CHLUMIAF\u00ae 3062<\/a><\/td>\n100% active defoamer; water\/solvent\/UV; printing-ink dose 0.1\u20130.5%<\/td>\nCirculation\/grinding foam and air-linked pinholes<\/td>\nSolvent dilution needs stability and performance testing<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
CHLUMIAG\u00ae 3501<\/a><\/td>\n100% active acrylic-modified silicone oil; printing, overprint varnish and release\/anti-sticking applications<\/td>\nOnly a supplier-supported blocking or release study<\/td>\nNo public dose or quantified block\/rub result<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Use 2100 for a film-wetting screen<\/h2>\n

2100 is the better-supported first route when the ink beads, retracts, leaves wetting-related voids or cannot enter a treated packaging film consistently. The public page supports spreading and wetting on polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester and high-smoothness packaging materials, plus waterborne, UV, solvent and high-solids use. It does not specify PETG, PVC or OPS performance, so treat those materials as test variables.<\/p>\n

Screen low\/mid\/high within 0.1\u20131.0% of total formulation. Keep color strength, viscosity, application volume, drying and treatment level constant. Measure wetting, print density, adhesion before shrink, blocking, seam and post-shrink appearance. Do not select the dose from wetting alone.<\/p>\n

Use 3062 only when air is the root cause<\/h2>\n

3062 is supported as a printing-ink defoamer at 0.1\u20130.5% total formula and across waterborne, solvent and UV systems. Establish whether foam comes from pigment grinding, pump shear, chamber circulation or transfer. Use a repeatable aeration test and inspect the print for pinholes at equal delivery volume.<\/p>\n

If the product is diluted with solvent, its page requires a stability and defoaming test first. Record solvent, dilution ratio, order of addition, shear and aging. Reject a candidate that reduces foam but causes craters, density loss, poor redissolution, intercoat failure or post-shrink cracking.<\/p>\n

Keep 3501 out of the first blind trial<\/h2>\n

3501\u2019s public applications include release and anti-sticking, but the page does not provide a recommended dose or a quantified blocking method. Ask for a current TDS, compatible ink\/varnish system, dose and test protocol before screening. First check drying energy, retained solvent or water, rewind temperature, web tension, roll hardness and storage pressure; these frequently drive blocking.<\/p>\n

A release improvement may also change coefficient of friction, seam, overprint adhesion or rub. Those downstream effects must be included in the same trial.<\/p>\n

Map the shrink window before adding chemistry<\/h2>\n

ASTM D2732<\/a> measures unrestrained linear thermal shrinkage of thin plastic film at selected temperatures. ASTM D2838<\/a> addresses shrink tension and orientation release stress. Use the film supplier\u2019s approved curve and production tunnel as the primary specification, while these standards provide disciplined film characterization.<\/p>\n

Record shrink in machine and transverse directions, onset temperature, dwell and maximum target shrink. Ink approval must include the full profile, not one convenient temperature. High-shrink areas around shoulders and contours are normally the most revealing.<\/p>\n

Run a pre- and post-shrink matrix<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Stage<\/th>\nControlled variables<\/th>\nReadout<\/th>\nReject when<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Flat print<\/td>\nFilm lot, treatment, viscosity, deposit and drying<\/td>\nWetting, density, pinholes and adhesion<\/td>\nRetraction, voids or weak bond<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Rewind\/age<\/td>\nTension, temperature, pressure and time<\/td>\nBlock, set-off and redissolution<\/td>\nTransfer or surface damage appears<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Seam<\/td>\nSeam chemistry, width, cure and dwell<\/td>\nSeam integrity and print interference<\/td>\nAdditive or ink contaminates the bond zone<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Shrink ladder<\/td>\nTemperature, dwell, steam\/hot-air condition and shrink %<\/td>\nImage, opacity, cracking, adhesion and rub<\/td>\nFailure occurs at any specified profile<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Filled pack<\/td>\nContainer geometry, transport and condensation<\/td>\nScuff, color transfer and legibility<\/td>\nGraphics fail in realistic distribution<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Test adhesion at the failure locations<\/h2>\n

Use the converter\u2019s agreed film-ink adhesion method before and after shrink, including the highest-deformation area. Record whether failure is film\/ink, ink\/ink, ink\/white, ink\/varnish or cohesive. Tape choice, dwell, removal angle and film support must be fixed. A flat central area can pass while a shoulder or seam area fails.<\/p>\n

Measure rub on flat and formed sleeves<\/h2>\n

ASTM D5264<\/a> provides a comparative Sutherland rub practice for printed materials. Agree receptor, load, cycles, conditioning and rating. Add bottle-line and distribution contacts: guide rails, conveyors, adjacent packs, condensation and consumer handling. For reverse print, test the exposed film surface and internal printed construction as appropriate.<\/p>\n

Protect seam and overprint compatibility<\/h2>\n

Keep ink and surface-active additives out of the seam zone when the converting specification requires a clean overlap. Compare seam strength and appearance across the candidate ladder. If an overprint varnish or white backing is used, test intercoat adhesion, trap, drying and blocking as a complete stack. A wetting benefit in the color ink cannot justify failure elsewhere.<\/p>\n

Selection rules<\/h2>\n