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Print-Rite Etching resist ink for Ricoh and Kyocera printheads
What is etching resistance？
Metal etching, is also known as photochemical etching, which refers to the removal of the protective film from the area to be etched through plating, to achieve the effect of dissolving corrosion and forming a bump or hollow molding with the chemical solution.
Etching processing technology is divided into wet etching and dry etching, wet etching is the most commonly used, via chemical reaction between the film and particular solvent to remove the unphotoresist part, and to achieve the purpose of etching, this etching method is so called wet etching.
That is to said the Etching resist ink to to protect the printed are from being etched/ corrosion.
Someone may raise a question? Why etch resist ink have solely one color?
It relates to the stripping process in post treatment, the ink layer will be stripped in alkaline stripping solutions anyway and will not left on finished product. So in most cases its color is not very much concerned among users.
Still, when producing some craftworks, the ink layer may not have to be stripped off, and you will need etch resist inks with more diverse colors. Then I would advise you to find your Print-Rite expert for a solution. Then I would advise you to find your Print-Rite expert for a solution. Print-Rite, a professional digital ink company, offers specialized expertise in this area.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q1: What substrate materials are compatible with digital etching resist ink?
A: Digital etch resist inks are highly versatile and engineered to adhere to a wide range of metal and non-metal substrates. In industrial applications, they are predominantly used on:
Metals: Copper (Cu), Stainless Steel (SUS 304/316), Aluminum (Al), Brass, and Titanium.
Applications: It is widely utilized in high-precision Printed Circuit Board (PCB) manufacturing, chemical milling, metal decorative nameplates, semiconductor lead frames, and intricate metal arts.
Note: For optimal adhesion, proper surface pretreatment (such as degrowing or micro-etching) is highly recommended before digital jetting.
Q2: Is digital inkjet etching more cost-effective than traditional screen printing?
A: Yes, absolutely for short-to-medium production runs and rapid prototyping. Traditional screen printing or photolithography requires expensive physical film masks, screen making, and lengthy setup times. Digital inkjet etching eliminates these steps by printing directly from CAD/graphics files.
Zero Setup Cost: Perfect for high-mix, low-volume (HMLV) orders.
Material Efficiency: Micro-droplet precision reduces ink waste.
Time-to-Market: Engineering changes can be made instantly in software without remaking screens, saving days of lead time.
Q3: Which industrial printheads are compatible with Print-Rite etch resist ink?
A: Our digital etching resist inks are precisely formulated to match the waveform, viscosity, and surface tension requirements of leading industrial piezo printheads. We specialize in solutions for:
Ricoh Printheads: (e.g., Ricoh Gen5, Gen6) Offering excellent continuous jetting stability and superior edge acuity.
Kyocera Printheads: Engineered for high-speed, high-frequency industrial production lines without clogging.
If you are using other printheads (such as Epson, Konica Minolta, or Xaar), please contact our technical team for custom ink adjustments.
Q4: What is the chemical resistance of your resist ink during the acid bath?
A: Print-Rite etch resist ink is engineered to withstand harsh chemical environments. Once fully cured (typically via UV/LED light or thermal baking), the ink layer forms a highly cross-linked polymer shield that provides:Excellent Acid Resistance: Highly stable in acidic etchants such as Ferric Chloride ($FeCl_3$) and Cupric Chloride ($CuCl_2$).Alkaline Tolerance: Resistant to mild acidic/alkaline cleaning cycles before the final stripping process.It ensures zero pinholes and no edge lifting (undercutting), maintaining a sharp etching boundary for lines as fine as tens of microns.
Q5: How easily can the resist ink layer be removed after etching?
A: Despite its strong resistance during etching, the ink layer is designed for easy and clean stripping (removal) in the post-treatment phase.Method: It strips cleanly using standard industrial alkaline solutions (such as 3%–5% Sodium Hydroxide / $NaOH$ or Potassium Hydroxide / $KOH$ at 40°C–50°C).Result: The ink flakes off or dissolves completely without leaving any ghosting, stains, or residues on the finished metal surface, ensuring a 100% clean substrate for subsequent plating or finishing.
Drop you message if you have any question reagrding digital printing inks!
