Chromaline Chroma/Tech® PL Emulsion Gallon is a pure photopolymer direct emulsion ideally suited for textile printers using plastisol inks who want faster screen turnaround without sacrificing imaging quality. The gallon size is a practical choice for screen printing shops with regular screen-making and production needs, providing a larger supply of emulsion for coating multiple screens and ongoing shop use. Its 50% high-solids formulation contains no inert fillers and provides very fast exposure, fast drying, superior mesh bridging, and excellent reclaimability. The high solids content also helps lower the cost per screen.
Chroma/Tech PL is presensitized and requires no mixing, making it ready for screen preparation without adding a sensitizer. Its 5,000 CPS viscosity and high solids content provide efficient stencil build. According to Chromaline, one coat on each side with Chroma/Tech PL produces a coating comparable to four wet-on-wet coats with typical diazo-based emulsions.
Before coating, thoroughly clean and degrease both sides of the mesh. Slowly apply the first coat to the print side, followed by one coat on the squeegee side. Additional coats may be applied when a thicker stencil is desired. Because Chroma/Tech PL dries quickly, return unused emulsion from the scoop coater to the container as soon as possible and keep the container covered when not in use to help prevent the emulsion from skinning over. Dry the coated screen thoroughly in a clean, completely dark drying cabinet with the print side facing down and temperatures not exceeding 110°F (43°C).
Accurate exposure is especially important because Chroma/Tech PL has very short exposure times. Exposure requirements can vary depending on the exposure equipment, bulb age, mesh, coating technique, and other shop conditions. Use the Chromaline 10-Step Exposure Guide to determine optimal exposure time, or use the Chromaline Exposure Calculator to help establish accurate exposure settings for your screen-making process.
After exposure, gently spray both sides of the screen with lukewarm water and wait approximately 30 seconds. Gently wash the print side until the image is completely open, thoroughly rinse both sides, and allow the screen to dry completely before printing. For reclaiming, apply screen reclaimer to both sides, scrub with a stiff nylon brush, allow the stencil to begin dissolving, and remove the residue with a pressure washer before thoroughly rinsing the screen and frame.
Store Chroma/Tech PL at room temperature in its original container. Do not store at temperatures above 80°F (27°C) or below 32°F (0°C), and protect the emulsion from freezing. Chroma/Tech PL is not freeze/thaw stable.
Learn more about selecting the right emulsion by exploring our Best Screen Printing Emulsion Guide, which explains the differences between diazo emulsions, dual-cure emulsions, and photopolymer emulsions for a variety of printing applications.
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