These are the guidelines for using Photoluminescent pigment in Plastic. You can use our photoluminescent plastic pellets or Master Batch instead saving you time and money. See how to use photoluminescent plastic granule or master batch for details.
1. You can mix photoluminescent pigment in with acrylic, polyester, polypropylene, epoxy, PVC, polyethylene (HDPE, LDPE etc) polymers.
2. You can extrude, mold, dip and cast this material.
3. Use less photoluminescent pigment than other ZnS:CU luminous pigments.
4. Keep the temperature low as possible while extruding.
5. Master Batches of photoluminescent material must be completely dried up before usage.

1. Clean the interior of the extruder before manufacturing with the plastic master batch.
2. Keep the resin and pigment dry before the extruding process is started.
3. It is recommended to use a machine with twin hoppers and a distributive screw design. Use one of the hoppers to feed the resin and additives and the second for the photoluminescent pigment. Doing so will decrease the abrasion to the extruder surfaces.
4. Do not stir for a long time because this might darken the pigment/resin.
5. Keep the processing temperature 10 degrees higher than a normal run of plastic.
6. Clean the extruder again by running clear resin through until clear resin can be seen coming out of the extruder.
7. Use ceramic, glass or hard metal containers because the photoluminescent pigment will react to heavy metals causing discoloration.
8. Mix the photoluminescent pigment with liquid paraffin. Ratio of the liquid paraffin to the plastic particle is 1 -1.5% of the plastic particle.
9. Using the white mine oil makes the photoluminescent pigment stick evenly with the plastic. 

How to make photoluminescent printing paste?

 These are the guidelines to making photoluminescent printing pastes. Your application may require some adjustments to the technical material below. Mix the Photoluminescent pigment into clear vehicles. Any other pigment in the medium will obscure the luminosity. Choose neutral or alkalescent clear/transparent printing paste and the suitable photoluminescent pigment, the percentage of the photoluminescent pigment is normally 10-50%, making it well proportioned by mixing and churning up. You can use relevant thinner to adjust the viscosity. Before printing the luminous layer, you'd better print a white layer to improve the brightness.

The following transparent printing paste is recommended:

HF822 Nylon paste JIANGSHAN CITY YIN HUA CAI LIAO CHANG
ANM High-grade paste JAPAN SONG JING
GT-10 High flexibility transparent paste JAPAN DIC INK
RC-4NF Super-luster paste HANGKONG TIANLONG
TL939 Nylon transparent paste HAONGKONG TIANLONG

Example:

photoluminescent pigment 25g
Japanese transparent paste 20g
viscousness 30g
increase thick materials 3g
assistant agent oil 10g
soft water 12g
Total： 100g

Physical Properties of the photoluminescent printing pastes:

Appearance： grayish, in paste form
Components： Alkaline earth aluminate and acrylic ester polymer
Viscosity： 60000 CPS
Pb: 7-8
Ion Property： anion
Glowing Color： Yellow-green or Blue-green

Production Process:

You can printing it directly, suitable for flat meshwork and hand-worked bedplate.
Printing flow: Scrap printing----drying----2nd Scrap printing----drying----press & scald（140℃ for 10 second）/baking & drying 140℃ for 3 minutes）

Application:

By screen printing, the photoluminescent printing paste could be used in the printing of cotton, hemp, silk, wool and any other synthetic fiber. It can resist kneading, soap washing, water dipping, sunlight, and sweat, etc. The product is no harm, no toxicity, and free from any radioactivity materials. Now the photoluminescent printing pastes has been widely used in the costume, shoes, caps, decoration cloth, suitcase, signs, etc.

Attentions:

1) You'd better use 60-80 mesh for printing，if necessary, you can put water paste or material which could improve the thickness to adjust the thickness of the layer to meet the various designs.
2) You will get the best afterglow brightness if you choose white base layer. Yellow or green is also OK. If you have to print the photoluminescent printing paste on the dark-colored textile, you'd better make a white base layer beforehand, otherwise, the dark color will effect the brightness.
3) Please do not print any other colors printing ink onto the photoluminescent printing pastes, the brightness will be heavily effected by this way.
4) While you printing onto the synthetic fiber, in order to improve the fastness, you can put 3% relevant solvent. You'd better use up the photoluminescent printing pastes within 24 hours.

These are the guidelines to making photoluminescent printing ink. Your application may require some adjustments to the technical material below. Mix the photoluminescent pigment into clear vehicles. Any other pigment in the medium will obscure the luminosity. Such photoluminescent printing ink is suitable for many surfaces such as paper, textile, wood, plastic, metal, ceramic, etc.
1. Viscosity of ink should be about 3000-5000 micro-poises. During printing, viscosity should be adjusted by using a diluting agent based on printing speed.
2. Apply a white background coat under the luminous material layer to improve afterglow. Having the glow on top of any other color will diminish the glow strength.
3. 100 um film thickness is required to achieve the best results. If you want the maximum luminous effect use 130-150 um thickness. Sometimes more than one pass will be necessary to obtain the level of glow required, the second or more pass should wait until the last layer has dried.
4. If screen printing clothes try to use white fabric, any other color will decrease the glow. If using a non-white fabric, place a white layer below the luminous layer for the best glowing effect.
5. We have many variations of photoluminescent pigment. Use the chart to determine the pigment particle size to suit your needs. As a general rule of thumb, the larger the opening in the mesh the more glow you will have and it is suggested to use 80-100 mesh. We also carry small particles sizes for more detailed printing.
6. Due to the nature of the photoluminescent pigment, an anti-settling agent may be required. photoluminescent pigment is heavier than most vehicles and settling does occur. Therefore use a viscous vehicle or an anti-settling agent, but always stir before printing.
7. One kilogram of dry photoluminescent pigment can cover an area roughly 3.3 square meters or 12 square feet with a 150 um thick film. One gram covers approximately 25 square centimeters.
8. Use transparent inks with pH levels around 7.
9. Generally speaking 10%-50% by weight is the best ratio for mixing photoluminescent pigment to a vehicle. The percentage depends on how much glow is desired, how many passes you want to make, the screen mesh size, etc. Determine the thickness, size, and resolution of the printing area. If the base is a color other than white you may need to add more pigments to achieve desired results.
10. Do not grind the photoluminescent pigment. If there is deposit, use containers with ceramic or glass inner and stir it with high speed.
11. Do not use heavy metal as additives.
12. Due to the nature of the photolumienscent pigment, it can deposit after long time storage. Just stir it while using, the deposit will not effect the luminosity.

These are the guidelines to making photoluminescent paint. Your application may require some adjustments to the technical material below. Mix the Photoluminescent pigment into clear vehicles. Any other pigment in the medium will obscure the luminosity. The component of Photoluminescent paints include photoluminescent pigment, organic resin, organic solvent and assistants.

1. Choose transparent neutral/weak acid organic resin such as polyurethane resin, acrylic acid resin, epoxide resin, etc.
2. Generally speaking, 10%-50% by weight is the best ratio for mixing photoluminescent pigment to a vehicle. The percentage depends on how much glow is desired. If the base is a color other than white you may need to add more photoluminescent pigment to achieve desired results.
3. Do not grind the photoluminescent pigment. If there Is deposit, use container with ceramic or glass inner and stir it with high speed.
4. Use high viscosity resin or anti-settling agent to avoid deposit.
5. Do not use heavy metal component as additives.
6. By brushing painting, roll painting or spray painting, you can use the photoluminescent paint.
7. The glow layer should be 100~150μm at least so that you can get ideal glow effects.
8. White base coat at the bottom could improve the brightness.
9. Using varnish on the surface of luminous layer can improve its brightness and weatherability.
10. Adjust the viscosity of the photoluminescent paint before construction and stir it until well proportioned.

Photoluminescent Technology Questions