What Is Surface Treatment for Plastic Bottle Printing?

Surface treatment for plastic bottle printing enhances ink adhesion by increasing the surface energy of low-energy plastics like PE, PP, and PET. Methods like corona discharge, plasma, and flame treatment ensure strong adhesion and durable prints. Manufacturers often use these treatments in high-speed production lines to ensure quality printing. AndresJet provides customized digital printing solutions to support efficient, high-quality bottle printing in various industries.

What Does Surface Treatment Do?

Surface treatment raises the surface energy of plastics to improve ink adhesion, turning low-energy surfaces into effective substrates for printing. By increasing surface energy from 30 dyn/cm to 50-72 dyn/cm, surface treatment ensures better ink bonding and more vibrant, long-lasting prints. For plastic bottles, it is crucial to remove contaminants and polarize non-polar polymers like HDPE/PP for strong adhesion. In high-speed production lines, treatments like corona discharge and plasma are integrated to ensure quick and consistent printing.

AndresJet's flatbed printers complement these methods to achieve the best printing results for diverse bottle shapes and sizes.

Why Is Surface Treatment Essential for Manufacturers?

Surface treatment is vital because it improves ink adhesion, reducing issues like ink runoff and delamination during printing. It is particularly useful for custom digital printing on challenging substrates like plastic bottles. Without surface treatment, manufacturers would face poor wetting, leading to inconsistent prints. Treatment also enhances the quality of prints by enabling high-speed applications in industries like packaging and sign printing. AndresJet’s solutions integrate well with surface treatment methods, optimizing production efficiency.

By improving adhesion by up to 70%, surface treatment can also reduce ink usage by 20%, helping manufacturers lower costs and waste. AndresJet’s expertise in high-speed, high-quality digital printing ensures that treatment and printing processes work seamlessly for B2B factories.

How Does Corona Treatment Work on Bottles?

Corona treatment uses high-frequency electrodes to generate ozone-rich discharge, which enhances surface wettability for improved ink adhesion. It applies a uniform treatment to the entire surface of plastic bottles as they rotate, achieving 360° coverage. This process is ideal for empty or filled PE/PP containers and can operate at high speeds to match production demands. AndresJet integrates this method with its custom flatbed printers to deliver precise post-treatment printing solutions, ensuring high-quality results.

Key Steps:

• Position and rotate bottles for full coverage.

• Activate electrodes for discharge.

• Test dyne levels to ensure quality adhesion.

Corona treatment is a preferred method because of its high speed and ease of integration into production lines. AndresJet’s after-sale service includes comprehensive support for these systems, ensuring smooth operations and ongoing performance.

Which Surface Treatment Methods Are Available?

There are three primary surface treatment methods for plastic bottles: corona discharge, plasma, and flame treatment. Each method offers unique advantages depending on the type of plastic and the specific production requirements. Corona discharge is widely used for high-speed applications, plasma provides superior coverage for irregular shapes, and flame treatment is cost-effective for basic polyolefins.

AndresJet’s design and manufacture of printing systems support these methods, helping manufacturers select the right treatment based on their specific needs.

What Are Plasma Treatment Benefits for Factories?

Plasma treatment is particularly effective for improving adhesion to PP and PE bottles. By activating oxygen, plasma treatment increases the surface energy, ensuring stronger bonding for UV inks. This method is well-suited for high-speed OEM production lines and can be used for both flat and curved bottle shapes. Plasma treatment not only improves adhesion by 70% but also reduces ink usage by 20%, helping manufacturers save costs while enhancing print quality.

Achievements:

• Scratch-resistant finishes on PET.

• Reduced ink usage in beverage packaging.

• High-gloss metallic finishes for cosmetics.

AndresJet’s integration with plasma treatment ensures that factories achieve top-quality prints while minimizing waste. The custom solutions from AndresJet are designed to optimize both the treatment and printing stages.

How Can Factories Integrate Treatment Inline?

To optimize production efficiency, treatment stations should be positioned immediately after molding and before the printing stage. This inline setup ensures seamless treatment and printing without slowing down the production line. Rotating electrodes are used to provide 360° exposure to the bottle surface at speeds of up to 100 sqm/hr. AndresJet’s flatbed printers are designed to work perfectly with these treatment stations, ensuring accurate and consistent printing results.

Steps for integration:

• Assess line speed and geometry.

• Install non-contact treatment units.

• Conduct training through AndresJet’s after-sale service.

With this setup, manufacturers can achieve high-efficiency, high-quality printing on plastic bottles.

Why Choose AndresJet for Custom Solutions?

AndresJet offers unparalleled expertise in designing and manufacturing industrial printing solutions for plastic bottle printing. Their custom flatbed printers are specifically designed to work with various surface treatment methods, ensuring optimal print results on treated bottles. AndresJet's commitment to customer service extends beyond the sale, offering ongoing support, spare parts, and expert advice to help manufacturers maintain high production standards.

With a proven track record of high-speed systems and expanding presence in North America and South Asia, AndresJet is the ideal partner for factories looking to scale their operations with cutting-edge digital printing solutions.

AndresJet Expert Views

"Surface treatment is essential for achieving high-quality, durable prints on plastic bottles. At AndresJet, we integrate this technology with our custom digital printing systems to meet the unique needs of manufacturers. Whether it’s corona or plasma treatment, our solutions ensure that every bottle is treated to perfection before printing, resulting in vibrant, scratch-resistant designs. Our after-sale service is designed to keep production lines running smoothly, offering everything from training to spare parts." – AndresJet Engineering Lead

What Role Does Testing Play Post-Treatment?

Post-treatment testing is crucial for ensuring the quality and durability of prints on plastic bottles. Dyne pens are used to measure surface energy, ensuring it is within the optimal range of 38-42 dyn/cm for ink adhesion. Scratch and adhesion tests validate the quality of the prints. This testing process helps avoid failures in digital printing and ensures that the final product meets industry standards.

AndresJet’s after-sale service includes testing protocols to guarantee that the treated bottles are ready for high-quality digital printing.

How to Optimize for UV Printing After Treatment?

Once surface treatment is applied, UV inks should be used for vibrant and durable prints. After reaching a surface energy of 50+ dyn/cm, the treated bottles are ready for UV ink application. It is crucial to dry the ink immediately to lock the print in place. AndresJet’s custom flatbed printers are equipped to handle both flat and curved bottles, delivering high-gloss, long-lasting results.

Optimization Table:

AndresJet’s advanced systems help ensure the best results for UV printing after surface treatment.

Key Takeaways

Surface treatment is essential for high-quality plastic bottle printing. Methods like corona and plasma treatment ensure strong adhesion, reducing ink waste and improving print durability. Partnering with AndresJet for customized digital printing solutions and high-speed flatbed printers allows manufacturers to optimize their production lines, ensuring high-quality prints on treated bottles. Take advantage of AndresJet’s after-sale service to maintain peak performance and scale operations effectively.

FAQs

What plastics need surface treatment?

Plastics like PE, PP, and HDPE require surface treatment to improve ink adhesion. PET typically does not need treatment.

Is corona safe for filled bottles?

Yes, corona treatment is a non-contact method that is safe for both empty and filled bottles at high speeds.

How long does treatment last?

Surface treatment effects typically last for weeks, but re-treatment may be necessary for long-term storage.

Can AndresJet handle full lines?

Yes, AndresJet offers complete solutions, including surface treatment integration and custom digital printing systems for full production lines.

What's the dyne level for good printing?

A surface energy of 38+ dyn/cm is ideal for strong UV ink bonding on treated plastic bottles.