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Inks · 4 of 8 · 1 min read

Silicone

Silicone is a two-part ink: you mix in a catalyst before printing, and it cures into a permanent film. It’s used mostly on athletic, performance and stretch garments, with high opacity and very high stretch (Lancer).

  • Mixing: weigh the catalyst on a gram scale; ratios differ by product, so follow the maker’s sheet. Once mixed, the ink has a limited pot life. Mix only what you’ll print, and don’t leave catalyzed ink in the screen overnight.
  • Cure: examples differ by product. Lancer’s STI system lists 250–290°F for 1.5–2 minutes, and Northwest Graphic gives about 270°F for 60–90 seconds. Check your ink’s tech data sheet.
  • Tools: to keep a print PVC-free, Lancer says to use dedicated squeegees and tools, because plastisol residue can contaminate it.
  • Beginner-friendly? Not for a first ink: weighing, pot life and contamination add steps.
Sources for this guide (32)
  1. Davis International, FAQs
  2. Davis International, Common issues
  3. Davis International, 7600 Series product bulletin (PDF)
  4. Wilflex (Avient), Ink curing tips (2020, PDF)
  5. Wilflex (Avient), Product selection guide (PDF)
  6. International Coatings, Low-cure additive 3804
  7. International Coatings, Catalyst 900 (nylon)
  8. Avient, Wilflex Epic Rio color mixing system
  9. ScreenPrinting.com Help, How do you cure water-based ink?
  10. Avient, Mapping your conveyor dryer (PDF)
  11. SPSI, Aquarius Activator ZF
  12. CCI, T-Charge tech sheet (PDF)
  13. ScreenPrinting.com, High contrast with discharge inks
  14. Lancer Group, NX6135 high density additive
  15. Impressions, The challenges of screen printing on caps
  16. ScreenPrinting.com, Printing with plastisol vs. water-based ink
  17. ScreenPrinting.com Help, Water-based vs. plastisol
  18. ScreenPrinting.com Help, Curing water-based ink without forced air
  19. Lawson Screen & Digital, Plastisol ink FAQ
  20. Lawson Screen & Digital, Low-cure screen printing ink
  21. Lawson Screen & Digital, Eliminating fibrillation
  22. Lawson Screen & Digital, Testing polyester for dye migration
  23. ScreenPrinting.com, What is dye migration?
  24. ScreenPrinting.com, Decoding poly white and dye blocker inks
  25. PIA/SPTF, Textile plastisol curing troubleshooting (PDF)
  26. Lancer Group, STI direct print silicone ink system (PDF)
  27. Northwest Graphic, Silextreme silicone ink
  28. Graphics Pro, Silicone simplified
  29. Avient, Print technique guide, 2023 (PDF)
  30. Avient, PAGEJ100 Crystalina tech data sheet
  31. International Coatings, Puff additive
  32. ScreenPrinting.com, 4 curing methods

Ranges are starting points from these sources. When a source and your ink’s tech data sheet disagree, follow the tech data sheet.