To ensure the success of any glass printing application, many factors need to be considered, such as the type of glass, the inherent tint of the glass, ink type, ink color, curing process and environmental conditions. However, a key factor that needs to be determined is the printing method.
Glass can be printed using one of three techniques: screen printing, digital printing or frit printing. While all of these methods support different shapes, sizes, thicknesses, types of glasses and allow the use of multiple colors, they all have unique advantages and disadvantages.
Silk Screen Printed Glass
The first step is to define specifically what the device will be used for, as this can determine which touchscreens are feasible. For example, will your display be used for military applications that may be subject to harsh conditions, or for an inexpensive toy where durability may not be a big issue? Both situations require screen technology with different features, durability, input registration and pricing. Once you have narrowed down the intended use of your monitor, the next step is to determine which features are necessary.
Glass screen printing is generally used in the screen printing of home appliances glass to ensure that the ink does not fall off for a long time.
Silk Screen Printed Glass
Digital printing on glass functions just like a regular inkjet printer, with the only requirement being to print digital art files. It offers greater flexibility in terms of last-minute design changes. Unlike screen printing, where any design change requires the construction of a new screen, modifying art files for digital printing is both quick and easy. This makes it an excellent choice for prototyping and speeding up time-to-market. It is important to note, however, that the inks used for digital printing on glass are thinner than those used in screen printing.
Therefore, when using light or pastel shades, multiple layers may be required to achieve sufficient opacity. This can lead to increased thickness and may present challenges during the optical bonding process. In contrast to screen printing, where one color is printed at a time, digital printing also allows all different colors to be printed at once. Digital printing on glass is currently evolving to accommodate a wider range of ink types.
Silk Screen Printed Glass
Frit printing is similar to screen printing, with the difference being in the inks used and the curing process. A unique glass powder ink is screen printed onto the glass and cured in a thermal tempering process. The heat fuses the ink to the glass, providing strong adhesion and making the ink difficult to remove or scratch off. Because frit printing offers the highest durability of any technology, it is well suited for applications where glass is often exposed to the challenging environmental conditions common in the defense, industrial and electric vehicle sectors.
However, it is also the most expensive printing method and therefore not commonly used. While frit printing is possible on thermally tempered glass, it cannot usually be used on chemically strengthened glass because the thickness of the glass for the frit printing process must be greater than 2 mm. frit colors are also limited to black, white and some gray.
The experts at Northglass bring the right combination of functionality and durability to your custom application, helping you not only choose the printing technology best suited to your glass application, but also supporting your glass printing and bonding needs from prototyping to production. To learn more about Northglass' glass products solutions, schedule a consultation with one of our experts. Call us today +86 10 5848 0358 or write to us at sales@chinanorthglass.com.
