{"id":6563,"date":"2025-04-02T04:12:04","date_gmt":"2025-04-02T08:12:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/plastisol-inks.com\/?p=6563"},"modified":"2025-04-02T04:12:07","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T08:12:07","slug":"rapid-cure-plastisol-ink-reducer-for-screen-printing-curable-ink-additive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/plastisol-inks.com\/an\/rapid-cure-plastisol-ink-reducer-for-screen-printing-curable-ink-additive\/","title":{"rendered":"Rapid Cure Plastisol Ink Reducer for Screen Printing | Curable Ink Additive"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Table of Contents<\/h2><nav><ul><li><a href=\"#how-reducer-additives-make-plastisol-thinner-and-better\">How Reducer Additives Make Plastisol Thinner and Better<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#-what-is-plastisol-\">What Is Plastisol?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#-why-plastisol-gets-too-thick-\">Why Plastisol Gets Too Thick<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#-how-reducer-additives-work-\">How Reducer Additives Work<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#-types-of-reducers-\">Types of Reducers<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#-how-to-use-reducers-correctly-\">How to Use Reducers Correctly<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#-new-trends-in-reducer-additives-\">New Trends in Reducer Additives<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#-eco-friendly-reducers-\">Eco-Friendly Reducers<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#-stronger-formulas-\">Stronger Formulas<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#-cheaper-tests-\">Cheaper Tests<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#-common-questions-\">Common Questions<\/a><ul><li><a href=\"#-1-are-reducers-safe-for-food-packaging-\">1. Are reducers safe for food packaging?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#-2-how-do-i-check-plastisol-thickness-\">2. How do I check plastisol thickness?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#-3-do-reducers-expire-\">3. Do reducers expire?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#-4-can-reducers-fix-all-thickness-problems-\">4. Can reducers fix all thickness problems?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li><a href=\"#-key-takeaways-\">Key Takeaways<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-reducer-additives-make-plastisol-thinner-and-better\"><strong>How Reducer Additives Make Plastisol Thinner and Better<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Plastisol<\/strong>&nbsp;is a thick, sticky liquid used to make coatings, toys, and clothes. But if it\u2019s&nbsp;<strong>too thick<\/strong>, it causes problems. This article explains how&nbsp;<strong>reducer additives<\/strong>&nbsp;make plastisol thinner, easier to use, and better for the planet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"-what-is-plastisol-\"><strong>What Is Plastisol?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Plastisol<\/strong>&nbsp;is made from three things:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>PVC resin is often used in combination with plasticizers for better screen printing results.<\/strong>&nbsp;(tiny plastic particles).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Plasticizers are essential for achieving the right viscosity in inks.<\/strong>&nbsp;Plasticizers are liquids that make PVC soft, enhancing its flexibility for screen printing applications.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Additives<\/strong>&nbsp;(special chemicals for color, strength, or thickness).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why thickness matters<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Thick plastisol doesn\u2019t spread evenly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It traps air bubbles, making products weak.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Machines use more energy to pump thick plastisol.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Example of screen printing techniques.<\/strong>: A study found&nbsp;<strong>particle size under 5\u00b5m<\/strong>&nbsp;makes plastisol 20% thinner (<em>Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 2022<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"485\" height=\"332\" src=\"https:\/\/plastisol-inks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6b73e4dc9520d7688c71803f69f41a8.png\" alt=\"plastisol ink\" class=\"wp-image-6571\" title=\"plastisol inks\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plastisol-inks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6b73e4dc9520d7688c71803f69f41a8.png 485w, https:\/\/plastisol-inks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6b73e4dc9520d7688c71803f69f41a8-300x205.png 300w, https:\/\/plastisol-inks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/6b73e4dc9520d7688c71803f69f41a8-18x12.png 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 485px) 100vw, 485px\" \/><figcaption>plastisol inks<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"-why-plastisol-gets-too-thick-\"><strong>Why Plastisol Gets Too Thick<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Four main reasons<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Wrong plasticizer<\/strong>: Some plasticizers (like DOP) are thicker.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Big PVC particles<\/strong>Smaller particles, such as those found in plastisol ink, flow better.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>High temperature<\/strong>: Heat makes plastisol sticky.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>No reducers are needed for this particular screen printing process.<\/strong>: Reducers are like \u201cthinners\u201d for plastisol.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Problem<\/strong>: Thick plastisol causes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>\ud83d\udeab Uneven car coatings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\ud83d\udeab Bubbles in shoe soles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>\ud83d\udeab Slow textile printing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"-how-reducer-additives-work-\"><strong>How Reducer Additives Work<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Reducer additives<\/strong>&nbsp;are special chemicals that make plastisol thinner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"-types-of-reducers-\"><strong>Types of Reducers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Type<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Example<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>How it works: The curing process is essential for the durability of screen printing inks.<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Solvents<\/strong><\/td><td>Palatinol\u00ae 711P<\/td><td>Dissolves PVC clumps.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Surfactants are often added to inks to improve flow and reduce surface tension.<\/strong><\/td><td>Dispersogen\u00ae<\/td><td>Coats particles to reduce sticking.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Bio-based<\/strong><\/td><td>Optifilm\u2122<\/td><td>Made from plants, not oil.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Key science<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Shear thinning<\/strong>: Stirring plastisol fast breaks clumps (like blending a smoothie).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Plasticizer boost<\/strong>: Some reducers help plasticizers work better.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Case study<\/strong>: Clariant\u2019s Dispersogen\u00ae made car coatings&nbsp;<strong>30% thinner<\/strong>&nbsp;(Clariant, 2022): A reference to the importance of ink formulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"517\" height=\"513\" src=\"https:\/\/plastisol-inks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/73b90272fad79f428022988c36e2903.png\" alt=\"plastisol ink\" class=\"wp-image-6574\" title=\"plastisol inks\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plastisol-inks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/73b90272fad79f428022988c36e2903.png 517w, https:\/\/plastisol-inks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/73b90272fad79f428022988c36e2903-300x298.png 300w, https:\/\/plastisol-inks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/73b90272fad79f428022988c36e2903-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/plastisol-inks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/73b90272fad79f428022988c36e2903-12x12.png 12w, https:\/\/plastisol-inks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/73b90272fad79f428022988c36e2903-100x100.png 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 517px) 100vw, 517px\" \/><figcaption>plastisol inks<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"-how-to-use-reducers-correctly-\"><strong>How to Use Reducers Correctly<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Follow these steps<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Pick the right reducer<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For food-safe products, use&nbsp;<strong>phthalate-free<\/strong>&nbsp;Reducers, such as curable reducers like Hexamoll DINCH\u00ae, help improve the flow of inks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>For low smell, choose&nbsp;<strong>bio-based<\/strong>&nbsp;(Eastman\u2019s Optifilm\u2122).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Measure viscosity<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Use a&nbsp;<strong>Brookfield viscometer<\/strong>&nbsp;(per&nbsp;<strong>ASTM D2396<\/strong>).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Target viscosity: 1,000\u20135,000 cP for coatings.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mix carefully<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Add&nbsp;<strong>2\u20135% reducer<\/strong>&nbsp;by weight.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Too much reducer (&gt;10%) weakens plastisol (<em>SPE, 2021<\/em>).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Save money<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Solvent reducers cost more than ink reducers but can enhance opacity.&nbsp;<strong>$1.50\u2013$2.50\/lb<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bio-based cost&nbsp;<strong>$3.00\u20134.50\/lb<\/strong>&nbsp;(MarketsandMarkets, 2022).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Success story<\/strong>: BYK-1794 reduced bubbles in textile printing, speeding production by&nbsp;<strong>15%<\/strong>&nbsp;(BYK, 2021).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"-new-trends-in-reducer-additives-\"><strong>New Trends in Reducer Additives<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"-eco-friendly-reducers-\"><strong>Eco-Friendly Reducers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Low-VOC reducers<\/strong>&nbsp;cut factory emissions by&nbsp;<strong>60%<\/strong>&nbsp;(OSHA, 2020): Guidelines for safe handling of screen printing materials.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>REACH rules<\/strong>&nbsp;push 40% of EU makers to use phthalate-free options (ECHA, 2023).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"-stronger-formulas-\"><strong>Stronger Formulas<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>BASF\u2019s Palatinol\u00ae 711P is&nbsp;<strong>35% thinner<\/strong>&nbsp;than old plasticizers (BASF, 2023).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"-cheaper-tests-\"><strong>Cheaper Tests<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Top companies use&nbsp;<strong>Brookfield viscometers<\/strong>&nbsp;to check thickness (Vinyl Institute, 2023).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"-common-questions-\"><strong>Common Questions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"-1-are-reducers-safe-for-food-packaging-\"><strong>1. Are reducers safe for food packaging?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Yes! Use&nbsp;<strong>phthalate-free<\/strong>&nbsp;reducers like Hexamoll DINCH\u00ae.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"-2-how-do-i-check-plastisol-thickness-\"><strong>2. How do I check plastisol thickness?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Use a&nbsp;<strong>Brookfield viscometer<\/strong>&nbsp;(follow&nbsp;<strong>ASTM D2396<\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"-3-do-reducers-expire-\"><strong>3. Do reducers expire?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most inks last 1\u20132 years if stored in cool, dark places to maintain their opacity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"-4-can-reducers-fix-all-thickness-problems-\"><strong>4. Can reducers fix all thickness problems?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>No! Also check&nbsp;<strong>PVC particle size<\/strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>mixing speed<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"433\" height=\"289\" src=\"https:\/\/plastisol-inks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/2f82c2413f0ab6a99a2f03dfb0912ef.png\" alt=\"plastisol ink\" class=\"wp-image-6573\" title=\"plastisol inks\" srcset=\"https:\/\/plastisol-inks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/2f82c2413f0ab6a99a2f03dfb0912ef.png 433w, https:\/\/plastisol-inks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/2f82c2413f0ab6a99a2f03dfb0912ef-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/plastisol-inks.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/2f82c2413f0ab6a99a2f03dfb0912ef-18x12.png 18w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 433px) 100vw, 433px\" \/><figcaption>plastisol inks<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"-key-takeaways-\"><strong>Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Reducer additives<\/strong>&nbsp;make plastisol thinner, faster, and greener.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Best picks<\/strong>:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cars: Dispersogen\u00ae surfactants.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Textiles: BYK-1794 for bubble-free prints.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Eco jobs: Eastman\u2019s Optifilm\u2122.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Never use too much<\/strong>\u2014it weakens products!<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>How Reducer Additives Make Plastisol Thinner and Better Plastisol&nbsp;is a thick, sticky liquid used to make coatings, toys, and clothes. But if it\u2019s&nbsp;too thick, it causes problems. This article explains how&nbsp;reducer additives&nbsp;make plastisol thinner, easier to use, and better for the planet. What Is Plastisol? Plastisol&nbsp;is made from three things: Why thickness matters: Example of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":6572,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"set","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[150],"class_list":["post-6563","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog","tag-plastisol-ink"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/plastisol-inks.com\/an\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6563","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/plastisol-inks.com\/an\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/plastisol-inks.com\/an\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plastisol-inks.com\/an\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plastisol-inks.com\/an\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6563"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/plastisol-inks.com\/an\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6563\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6575,"href":"https:\/\/plastisol-inks.com\/an\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6563\/revisions\/6575"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plastisol-inks.com\/an\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6572"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/plastisol-inks.com\/an\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6563"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plastisol-inks.com\/an\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6563"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/plastisol-inks.com\/an\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6563"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}