Hydrographics, also known as water transfer printing, involves using water as the transfer medium to apply a two-dimensional photo-quality print to a three-dimensional object.
In automobiles, OEM trim pieces are manufactured using this technique instead of genuine wood due to their cost savings, durability, and natural resource conservation. Water transfer printing equipment is an important market for this method.
Water Transfer Printing Film manufacturing Process
The following are the steps involved in using water transfer printing film in sports cars such as the Corvette Stingray.
- Water transfer printing is done with a PVA (polyvinyl alcohol) film, which has good adhesive characteristics, is non-toxic and odorless, and has good emulsifying properties, meaning it dissolves easily in water.
- Using rolling drums, an ink pattern is printed on the flat film, similar to how a newspaper or other print media is created. Wood, metal, camouflage, carbon fiber, or pretty much anything else your imagination can conjure up can be used to create the repeating pattern.
- The final film is ready for use after being rolled onto drums. The preparation of the object to be printed is an important step in the process to ensure proper adhesion and a perfect finish using hydrographics surveyors.
- To produce a mechanical link between the object and the priming paint coats, glossy surfaces are scuffed or sanded. Metal objects are cleaned with special chemicals to eliminate residue, then dried before being primed.
- At this step, all objects get a coat of epoxy primer, just like a car's body gets when it's getting ready to be painted. The next step is to spray a contrasting or complementary base color on the object to give it a uniform hue and texture to which the print can cling.
- The PVA film with the desired pattern is floated over the surface of water that has been heated to 31 degrees Celsius. The film has begun to dissolve in the water at a certain time interval, but it still has enough flexibility to maintain the printed ink in the original pattern.
- An ink activator is sprayed on the surface of the ink at this precise moment, softening it enough to adhere to the object being printed in the form of a hydrographic pattern. The object is gently passed through an ink-film layer floating on the water, and the ink is forced onto the painted surface of the object by the pressure of the water closing in around it.
- Any residual ink will not attach to the wet surface after the object has been submerged, allowing it to be removed without overlapping the print. PVA film residue is completely rinsed off the object with hot clean water until only the ink remains.
- The object is allowed to dry before being scrutinized for print faults and, if necessary, airbrushed. The next step is to apply two coats of UV-protected urethane clear coat paint on the object, just like new car finishes. Depending on the customer's preferences, the final finish might be high gloss, low gloss, or flat. All of them have the same level of UV protection and durability.
Bottom Line
American Hydrocarbons is committed to ensuring a safe working environment and providing quality service to our customers. We continue to closely monitor the evolving situation and provide our customers the best interior corvette designs.
Supporting our customers is important to us and we are available anytime to provide 2020 Corvette parts.
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