Crosslinking, the key to durable organic paint / Part 3.

In Part 1, we said that crosslinking is the key to maximum durability in organic paints. And that proper cross-linking requires the proper firing (or drying) curve.

In Part 2, we covered how to verify that we have the correct firing curve.

And today we will complete this 3-part series with instructions on how to verify by a simple test that our product is well cross-linked, i.e. that it will meet the maximum chemical and mechanical resistance.

A chemical crosslinking test using a test solution is what will answer this question.

This test should become part of your output inspection every time. You can learn how to properly perform this test in the video below or the instructions below the video. 

In order to assess the sufficient amplification of the HGC 8, you can perform the following simple test:

Place the decorated object in our GDS test solution for 2 hours. After these two hours, remove the object from the solution. Cut the surface with a knife and try to scratch the edges of the cut with your fingernail. If the crosslinking is correct, it should not be possible to scratch the cut. However, if damage occurs, it could indicate improper curing. This would then necessitate the need to re-dry the glass. It usually makes sense to perform this test in the thickest part of the glass.

This topic is also part of the material discussed in our new seminar on glass decoration with HGC organic spray paints (AQ or ColorSpray for glaziers).

The article was written by: David Batla
CEO of GDS Technology s.r.o.