When to replace an old corona treater power supply

If your company has been around for twenty years or longer, chances are you have some older equipment in your plant that may be nearing the end of its useful life. Since replacing an entire corona treater system can be a sizable investment, many companies opt to replace the power supply first. Since electronic equipment becomes obsolete…

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Why All Films Do Not Treat the Same

The Signature Relationship Between Your Film and Corona Treaters How well do you understand the relationship between your films and your corona treater? A treatment level of 2.0 watt density yields very different results on PET compared to Polypropylene. And, a nominal change in watt density can produce unexpected results. This paper looks at the…

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Which Surface Treating Technology is Best for my Application?

Corona, Plasma or Flame? Surface treating in the converting industry is used to improve the adhesion of engineered films and foils that would otherwise be unreceptive to bonding with inks, coatings, and adhesives. As the only industry supplier who manufactures corona, plasma and flame treatment technologies, Enercon Industries Corporation offers unique insights on how these…

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Proper Dyne Testing Methods: Buddy, Can You Spare a Dyne?

Dyne Tests Only Work When You Do Them Right Dynes are used to measure changes in a film’s surface energy. But poorly executed dyne tests produce unreliable results. And false assumptions about dyne levels, adhesion and corona treating leads to major problems. This insightful technical paper reviews best practices for dyne pen, cotton swab, and…

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TAPPI Mayer Rod Drawdown Dyne Testing

dyne-test-draw-down-video-still.

The Mayer Rod Drawdown Method is an industry standard under TAPPI Test Method T 552: Determination of Wetting Tension of Polyolefin Films and Coated Surfaces via the Mayer Rod Technique.  How to apply:A substrate sample, usually measuring 8-1/2 x 11 inches, is clamped to a clipboard. At the top of the sample, a single drop…

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ASTM Cotton Swab Dyne Testing

dyne-test-cotton-swab-video-still

The Cotton Swab Method is recognized as an industry standard under ASTM D2578-17, Standard Test Method for Wetting Tension of Polyethylene and Polypropylene Films. Dyne solutions of various concentrations are placed on the substrate until a solution is found that wets out properly.  How to apply:Drops of a dyne test solution are placed on the tip…

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Why do I need corona treating and how do corona treaters work?

illustration ink wet out on treated surface

Corona treating increases the surface energy of plastic films, foils and paper to improve wettability and adhesion of inks, coatings and adhesives. Treating works best when a substrate is treated at the time of extrusion and in-line prior to converting. Corona treating increases quality and productivity through improved print quality, faster press speeds and less…

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Troubleshooting Surface Treating for Flexographic Printing Process

Printing

Want to learn more about your flexographic printing process? Want your operators to have more control over the press? Then learn the power of asking “why”. Three letters that add up to a powerful and revealing question. When we were three and four years old, it was our favorite question. It often stymied Mom and…

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Solving Metallized Film Converting Adhesion Issues

llustration-dyne-level-reducing-factors

Most application questions involving the converting of metallized films concern the dyne level required to convert. It is extremely important for both the film manufacturer and the converter to recognize that achieving a specific dyne level does not guarantee printing, coating or laminating adhesion. Most converters will conduct a dyne test on metallized film prior…

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Solvent-Based Printing Improved with Corona Treatment

Printing, Coating, & Laminating Product Image

Enercon has the fortunate opportunity to share ideas with solvent-based printers from around the globe on an almost daily basis. To say the world of printing has changed in the last 15 years is an understatement. More complex film compositions, more intricate graphic designs, shorter press runs, faster production speeds, greater scrutiny with higher expectations…

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