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USD 10,000.00 ~ USD 20,000.00/set
1/ set (Min. Order)
1.introduction
Thermochromic ink is a dynamic material that changes color in response to temperature fluctuations. This captivating effect is used in product packaging, smart textiles, security features, and novelty items. Its production is a sophisticated process of microencapsulation and formulation.
The magic of thermochromic ink lies in a three-component leuco dye system, which is then protected through microencapsulation.
1. The Color-Forming System (The Core):
This is the heart of the thermochromic effect and consists of three parts:
Leuco Dye (Color Former): A special organic compound that can switch between two forms: a colored state and a colorless (leuco) state. Examples include crystal violet lactone (which changes from colorless to blue) and fluorans.
Developer (Color Developer): A weak acid that interacts with the leuco dye to force it into its colored, protonated form. Common developers include bisphenol A (BPA) and newer, BPA-free phenolic compounds.
Solvent (Color Controller): A long-chain alcohol (e.g., 1-tetradecanol, stearic acid) with a specific melting point. This melting point determines the activation temperature at which the color change occurs. When solid, the solvent holds the dye and developer together, creating color. When melted, the components separate, causing the color to disappear.
2. The Shell Material (for Microcapsules):
To protect the sensitive leuco dye system from its environment (e.g., chemicals, UV light, oxygen) and to give the ink durability, it is encapsulated. Common shell materials include:
Melamine-Formaldehyde Resin
Urea-Formaldehyde Resin
Gelatin (for coacervation encapsulation)
Polyurethane
Polyethylene
3. The Ink Vehicle (The "Carrier"):
This is the base of the final ink, which carries the microcapsules and allows it to be printed.
Binder (Resin): Provides film formation and adhesion to the substrate (e.g., acrylic, polyurethane, epoxy resins).
Solvent or Water: The liquid carrier that dictates viscosity. Can be water-based or solvent-based (e.g., glycol ethers, toluene).
Additives: Dispersants (to keep capsules suspended), defoamers, and rheology modifiers.
The manufacturing process is a two-stage operation: first creating the microcapsules, then formulating them into a printable ink.
Stage 1: Microencapsulation (The Core Process)
This is the most critical and complex step, most commonly achieved via in-situ polymerization.
Step 1: Preparation of the Core Material
The leuco dye, developer, and solvent are precisely weighed and heated together until they melt into a uniform, colored liquid mixture. This is the "core" material that will be encapsulated.
Step 2: Emulsification
The molten core mixture is dispersed into an aqueous solution containing a protective colloid (like gelatin or polyvinyl alcohol). Under high-shear mixing, the core material breaks up into tiny droplets of the desired size (typically 3-10 microns).
Step 3: Polymerization (Capsule Formation)
The shell monomer (e.g., melamine-formaldehyde pre-polymer) is added to the emulsion.
The pH and temperature are carefully controlled.
The monomer polymerizes at the interface of the core droplets, forming a hard, solid polymer shell around each droplet, creating microscopic capsules suspended in water.
Step 4: Cooling, Curing, and Isolation
The slurry is cooled, allowing the solvent inside the capsules to solidify. The capsules are then cured to strengthen the shell. Finally, the water is filtered out, and the microcapsules are washed and dried to form a fine powder.
Stage 2: Ink Formulation
Step 5: Dispersion and Mixing
The dried thermochromic microcapsule powder is slowly added to the ink vehicle (a pre-mixed blend of binder, solvent, and additives). This is done under low-shear mixing (e.g., with a paddle mixer) to avoid rupturing the delicate capsules.
Step 6: Quality Control (QC) Testing
Samples of the ink are taken and tested for:
Color Strength: The intensity of the colored state.
Activation Temperature: Verifying the temperature at which the change occurs.
Printability: Viscosity and adhesion tests.
Durability: Rub resistance and lightfastness tests.
Step 7: Filtration and Packaging
The finished ink is gently filtered to remove any large agglomerates without breaking the capsules. It is then packaged in opaque, airtight containers to protect the photosensitive microcapsules from UV light and moisture.
3. TGM Factory Profile:
TGM Chemical Machine Co., Ltd is a group enterprise. We have brands like TGM, Pengchang and Tongpeng.
We are a leader in the field of chemical machine industry, with 18 years of industry experience.
We have professional R&D design team, strong technical support, skilled production team, reliable after sales service, flexible customized solutions,
to meet your various standards and non standard equipment procurement needs. We committed to providing the complete and professional chemical equipment solutions.
We integrate, design, development, production, sales and training together.
Our products scope: Disperser, Bead Mill, Basket Mill, Mixer, emulsifier, Mixing kettles, Reactor, Filling machine, Bag filter, Pumps, Zirconium Bead, 3 roll mill, and other accessories.
Our machines help you to make ideal products: paints, coatings, inks, pigments, dyes, thinner, hardener, emulsions, varnish, spin finish, putty, glues, adhesives, viscous pastes, concrete Admixtures,
PCVC solvent cement, liquid resins, sealants, silicone sealant, lithium battery, electronic slurry&paste, pulps, silicon dioxide, liquid rubber, pesticide, liquid fertilizer, disinfectant, liquid detergent, gel,
lotions, shampoo, body wash, liquid soap, hand sanitizer, liquid wash, nail polish, creams, and so on.
We could offer individual machine or full production lines for your plants.
4. What are advantages of your factory?
1) Our factory is a leader manufacture of Chemical machine With 18 years of Industry experience. We have a lot Technology Patents & Product Patents;
2) Our factory has Professional R&D Teams, High Technical Supports, Skilled Production Team, Reliable After Sales Service, Flexible Customized Solutions;
3) Our factory is the leader of this industry, named with high and new technology enterprise;
4) Our factory has plenty of industry experience, we could offer you the complete palnt planning.
5. Who are your factory's clients? Could you list some of them?
AKZONOBEL, JUNTON, PPG, NIPPON, DABAO, BURGER, MAYDOS, RAINBOW, HITECH COATING, CHINA PAINT, CHANGJIANG COATING, TOA, LYNWON PIGMENT,
PEONY INKS, TL INKS, ZR INKS, SAKATA INKS, KINGSWOO INKS, DIC INKS, ANLI, ACHILLES, REPOW GROUP, SHINETSU ADHESIVES, JUSHI, XINGLONG PESTICIDES...
6. What certificate your factory could offer?:
CE, BSC, CNEX, ISO, patents.
7. Manufacture Processing:
Our Chemical Machines are strictly quality control at every single production step, after quality past, we will move to do next step production.
Our Chemical Machines production process: raw materials preparing-cutting/bending materials-welding-polishing-assembling-coating-testing-packing-loading.
8. Packing And Shipping: