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screen printing => Ink and Chemicals => Topic started by: SteveS on March 05, 2018, 08:32:54 AM

Title: Heat Activated Color Changing Inks
Post by: SteveS on March 05, 2018, 08:32:54 AM: I had a client inquire about this for an event series t-shirt design. It seems like I've something about this but can't find any information on it.

Anyone know what I'm talking about?
Title: Re: Heat Activated Color Changing Inks
Post by: Frog on March 05, 2018, 09:00:57 AM: Quote from: SteveS on March 05, 2018, 08:32:54 AM
I had a client inquire about this for an event series t-shirt design. It seems like I've something about this but can't find any information on it.

Anyone know what I'm talking about?

Here's one manufacturer
http://www.qcrsolutions.com/Site/Thermochromic_Pigments,_Inks,_and_Plastics___QCR_Solutions_Corp_files/Thermochromic%20Textile%20Screen%20Ink%20%7C%20Plasticol%20Based%20%7C%20Technical%20Data%20Sheet%20%7C%202011%20%7C%20QCR%20Solutions%20Corp.pdf (http://www.qcrsolutions.com/Site/Thermochromic_Pigments,_Inks,_and_Plastics___QCR_Solutions_Corp_files/Thermochromic%20Textile%20Screen%20Ink%20%7C%20Plasticol%20Based%20%7C%20Technical%20Data%20Sheet%20%7C%202011%20%7C%20QCR%20Solutions%20Corp.pdf)
Title: Re: Heat Activated Color Changing Inks
Post by: Pangea on March 05, 2018, 09:03:52 AM: You're looking for thermo-chromic inks like used on Coors labels (the mountains turn blue when it's cold!). Hallcrest sells pigments that can be put in to clear bases but it's very DIY and would need wash tests:

https://www.thermometersite.com/water-based-touch-sensitive-thermochromic-ink-kit (https://www.thermometersite.com/water-based-touch-sensitive-thermochromic-ink-kit)

There's also shirts that are heat activated if you could sway them in that direction:

http://www.dyemurex.com/ (http://www.dyemurex.com/)
Title: Re: Heat Activated Color Changing Inks
Post by: SteveS on March 05, 2018, 09:51:27 AM: I just stumbled across this too.

https://www.solaractive.com/raw-materials/screen-print-inks/ (https://www.solaractive.com/raw-materials/screen-print-inks/)

Anyone ever use any of this stuff?
Title: Re: Heat Activated Color Changing Inks
Post by: Frog on March 05, 2018, 10:18:54 AM: Quote from: SteveS on March 05, 2018, 09:51:27 AM
I just stumbled across this too.

https://www.solaractive.com/raw-materials/screen-print-inks/ (https://www.solaractive.com/raw-materials/screen-print-inks/)

Anyone ever use any of this stuff?

But that stuff is Photochromic and changes with light, not heat
Title: Re: Heat Activated Color Changing Inks
Post by: SteveS on March 05, 2018, 11:08:14 AM: My goodness.... I had it all wrong.

They want sweat activated.

They want something like this...
https://www.viewsport.us/ (https://www.viewsport.us/)

Is this proprietary or is there a process that is available to the general screen printer?
Title: Re: Heat Activated Color Changing Inks
Post by: Frog on March 05, 2018, 11:13:01 AM: http://www.theshirtboard.com/index.php?topic=15127.0 (http://www.theshirtboard.com/index.php?topic=15127.0)

Another even older thread
http://www.theshirtboard.com/index.php?topic=5019.0 (http://www.theshirtboard.com/index.php?topic=5019.0)
Title: Re: Heat Activated Color Changing Inks
Post by: SteveS on March 05, 2018, 11:41:24 AM: Yeah....we're out on this stuff. I know someone that told me that the shirts only last for about 10 washes and if the owner doesn't care for the shirt (hot wash, hot dry), the image will lock and it won't shift anymore.

Sounds like a recipe for disaster. I'll refer that job down to the competition. LOL
Title: Re: Heat Activated Color Changing Inks
Post by: Pangea on March 05, 2018, 11:53:58 AM: Quote from: SteveS on March 05, 2018, 09:51:27 AM
I just stumbled across this too.

https://www.solaractive.com/raw-materials/screen-print-inks/ (https://www.solaractive.com/raw-materials/screen-print-inks/)

Anyone ever use any of this stuff?

I've mixed my own up that's water based, haven't done proper wash tests though:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BfqbrjmlCuz/?taken-by=pangeaprinting (https://www.instagram.com/p/BfqbrjmlCuz/?taken-by=pangeaprinting)
Title: Re: Heat Activated Color Changing Inks
Post by: Colin on March 05, 2018, 12:24:11 PM: Quote from: SteveS on March 05, 2018, 11:08:14 AM
My goodness.... I had it all wrong.

They want sweat activated.

They want something like this...
https://www.viewsport.us/ (https://www.viewsport.us/)

Is this proprietary or is there a process that is available to the general screen printer?

Looks like a clear ink that prevents the garment from soaking up water. When the garment gets wet - it darkens up - the printed area cant get wet - it stays the shirt color.

I would ask ink companies about a waterbase clear that would do this for you.
Title: Re: Heat Activated Color Changing Inks
Post by: Frog on March 05, 2018, 12:27:26 PM: Quote from: Colin on March 05, 2018, 12:24:11 PM
Quote from: SteveS on March 05, 2018, 11:08:14 AM
My goodness.... I had it all wrong.

They want sweat activated.

They want something like this...
https://www.viewsport.us/ (https://www.viewsport.us/)

Is this proprietary or is there a process that is available to the general screen printer?

Looks like a clear ink that prevents the garment from soaking up water. When the garment gets wet - it darkens up - the printed area cant get wet - it stays the shirt color.

I would ask ink companies about a waterbase clear that would do this for you.

Yep, these inks are actually described like a rabid critter, "Hydrophobic"
Title: Re: Heat Activated Color Changing Inks
Post by: Colin on March 05, 2018, 01:06:32 PM: Sounds like the people who only drink diet coke ;)
Title: Re: Heat Activated Color Changing Inks
Post by: dallen48 on June 17, 2018, 07:41:11 AM: Has anyone found a viable solution for this? I'm keen to get some samples made up for a team of weight loss people I train.

Does anyone provide a small run custom design service for these moisture activated shirts?
Title: Re: Heat Activated Color Changing Inks
Post by: kingscreen on June 17, 2018, 08:12:31 PM: We have used Solar Active. Excellent product but is VERY expensive. And as previously mentioned, it is UV reactive in the sun. Not with heat.
Title: Re: Heat Activated Color Changing Inks
Post by: dallen48 on June 18, 2018, 12:35:04 PM: I may be coming at this from the ring direction. Maybe a water repellent ink or Teflon base as ideally it needs to be invisible. Is this possible?