TEIKOKU PRINTING INKS MFG. CO., LTD.

Technical Topics No.126

IR Transmittable Ink
(Infrared light transmittable / UV & visible light non-transmittable)

The areas printed with this ink transmit infrared light whose wavelength is longer than 850 nm, but it does not transmit visible light (400-750 nm) and ultra-violet light (190-400 nm). The major application for the use of this ink is in the manufacture of remote controllers, which are widely used for electronic appliances such as TVs and air conditioners. IR transmittable ink is designed to be used to make filters for IR-receiving windows of remote controllers.

1. Applications

Applications which need to pass infrared but not pass visible light and ultraviolet light.
--Filters of IR receiving windows of remote controllers
--Filters of IR receiving windows of IR data communication areas of Personal Computers (PCs).

2. Mechanism of Remote Controllers

Near-infrared light (generally 900-1000 nm) emitted from remote controllers passes IR filters to be received by the IR sensors and is changed to electric signals that activate the switches. The filters can pass only the light longer than near-infrared to avoid malfunctions caused by visible lights from tungsten lamps and fluorescent lamps.

3. Special Features

IR Transmittance:
Printed layers can transmit 80% of near-infrared light and would not transmit shorter wavelength light to avoid malfunctions.

Hue:
The hue of the IR ink is generally black.
Metallic color inks are available but the transmittance is 10-20% lower than with non-metallic ink.

Substrate:
The following base inks are offered for specific substrate

For Polycarbonate and acrylic resin	13 Ink (name is "13 61101 IR Ink")
For PET	EG Ink (name is "EG 61101 IR Ink")
For Hardcoated acrylic	MAB Ink and POS Ink.

4. Printing conditions:

Stencil :	T-270-300 mesh
Thinning:	10-20 % with solvent designated in respective ink catalog.
Drying:	30 minutes drying time at 80 degrees Celsius is generally used, but please refer to respective Teikoku Printing Ink catalogs for more information.

5. Resistance

Resistance will be decided by the base ink. Please refer to respective Teikoku Printing Ink catalogs of base inks.