Because an ink that dries in the mesh blocks the screen and stops the run. A slow, high-boiling acetate keeps the ink open on the screen through a long print session while still releasing cleanly from the printed film once it is on the substrate. That balance between open time on the screen and drying on the stock is the whole requirement.
2
What does acetylating the hydroxyl change?
Three things at once. It eliminates the active hydrogen that would react with isocyanate, so the solvent can be used in two-pack polyurethane systems. It cuts water miscibility, so the solvent stays in the organic phase. And it raises the boiling point further, slowing evaporation.
3
How is DCAC used as a retarder?
Added in small proportion to a faster solvent blend, it extends the time the film stays mobile without changing the bulk of the formulation. That is used to cure blushing, the milky haze that appears when a fast-drying coating cools below the dew point and condenses moisture, and to improve flow-out in humid or hot conditions.
4
Is DCAC also called carbitol acetate?
Yes. Carbitol acetate and DCAC both refer to diethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate, CAS 112-15-2, carbitol being the historic trade name for the diethylene glycol ether family. The CAS number should be used when ordering, since trade names vary between suppliers and regions.
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