Solvents & Thinners
Thinners
TS-Series Solvent Thinners & Retarders
Sun Chemical's TS-series includes a wide range of solvent-based thinners and retarders designed for use with screen printing inks. These products help printers control the viscosity, drying time, and overall flow characteristics of inks under various printing and environmental conditions.
Purpose & Function
Thinners
- Used to reduce ink viscosity for better flow and application.
- Aid in achieving smooth print results and reducing issues like clogging or uneven coverage.
- Typically categorized by evaporation rate: fast, standard, or slow.
Retarders
- Used to slow down the drying process of inks.
- Useful in hot climates, high-speed printing, or when longer open time is needed to prevent ink from drying in the screen..
- Available in standard, slow, and gelled forms for specific performance needs.
Key Features
Key Features
- Wide variety of options to suit different ink systems and press environments.
- Cross-compatible across multiple ink ranges, improving inventory and process flexibility.
- Developed in accordance with EuPIA safety standards, excluding harmful or toxic substances.
Screenpro also offer a wide range of Screen wash.. Screen wash is a specialized liquid cleaning agent used in the screen printing process to remove ink from screens, tools, and related printing equipment. It's crucial for maintaining equipment, enabling quick colour changes, and extending the life of screens.
Purpose of Screen Wash
Screen wash is used to:
- Remove excess or leftover ink from screens after or during a print run
- Prevent ink drying or clogging in the mesh during pauses or color changes
- Clean squeegees, flood bars, and frames
- Prepare screens for reuse, reclaiming, or storage
Product Type
| TS Code | General Description* | Ink Ranges |
|---|---|---|
| TS03 | Retarder | Corribond CR, A series, RR series |
| TS08 | Thinner | Corribond CR |
| TS09 | Fast Thinner | Z/GL series |
| TS10 | Slow Retarder / Special Retarder (PC) | Z/GL series, TK series, Vynaglaze 47, Polyspeed 53, Toucan 67, Stargloss MT |
| TS12 | Fast Rigid Vinyl Thinner | Vynamatt PM, Vynaglaze 47 |
| TS13 | Thinner | RR series, Vynamatt PM, A series, M series, Decomold PC |
| TS16 | Thinner | Vynaglaze 47 |
| TS19 | Detail Thinner / Retarder | Special products |
| TS20 | Thinner | Polyspeed 53 |
| TS22 | Slow Retarder | Toucan 67, Polyspeed 53, FasciaCoat WFC |
| TS23 | Special Thinner (PC) | Toucan 67, Vynamatt PM, TK series, Vynaglaze 47 |
| TS24 | Retarder | Toucan 67 |
| TS29 | Retarder | TZ series, CCNT series |
| TS31 | Gelled Retarder | Toucan 67, Vynamatt PM, Stargloss MT, Vynaglaze 47 |
| TS53 | Thinner | Stargloss MT |
| TS55 | Thinner | CCNT series, Decomold PC |
| TS56 | Retarder | CCNT series |
| TS60 | Retarder | Decomold PC |
| TS61 | Slow Retarder | Vynaglaze 47 |
| TS62 | Standard Thinner | Stargloss MT |
| TS63 | Retarder | Vynamatt PM |
*This is a general description only, for more detailed information on thinner / retarder type and use in a specific ink range please refer to the individual ink range technical datasheets
Thinner / Retarder by Ink Range
| Ink Range | Fast Thinner | Standard Thinner | Retarder | Slow Retarder | Gel Retarder | PC Thinner | PC Retarder |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A Series | TS03 | ||||||
| CCNT | TS55 | TS56 | TS29 | ||||
| Corribond CR | TS08 | TS03 | |||||
| M Series | TS13 | ||||||
| Vynamatt PM | TS12 | TS63 | TS31 | TS23 | TS63 | ||
| Vynaglaze 47 | TS12 | TS16 | TS10 | TS61 | TS31 | TS23 | TS10 |
| Polyspeed 53 | TS20 | TS22 | |||||
| Rub Removable RR | TS13 | ||||||
| Stargloss MT | TS53 | TS62 | TS10 | TS31 | |||
| Toucan 67 | TS23 | TS24 or TS10 | TS22 | TS31 | |||
| TZ Series | TS29 | TS31 | |||||
| Z/GL | TS09 | TS10 | |||||
| Vynaglaze Magnetic Grey | TS13 | ||||||
| TK Series | TS23 | ||||||
| FasciaCoat WFC | Water | TS22 | |||||
| Decomold PC | TS55 | TS60 |
Types
Types of Screen Washes
Screen washes are tailored based on ink type:
Solvent-Based Screen Wash
- Used for solvent-based inks (e.g., nitrocellulose, polyurethane)
- Contains strong solvents like acetates, ketones, or hydrocarbons
- Fast-evaporating, aggressive cleaners
UV Ink Screen Wash
- Formulated for UV-curable inks
- Requires more powerful cleaning agents to remove partially cured inks
- Often thicker or gel-like to cling to screen surfaces
Water-Based Screen Wash
- Used with water-based inks
- Environmentally friendlier, but may need soaking or scrubbing
- Lower VOC content
Thinners, Retarders and Screen Wash
- Store at 5°C to 25°C, in tightly sealed containers.
- Shelf life: Minimum 5 years under proper conditions.
- Always consult the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) before use.
- Comply with protective equipment guidelines (gloves, goggles, ventilation).
Conclusion
Sun Chemical’s TS-series thinners and retarders provide customizable control over ink behaviour, enabling printers to adapt to various materials, environmental conditions, and printing speeds. They are essential tools for achieving consistent, high-quality print results in solvent-based screen printing.