Technical Information

11.P.028 | Solvent-based Liquid Systems | Ink series, Process Inks

Gecko® Frontal Uni

Solvent based printing inks for flexible packaging
Surface printing

Description
A full colour range of highly pigmented plurisolvent nitrocellulose printing inks designed for surface
printed applications on flexible films, supplied as finished products or for use as mono pigmented
concentrates and system additive.

Printing Process
Flexographic and gravure printing.

Applications
Surface printing.

Suitable for food and beverage flexible packaging.

Substrates: LDPE, HDPE, BOPP***, Coex OPP***, CPP, PET chem., acrylic PP*,OPA,
Paper, shrinkable films (OPP, PE**, PET-G and OPS)
* Applicability on acrylic coated PP has to be tested properly in relation to the adhesion promoter
already contained in the series.
** in combination with White GFZ.
*** Surface applications on anti-fog-treated substrates could bear increased blocking risk, hence a
preliminary industrial test has to be carried out in order to confirm the suitability of the series.

Minimum surface Coex OPP, BOPP, LDPE, HDPE, CPP: 38 mN/m

tension: OPA: 48 mN/m (mN/m = dynes/cm)
This ink series already contains Adhesion Promoter.

Adhesion All inks in this series already contains Adhesion Promoter, with the exception of
Promoter coloured metallic inks, which are adhesion promoter free. For coloured metallic
inks, the addition of 2 – 3% of Adhesion Promoter (70GH278345) press side
before printing is needed.

Properties
Adhesion 4 Water resistance 3

Rub resistance 4 Deep freeze resistance 3

Scratch resistance 4 Vegetable oil resistance 4

Heat resistance 160° - 170° C C.O.F. (dynamic, range) 0.20 – 0.30

Gloss 4

Rating scale (1 to 5 based on Gecko product range) 1= worst value, 5= best value

Note: All technical properties are a guideline only and depend on pigment choice and final application. For details about exact test
methods which are the basis for info about fastness properties given above please refer to the general test method overview.

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Auxiliaries

Metallics: A full range of Gecko imitation gold and silver inks is available.

Additives: A full range of additives is available to modify the performances of Gecko

Frontal Uni.

Process Inks: A range of slow drying flexo half-tone process colours is available (GFU raster).

Printing viscosity

Diluents Flexographic Printing % Gravure Printing %

20 – 25 s DIN 4 13 – 15 s DIN 4

Slow n-Propanol/n-Propyl Acetate 90:10 to 70:30 Ethanol/n-Propyl Acetate 50:50 to 75:25

Standard Ethanol/Ethyl Acetate 90:10 to 70:30 Ethanol/Ethyl Acetate 50:50 to 30:70

Fast Ethyl Acetate 100

Retarder Ethoxy Propanol Ethoxy Propanol

Gecko Frontal Uni inks from Concentrates

With mixing stations or other equipment, it is possible to produce ready-made Inks of the Gecko Frontal
Uni Series using the concentrates of the Gecko Base Series and the appropriate System Additive
Gecko Frontal Uni (00GU278145) or System Additive APF; GFU (00GU512006) for coloured metallic
inks.
For this operation, it is required a mixing ratio of:

 20% of System Additive (00GU278145 or 00GU512006 for coloured metallic inks).

 60% of Gecko Base products (Colour Concentrates and NC varnish 00GB274057).
 20% of free solvent
No warranties can be given if products from other manufacturers are mixed with hubergroup products.

Instructions for the use of printing inks for the production of primary food
packaging

For information on the use of printing inks, varnishes and additives for the manufacture of food
packaging please refer to the respective „Statement of Composition". This information is provided to
allow the calculation of possible levels of migration of evaluated substances in a worst case situation.
Migration tests at hubergroup laboratories with printed samples made from commercially available
OPP film (film thickness: 35 µ. printed wet ink: 6 g/m2, with 95 % ethanol as the food simulant) and PE
film (film thickness: 50 µ, printed wet ink: 6 g/m2, with 95 % ethanol as the food simulant) showed no
migration of substances above legal limits. Based on the results of these migration tests, we expect
that the printed inks enable the final printed products to comply with the legal requirements for
packaging for all kinds of foodstuff.
The manufacturer of the finished article and the filler have the legal responsibility to prove by
appropriate migration testing that it is fit for its intended purpose.

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In order to maintain low residual solvents concentration in the printed film, the printer must ensure
sufficient drying of the product, especially when retarders have been added. Residual solvent content
must be regularly monitored.
The products must not be used in the manufacture of packaging where the printed ink layer is intended
to come into contact with foodstuff (direct food contact).
There are restrictions for the use of printing inks for applications where temperatures above 100 °C for
extended periods of time are applied. For details, please see document "Food Packaging Inks for High
Temperature Applications".

Health & Safety

The material safety data sheets contain all relevant information for the generation of appropriate
internal plant instructions. The user is responsible for all local legislation requirements.

Ink Handling

Please refer to General Guidelines for handling inks for flexible packaging.

Storage Conditions

Store the material in the original packaging at a temperature not below 10°C and not in direct contact
with sunlight.

Storage Precaution: in the event of storage at temperatures lower than the minimum specified, some
components of this product(s) may crystalize or agglomerate. To reverse this phenomenon and
dissolve the solidified components, please store the product at 20° C for some hours and stir well with
a mechanical stirrer with adequate sheer strength, until the product is homogeneous again. Your local
Technical Support can advise on special measures to deal with specific situations.

Contact addresses for advice and further information can be found under www.hubergroup.com
Due to the many variables in materias for printing, design construction, processing conditions and test criteria, this Technical Data
Sheet can only be of an advisory nature. Our data reflect the latest state of our knowledge and are based on the characteristics
established in the laboratory and on practical experience. Because there are many factors under the control of the user which may
affect processing or application/use, it is necessary for the user to carry out appropriate tests to determine whether the product(s) is
technically and safely suitable for the particular purpose, prior to use. hubergroup disclaims any liability for applications for which this
ink series is not foreseen. No warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied, are made regarding the products here described.
The English version is the master document, on which to refer for any translations.

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