Recommended Treatment Levels

The following chart offers general guidelines regarding the required surface treatment levels (as measured by the dyne test) for various process/material combinations. Please note it is critical that the appropriate specification is determined for each job, based on actual empirical results from functional finished product testing. The ranges shown here can be used to expedite surface analysis by suggesting a reasonable range within which to test. Blind reliance on this data will probably reduce your quality costs short term and ensure a large discrepant goods writeoff at some uncertain future date.

All data in dynes/cm (equivalent to mJ/m2)

    Printing Processes Other Processes
  Process: Flexo and Gravure Litho Offset/
Letterpress 		Screen and Pad Laminating(6) Coating
  Coating Type: Water Solvent UV Water Solvent UV Water Solvent UV Water Solvent UV Water Solvent UV Water Solvent UV
Substrate PE(2) 38
44 		36
40 		38
50 		40
46 		37
42 		40
50 		40
46 		37
42 		42
54 		42
48 		38
44 		44
60 		42
50 		38
44 		42
54 		42
48 		38
45 		44
54
PP(3) 38
44 		36
40 		40
50 		40
46 		38
42 		40
50 		40
46 		37
42 		40
54 		42
48
38
44 		44
60 		42
50 		38
44 		42
54 		42
48 		38
45 		44
54
PVC(4) 38
44 		36
40 		36
50 		40
45 		37
42 		36
52 		40
45 		38
42 		40
52 		42
48 		38
44 		42
60 		42
50 		38
44 		42
54 		40
48 		38
45 		42
54
PET(5) 44
52 		40
46 		42
54 		46
56 		42
46 		44
56 		46
56 		42
46 		46
60 		48
60 		42
48 		44
62 		46
60 		42
48 		44
62 		42
52 		42
48 		46
60
PS 38
44 		35
40 		42
48 		40
45 		37
42 		42
50 		40
46 		38
44 		42
58 		42
48 		38
44 		42
56 		42
52 		37
44 		42
54 		42
50 		38
46 		44
54
PVDC 40
46 		38
42 		42
52 		42
46 		40
42 		42
52 		42
48 		38
44 		42
54 		42
50 		40
45 		42
58 		42
50 		38
44 		44
52 		42
48 		40
46 		44
54
PU 40
46 		38
42 		38
50 		40
46 		38
42 		38
52 		40
45 		38
44 		42
56 		42
50 		38
44 		42
58 		42
50 		38
44 		42
56 		42
48 		38
46 		44
54
ABS 42
46 		40
44 		40
52 		42
46 		40
45 		42
52 		42
48 		38
46 		45
52 		42
48 		40
45 		46
56 		42
52 		40
45 		42
56 		42
48 		38
46 		44
54
PTFE 40
44 		34
39 		36
52 		40
45 		35
40 		38
52 		40
48 		38
44 		42
60 		42
52 		38
46 		42
60 		42
56 		38
46 		42
56 		42
50 		40
48 		42
54
Silicone 40
44 		35
40 		40
50 		40
45 		38
42 		38
52 		40
48 		38
44 		40
56 		42
50 		38
46 		42
60 		42
56 		38
46 		42
56 		42
50 		40
48 		42
54

In most cases, jobs can be run if the substrate – at run-time – is somewhere between the low and high dyne levels cited. For demanding runs (e.g., high web speeds and/or critical quality process work), it is safest to shoot for the top of the range. Use this chart as a general guideline only: each operation has slightly different requirements. These data are for flame or corona treatment in an oxygen-containing atmosphere.

NOTES:

(1) Some values theoretical.

(2) Any density, any type, including films, coated board, and molded products.

(3) All types; cast or molded.

(4) More plasticizer generally requires levels at the high end of these ranges.

(5) Uncoated.

(6) For heat sealing, the surface energies of the mating PE surfaces should match closely; if both faces are treated, heat sealing can usually be accomplished over a broader and lower temperature range.