FLYRON grades and lines
Product description
FLYRON concentrates carry a high load of finely dispersed pigment in a styrene-acrylic resin solution. Ink makers let them down with water-based varnishes, emulsions and additives to make flexo and gravure inks for paper, board, corrugated, film and foil.
The three lines differ in the amine that neutralises the resin. The amine sets how fast the ink dries on press, its odour and its re-solubility, so the ink maker can choose the line that suits the press speed, the anilox or cylinder and the substrate.
Lines
| Code | Line | Description |
|---|---|---|
| FD | Fast dry, ammonia | Ammonia-stabilised acrylic concentrates. Ammonia leaves the film quickly, giving fast drying and early water resistance for high-speed flexo on paper, board and corrugated. Compliant for food-packaging applications (non-food-contact surface; see section 7). |
| MD | Medium dry, MEA | Monoethanolamine-stabilised acrylic concentrates. Lower odour than ammonia and longer open time, with good re-solubility on press; water resistance builds more slowly than with ammonia. Compliant for food-packaging applications (non-food-contact surface; see section 7). |
| SD | Slow dry, TEA | Triethanolamine-stabilised acrylic concentrates. The low-volatility amine keeps the ink open on fine anilox rolls and gravure cylinders, reducing drying-in and dot loss in fine screens and long runs. Water and block resistance develop more slowly; test blocking before rewinding or stacking. |
Product range
| Code | Colour | C.I. | FD | MD | SD | Pigment % | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Y14 | Yellow, process | PY 14 | ● | ● | ● | 35–40 | Standard process yellow |
| Y13 | Yellow, mid | PY 13 | ● | ● | ● | 35–40 | Diarylide; stronger and slightly redder than PY 14 |
| Y74 | Yellow, greenish | PY 74 | ● | ● | ● | 35–40 | Monoazo; clean greenish yellow |
| Y83 | Yellow, reddish transparent | PY 83 | ● | ● | ● | 33–38 | Transparent; good fastness |
| O13 | Orange | PO 13 | ● | ● | ● | 35–40 | Disazopyrazolone; bright yellowish orange |
| O34 | Orange, reddish | PO 34 | ● | ● | ● | 35–40 | Disazopyrazolone; redder orange than PO 13 |
| R57 | Rubine, process magenta | PR 57:1 | ● | ● | ● | 30–35 | Calcium lake; process magenta; limited alkali and soap resistance |
| R48 | Red, bluish | PR 48:2 | ● | ● | ● | 30–35 | Calcium lake; bright bluish red for spot colours |
| R146 | Red, carmine | PR 146 | ● | ● | ● | 30–35 | Naphthol red; good alkali resistance |
| R170 | Red, mid | PR 170 | ● | ● | ● | 30–35 | Naphthol red; good light fastness |
| R122 | Magenta, quinacridone | PR 122 | ● | ● | ● | 25–30 | High-fastness magenta |
| R184 | Rubine, bluish | PR 184 | ● | ● | ● | 30–35 | Naphthol AS rubine; alkali-resistant, for pinks and cool reds |
| V23 | Violet | PV 23 | ● | ● | ● | 20–25 | Strong dioxazine (carbazole) violet; also for shading |
| B153 | Blue, process cyan | PB 15:3 | ● | ● | ● | 35–40 | Standard process cyan |
| B154 | Blue, flocculation-resistant | PB 15:4 | ● | ● | ● | 35–40 | Cyan for high gloss and let-down stability |
| B151 | Blue, reddish | PB 15:1 | ● | ● | ● | 35–40 | Reddish phthalocyanine blue |
| G7 | Green, bluish | PG 7 | ● | ● | ● | 35–40 | Phthalocyanine green |
| G36 | Green, yellowish | PG 36 | ● | ● | ● | 30–35 | Brominated phthalocyanine green |
| K7 | Black | PBk 7 | ● | ● | ● | 35–40 | Furnace carbon black, ink grade; neutral tone |
| W6 | White | PW 6 | ● | ● | ● | 65–70 | Rutile titanium dioxide, opaque white |
Full grade name: FLYRON + line + shade code, for example FLYRON FD-B153 (process cyan, ammonia, fast dry). The product code on the label, SDS and certificate of analysis carries the family prefix FRN, for example FRN-FD-B153. Special shades, strengths and blends are made to order.
Typical properties
| Property | Typical value | Method |
|---|---|---|
| Pigment content | Organic colours 20–40 %; black 35–40 %; white 65–70 % (per shade) | Formulation |
| Binder | Styrene-acrylic solution resin; APEO-free; no formaldehyde donors | — |
| Other components | Polymeric dispersant; propylene glycol as humectant (about 3 %); defoamer; BIT preservative | Formulation |
| Non-volatile content | Colours 35–60 % (by shade and line; highest in SD); white 74–80 % | ISO 3251, 1 g, 1 h at 125 °C |
| pH at 25 °C | FD and MD 8.5–9.5; SD 8.0–9.0 | pH meter |
| Viscosity at 25 °C | 500–3,000 mPa·s (shade dependent) | Brookfield |
| Density | Colours 1.10–1.35 g/cm³; white 2.0–2.2 g/cm³ | ISO 2811-1 |
| Fineness of grind | ≤ 5 µm | Grindometer, ISO 1524 |
| Colour strength | Colours 100 ± 5 % (tinting strength); white 100 ± 5 % (scattering power), against standard | Drawdown at fixed let-down; K/S evaluation |
| Shade | ΔE00 ≤ 1.0 against standard | CIEDE2000 on the strength drawdown, D50/2° |
| Storage stability | No hard settling; viscosity within ± 20 % of initial after 4 weeks at 40 °C | Oven ageing; Brookfield |
Resistance guidance by pigment class. Ratings are qualitative and typical of the pigment in water-based packaging prints; the finished print depends on the let-down vehicle, film weight and substrate. Test light fastness by ISO 12040 and resistance to alkali, soap, fats and water by ISO 2836 on the final print.
| Pigment class | Shades | Light fastness | Alkali and soap | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diarylide yellows and oranges | Y13, Y14, Y83, O13, O34 | Moderate; Y83 good | Good | Not for packaging heated above 200 °C (section 7) |
| Monoazo yellow | Y74 | Good in full shade, lower in tints | Good | Lower heat and solvent resistance than diarylides |
| Lake reds | R48, R57 | Moderate | Poor | Avoid for soap, detergent and alkaline products |
| Naphthol reds | R146, R170, R184 | Moderate to good; R170 good | Good | — |
| Quinacridone and carbazole violet | R122, V23 | Very good | Very good | High-fastness shades and shading |
| Phthalocyanines | B151, B153, B154, G7, G36 | Excellent | Excellent | — |
| Carbon black and titanium dioxide | K7, W6 | Excellent | Excellent | — |
Use
- Let-down
- Typically 30–50 % concentrate (white 50–70 %) in the finished ink with water-based varnish or acrylic emulsion, plus wax, defoamer and water as needed. Add the concentrate to the stirred varnish at matching pH to avoid pigment shock
- Choosing the line
- FD for fast presses, corrugated and absorbent papers and where early water resistance is needed; MD for lower odour and longer open time; SD for fine anilox, gravure, long runs and hot pressrooms
- Compatibility
- Use with acrylic and styrene-acrylic emulsions and solution varnishes; test each new let-down vehicle for shock, seeding and viscosity rise. Avoid acids, cationic additives and salts; do not mix with solvent-based or UV inks. Build each ink from one line and adjust pH with the same amine
- Adjusting drying
- To slow an FD or MD ink in hot, dry pressrooms, blend in the SD ink of the same shade in small steps; an ink containing SD is outside the food-packaging declaration
- On press
- Check pH and viscosity regularly and correct pH before adding water. Ammonia (FD) is lost from open ducts and needs topping up; a falling pH raises viscosity and causes drying-in on the anilox. Ammonia solution and neat MEA are corrosive: wear goggles and gloves when adjusting pH
- Food packaging
- Use FD or MD for inks printed on the non-food-contact surface of food packaging; formulate the finished ink with raw materials suitable for food packaging, manufacture it under good manufacturing practice (EuPIA) and confirm compliance of the final ink and package, including odour, taint and migration
- Cleaning
- Clean presses with water and a mild alkaline cleaner before the ink dries; collect wash water for treatment and do not discharge it to drains
Storage and packing
- Storage
- Closed original containers, 5–35 °C; avoid heat above 40 °C; protect from frost, which destroys the dispersion. Stir gently before use; keep FD containers closed, as ammonia loss thickens the concentrate
- Shelf life
- 12 months from date of manufacture in unopened original containers
- Packing
- 25 kg HDPE pails, 200 kg drums, 1,000 L IBC
Regulatory and safety
FD and MD lines are compliant for food-packaging applications in inks printed on the non-food-contact surface of the package (Flychem declaration; a compliance statement is issued per grade). The ink maker and converter confirm compliance of the finished ink and package, for example against the EuPIA guideline, Swiss Ordinance SR 817.023.21 and IS 15495. The SD line is not declared for food packaging.
FD and SD: not classified; EUH208, contains 1,2-benzisothiazol-3(2H)-one (BIT) below its classification limit.
MD colours and black: Danger; Skin Irrit. 2, H315 and Eye Dam. 1, H318 (monoethanolamine); EUH208. MD-W6: Warning; H315 and H319. Wear tight-fitting safety goggles and nitrile gloves when handling MD. No line is regulated as dangerous goods for transport.
Diarylide pigments (PY 13, PY 14, PY 83, PO 13, PO 34) can release 3,3′-dichlorobenzidine above about 200 °C: do not use these shades in inks heated above 200 °C in processing or use.
APEO-free; no formaldehyde donors. No lead, cadmium, mercury or hexavalent-chromium pigments. No substance excluded by the EuPIA Exclusion Policy and no REACH Candidate List substance at 0.1 % or more, on the formulation and supplier data available.
Each batch is tested against the Flychem standard for colour strength, shade, viscosity, pH and fineness of grind and is supplied with a certificate of analysis.
Values are typical and do not form a specification. Each delivery is released against its certificate of analysis. Test the product under your own conditions before commercial use.
