Emulsion remover is essential for removing emulsion. While the name of the product is pretty self-explanatory, there are a couple of ways screen printers can use this product. Discover how to use Sgreen® Emulsion Remover in both a dunk tank and washout booth reclaim process.
HOW DOES EMULSION REMOVER WORK?
Sgreen® Emulsion Remover is specifically formulated to cut through oils and to degrade and remove emulsion quickly. The formula removes all types of photopolymer, diazo, and capillary film emulsions without etching. Let’s cover the two ways to use emulsion remover, and the best practices to get the most out of the reclaim process.
USE IN A DUNK TANK
A dunk tank makes reclaiming screens simple. Printers won’t have to spend tons of time or elbow grease scrubbing away at screens. Using a dunk tank is simple.
Fill the tank with 27 gallons of water and three gallons of Emulsion Stripper. Place up to six screens in the tank and let them soak for a few minutes. Remove the screens from the tank and use a power washer to remove the emulsion. How nice is that?
USE IN TRADITIONAL RECLAIM
Don’t have a dunk tank? Here’s how to reclaim screens with Emulsion Remover:
- Spray or pour a small amount onto the screen.
- Scrub in a circular motion with a dedicated scrub pad or soft to medium bristle nylon brush on the front and back of the screen until the stencil is fully agitated and begins to soften.
- Let the product set and work for 30 seconds or more. For thicker stencils or lower mesh counts, scrub both sides again if necessary.
- Pressure wash the stencil away from the T-shirt side of the screen. Possible delamination of the mesh from static frames may occur if printers pressure wash from the squeegee side.
- Follow up with either Haze Remover, Degreaser, or Sgreen® Stuff as needed.
RELATED: 4 WASHOUT BOOTH OPTIONS FOR EVERY TYPE OF SCREEN PRINTER
WHY ISN’T THE EMULSION REMOVER WORKING?
Sometimes, stubborn or overexposed emulsion takes some elbow grease to reclaim. The lifespan of emulsion remover is approximately a year based on the date on the label of the product. Over time, it will lose its efficiency.
If the emulsion remover is under the year mark and still isn't working that well, a few factors may be in play. Diluting the product with water can decrease its effectiveness, especially if too much water was added.
Using a dunk tank? Every time a screen comes out of the dunk tank, a bit of chemistry comes with it. Because of this, over time the solution will become diluted. The fix is simple: refresh the solution. It’s best to clean the dunk tank every 3-6 months to remove gunk and make reclaiming easier.
RELATED: A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO RECLAIMING SCREENS WITH SGREEN® SCREEN PRINTING CHEMISTRY
Emulsion remover is a straightforward product that reclaims screens well no matter which method of reclaiming screen printers choose. Use it in a dunk tank or washout booth, whichever fits the process, and shop better.