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.