Background
and
Scope:
Due to supply problems,
Markem Corporation will begin using a new resin in the manufacture of the
699x-series inks that are supplied to Xandex as of March 12, 2001. The change will apply to all
Markem 6990, 6993, and 6997 inks. The purpose of this document is to provide
information on testing that was done by Xandex in order to confirm that the
coming raw material change will yield inks that meet all the required
performance criteria and are equivalent in every way to the original formulas.
Markem
Test Results
Markem has
performed testing of the new resin and inks formulated using the
resin. The new resin "...was compared to the existing resin
using FTIR and found to be identical." For more information
from Markem, visit www.markem.com
or follow this link to the Markem
contact information page.
Xandex Test
Results:
All Xandex test results indicate that
the new formulas are one-for-one replacements for the original formulas. For
more information on test parameters used, contact
Xandex
Customer Service. The
following is a summary of the testing that was performed:
| Ink
Characteristic* |
Test
Result |
| Viscosity |
Equal
to Standard |
| Dot
Size (DM-1, all cartridge sizes) |
Equal
to Standard |
| Dot
Size (DM-2, all cartridge sizes) |
Equal
to Standard |
| Dot
Shape and Consistency |
Equal
to Standard |
| Shelf
Life |
Equal
to Standard |
| Debris
Level |
Equal
to Standard |
| Adhesion |
Equal
to Standard |
| Solvent
Resistance (tested both after soft cure @ 85o C and hard cure @
170o C): |
|
|
Isopropyl
Alcohol:
Acetone:
M-Pyrrol:
DieMark Remover:
Markem 540:
Aptek 6515: |
Equal
to Standard
Equal to Standard
Equal to Standard
Equal to Standard
Equal to Standard
Equal to Standard |
| Mileage
(DM-1 and DM-2) |
Equal
to Standard |
| Heat
Resistance (180o C, 30 minutes) |
Equal
to Standard |
| Ionic
Levels |
Equal
to Standard |
| Dot
Cracking |
None
Observed |
| Hot
Chuck Performance |
Equal
to Standard |
| Backflow
(DM-1 only) |
None
Observed |
| Ink
Build-Up on the Needle |
Equal
to Standard |
| Cartridge
Clogging |
None
Observed |
* All ink dot
characterization testing performed at ambient temperature of 70° degrees F, relative
humidity of 50% using polished, unetched silicon wafers (no passivation)
|
