Hardcoat Polyester Film produces stainless steel effect.
Press Release Summary:
Suited for membrane switches, keypads, and fascia panels, Autotex Steel Film is manufactured using polyester substrate, coated with ink adhesion layer on reverse side and hardcoat outer layer, which is chemically bonded to substrate. Hardcoat has textured finish which, when film is printed on reverse side with chrome, metallic, or silver inks, creates appearance of brushed stainless steel or other metallic look. Offered in 0.006 or 0.008 in. thicknesses, film is abrasion- and chemical-resistant.
Original Press Release:
New 'Steel' Hardcoat Film from MacDermid Autotype Offers Stainless Finish for Membrane Switches and Graphic Panels
ROLLING MEADOWS, Illinois, April, 2009 - MacDermid Autotype, the world's leading manufacturer of specialised films and chemicals for screen print and industrial graphics, announces the availability of Autotex Steel, an innovative new hardcoated polyester film for producing stainless steel effects for membrane switches, keypads and fascia panels.
According to the company, Autotex Steel film is both easy to handle and print, combining high levels of color reproduction and definition with a tough outer surface that offers excellent resistance to abrasion and a wide range of chemicals and solvents.
Autotex Steel is manufactured using a conventional flexible polyester substrate. This is coated with an ink adhesion layer on the reverse side and a specially developed tough hardcoat outer layer, which is chemically bonded to the substrate. The hardcoat layer has a textured finish which, when the film is printed on the reverse side with standard chrome, metallic, or silver inks, creates the appearance of a brushed stainless steel or other metallic look panel.
Along with the obvious cost advantage of producing high quality keyboard or graphics panels using standard screen printing processes instead of actual stainless steel materials, Autotex Steel offers a number of other benefits. These include a significant weight advantage over metal parts, and, unlike stainless steel, Autotex Steel does not show fingerprints, and can easily be printed with clear display windows or contain secret-until-lit graphics. Autotex Steel film can be easily embossed, making Autotex Steel film ideal for use with domed tactile membrane keypads or in applications where keys or panel areas require raised edges. Embossed areas have an excellent flex modulus, with a typical flex life for domed keys being in excess of five million actuations. The film offers excellent color rendition and light transmission in clear areas. Graphics are normally reverse printed, so are protected from wear and abrasion by the body of the film substrate and the textured hardcoat layer. This layer has also been formulated to resist a wide variety of common household cleaners and industrial solvents, including alcohols, ketones, weak acids and hydrocarbons.
Autotex Steel is available in thicknesses of either 150 or 200 microns (0.006" or 0.008"), ready for use with either solvent or UV cured inks, offering product designers and screen printers an efficient and versatile method of developing striking and high quality graphics products with the appearance of stainless steel.
About MacDermid Autotype
MacDermid Autotype is the leading global innovator, designer, developer and manufacturer of specialized chemicals for the screen printing industry and coating technology for hard-coated films used in a wide range of applications. The company's expertise in precision coating technology enables MacDermid Autotype to transform and enhance the performance of films for many high tech and demanding applications, efficiently providing the means of reproducing exacting images in the production of key electronic or medical components while adding protective features such as resistance to aggressive chemicals.
MacDermid Autotype is part of Denver, Colorado-based MacDermid Inc., a global specialty chemicals company serving the diversified needs of the electronics, industrial, offshore and printing industries. For more information, visit www.macdermidautotype.com, email pressrelations@macdermidautotype.com, call 800.323.0632, or write to Neil Bolding, MacDermid Autotype Inc., 1675 Winnetka Circle, Rolling Meadows, IL 60008.
