Flock Adhesives
Enhancing surface finishes using flock
Flock has come a long way from its humble beginnings centuries ago. It’s not a question of whether to print or flock, but to combine the best of both technologies. It’s not just the look of flock – from gentle pastel tones to bright glossy colours, but also the feel – from velvety smoothness to brush-like surfaces, which we encounter with pleasant surprise on common and not so common objects in our everyday lives. The optical and haptic properties of flock go even beyond mere decoration and have enabled the flocking process to find a solid position in technical applications as well. This surface finishing technique is not a product of modern times, but goes back many centuries.
The birthplace of flock was in Asia, where for hundreds of years, natural fibres had been bonded onto textiles using resins. From this relatively humble beginning, the current electrostatic flocking process has evolved over the years, conquering even wider fields of application on the way. As unconventional as this technology initially appears, flock can be found everywhere: it is used to improve the feel of a garment; for its positive effect in noise reduction; its ability to equalise tolerance between objects or provide thermal insulation; to provide a better grip on tool handles, to name just a few examples. All these applications can be done on many different types of substrate, such as textiles, plastics, metals, glass, wood, foil and paper.
MECOFLOCK D 280 FLEX
Spray- and brushable, dispersion based flocking adhesive
MECOFLOCK D 280 FLEX is a dispersion-based, one- resp. two-components flocking adhesive. Main application field is the flocking of elastomer and thermoplastic substrates as e.g. EPDM and TPU. Good results can be achieved for the flocking of PVC and other synthetics. In cured condition MECOFLOCK D 280 FLEX has an elastic synthetic-film with good resistances. If there are colour differences between substrate and flock fibre, the adhesive may be dyed with MECOCOLOR D-colouring pastes.
MECOFLOCK D 453/5-09
Sprayable dispersion-based flocking adhesive
MECOFLOCK D 453/5-09 is a dispersion-based flocking adhesive for spraying, to be used for the flocking of PS (Polystyrene), ABS ( Acrylnitrile-Butadene-Styrene-Terpolymere), SAN (Syrene-Acryl-Nitrile-Co-polymere), wood, chip boards, many metals and other substrates. When cured, the adhesive results in a hard, tenacious adhesive film with high mechanical characteristics and very good waterresistance. By adding of 5% of MECODUR H 5580 a good adherence is achieved even with difficult substrates. The adhesive is dyed black.
MECOFLOCK D 466 LE
Sprayable, one-component, dispersion-based flocking adhesive
MECOFLOCK D 466 LE is a one-component, dispersion-based flocking adhesive for spraying, to be used for the flocking of PS (Polystyrene), ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene-Terpolymers), SAN (Styrene-Acryl-Nitrile-Copolymers), wood, chip boards, many metals and other substrates.
When cured, the adhesive results in a hard, tenacious adhesive film with high mechanical characteristics and very good water-resistance.
MECOFLOCK D 466 LE fulfils resistance to standard damp heat atmosphere (KK40) according DIN 50017.
MECOFLOCK D 587
Screen printable, one- or two-components flocking adhesive
MECOFLOCK D 587 is a dispersion-based, one- or two-components flocking adhesive with improved screen hold-open time, especially suitable for the flocking of wallpapers, paper, gift- and greeting cards and packaging trade. An optimal adherence on critical substrates is achieved by adding 5-10% of MECODUR H 5580 LMC. After drying MECOFLOCK D 587 shows a transparent adhesive film.
MECOFLOCK D 591 SP
Spray- and brush able, dispersion based, two-components flocking adhesive
MECOFLOCK D 591 SP is a dispersion-based, two-components flocking adhesive, especially suitable for the flocking of glass and ceramic substrates. It shows good properties, carries an excellent dish washer fastness as well as a good resistance to household cleaners and chemicals. Furthermore MECOFLOCK D 591 SP can be used for the flocking of ABS, polyurethane or metals.
MECOFLOCK L 844/1-08
Two-component, solvent-based flock adhesive
MECOFLOCK L 844/1-08 is a two-component solvent-based adhesive for screen printing, spray and roller-application and used for flocking various metal, plastic and other substrates requiring high quality characteristics when flocked. When completely cured, the adhesive features special resistance to high temperatures of up to 160° C. It is resistant to water and oil, grease and acid.
MECOFLOCK L 860
Two-component, solvent-based flock adhesive
MECOFLOCK L 860 is a two-component, solvent-based adhesive for spray and roller application. It is used for flocking various metals, plastics and various other substrates, which require high quality characteristics when flocked. When completely cured, the adhesive features special resistance to high temperatures of up to 160° C. It is resistant to water and oil, grease and acid.
MECOFLOCK D 340/1-01
Flock adhesive for producing flock transfers
MECOFLOCK D 340/1-01 is a screen printable, white-coloured dispersion-based adhesive and is especially suitable for manufacturing of flock transfers. It has excellent bond to the flock coating of the transfer flock paper, as well as with sprinkled-on MECOMELT hot melt powder. When using it with MECOMELT 1795 F and MECOMELT 2595 G, washing fastness of up to 95° C as well as a chemical cleaning fastness is achieved. When using MECOMELT 2060 F, washing fastness comes down to 60° C, but chemical cleaning fastness remains the same.
MECOFLOCK D 404
Screen printable 2- component adhesive for heat-curing onto textiles
MECOFLOCK D 404 is a screen printable, dispersion-based two-component flock adhesive, used for direct motif flocking onto textiles. MECOFLOCK D 404 may be used for manual screen printing as well as for automatic screen-printing carousels. After curing completely, the flocked parts, depending on the textiles and flock type used, have very good wash and dry-cleaning resistance. To achieve an even glossy flock effect, the adhesive may be coloured in the appropriate flock colours.
MECOFLOCK D 545
Two-component dispersion-based flock adhesive
MECOFLOCK D 545 is a sprayable, two-component, dispersion-based adhesive for flocking of foam material (i.e. PES, PUR) with different pore-sizes. The main application area is the flocking of foam rollers and foam pads (paint rollers and paint pads). After complete curing, MECOFLOCK D 545 is resistant to those cleaning agents usually used in the paint and finishing industry (turpentine substitute, nitro-dilution, brush cleaners). If there are colour differences between substrate and flock, the adhesive may be coloured by adding 2 to 4 % of MECOCOLOR D colour pastes.
MECODUR H 5580 LMC
Hardener for dispersion-based flocking adhesives
MECODUR H 5580 LMC is a hardener (curing agent) for a number of dispersion-based flocking adhesives. As the curing-conditions and adding quantities vary, these data are to be taken from the resp. Technical Information Sheets of the adhesives used.
MECODUR L 5515/2 LMC
Hardener for solvent based flock adhesives
MECODUR L 5515/2 LMC is a low-monomer hardener (curing agent) for a number of MECOFLOCK - flocking adhesives based on solvents. As the curing-conditions and adding quantities vary, these data are to be taken from the resp. Technical Information Sheets of the adhesives used.
MECODUR L 5560/2 LMC
Hardener for solvent based flocking adhesives
MECODUR L 5560/2 LMC is a low-monomer hardener (curing agent) for a number of MECOFLOCK - flocking adhesives based on solvents. As the curing-conditions and adding quantities vary, these data are to be taken from the resp. Technical Information Sheets of the adhesives used.
MECOPLUS 4274 RE-L
Diluting agent and solvent-based cleaning agent for adhesives
MECOPLUS 4274 RE-L may be used to dilute many types of adhesives. For dilution quantities, please see relevant information in our Technical Information Sheets for the adhesives used. Apart from this, MECOPLUS 4274 RE-L may also be used for cleaning adhesive residue as well as brushes.
Water emulsifiable paste for the removal of frame adhesives and lacquers
Water-emulsifiable paste for removing frame adhesives and lacquers
PREGAN DL/1 is used for the removal of adhesive and lacquer residue from frames. All two-component adhesives and lacquers commonly used in screen and textile flat printing, e.g. KIWOBOND frame adhesives and ESTELAN screen lacquers, can be removed from steel and aluminium frames.
MECOCOLOR L colouring pastes
Colouring agent for solvent-based adhesives
MECOCOLOR L colouring pastes are intensive pigment pastes to colour solvent-based adhesives. There is normally good compatibility between products of our MECOFLOCK L, MECOTEC L and MECOSAN L series. Especially with flock adhesives, where the requirement to colour the adhesive to match the colour of the flock shade, MECOCOLOR L colouring pastes are used all the time. For those applications, the individual colouring pastes are sufficiently migration resistant and fast to light and weather.
MECOCOLOR L colouring pastes are available in the following colours:
• L 01: Colour paste white
• L 03: Colour paste yellow
• L 04: Colour paste red
• L 05: Colour paste blue
• L 09: Colour paste black
• L 13: Colour paste green
PREGAN 1014 E
Water emulsifiable, universal solvent cleaner
PREGAN 1014 E is a water emulsifiable solvent mixture for the removal of many printing inks, dried pigment printing pastes, pressure sensitive and flock adhesives, solder pastes and non-hardened solder resists. Dried solvent based printing inks can quickly be dissolved, dispersion based products swell and can be removed from the screen using a strong water jet. Despite its high efficiency, PREGAN 1014 E has very little attack on photoemulsions.
Technology
What is flock? Flock can be defined as short fibres, which have been cut from monofilament yarn, made from polyester, polyamide or viscose. In electrostatic flocking, millions of these short-cut fibres are fired in an electromagnetic field into a substrate coated with adhesive. The electrical charge causes the fibre to embed itself more or less vertically into the adhesive and thus provide a uniform textile-like surface.
Depending on the area of application and choice of adhesive, the flocked surface can be highly durable and very resistant to abrasion.
Flock fibres are available in various lengths and thicknesses, which are classified both in mm (for the length) and the so-called decitex (dtex) value (for the diameter). Simply put, one can say that the longer and thinner the fibre, the softer the surface; the shorter and thicker the fibre, the more brush-like. The choice of the flock length and thickness determines the primary optical and tactile effects.
Areas of flocking
There are two distinct areas of flocking and we differentiate between all-over and partial flocking.
On the so called all-over flocking, the substrate surface is completely covered with adhesive and using automatic flocking units, a uniform flock surface is achieved. This is typically used for manufacturing high-quality and durable upholstery fabrics.
Partial flocking can be done using a masking process, but this is usually costly and difficult and therefore is only economical for one-off items. For larger quantities, the process of choice is screenprinting, which offers the advantage that it can be used both for flat substrates and three-dimensional parts, as the adhesive can be selectively printed, thus allowing unique designs to be created.
Adhesives
There are several different adhesive systems for processing flock. These range from solvent-based and water-based, to single and two-component adhesives. The selection of an adhesive depends on the type of substrate to be flocked and what effects are required to be achieved.
Application systems
The systems for applying flock range from simple to advanced and automated systems. There are simple manual flocking units, which are suitable for small and medium size runs. For advanced use, there are modules which can be integrated into fully automated systems. These latter systems enable even long runs to be produced economically and reasonably priced.
We are happy to help with any questions you may have about flocking, please give us a call using +49 6222 578-169 or write to adhesive@kiwo.de .