Decal Printing Golds

Bright Gold Paste

GSP gold-(7%-12%) is yellow standard bright gold decal paste for the decoration of glass , ceramic and porcelain. The material is also suitable to be used in the Ceratec Gold-System as well as in the Etching-Imitation-System for decals and works also very well in the Ceratec glaze-protection-system under the coverage of the lead free thinner T150.

Bright gold color shades

Bright golds are available in a range of metal color shades: from lemon, yellow, yellow.

Standard firing range

The firing result depends on the firing temperature, the total cycle time, the soak time as well as the glaze chemistry of the substrate decorated. To achieve an optimal firing result, we recommend firing tests under the users own individual conditions and should test by user under standard condition.

Properties of the product

The major characteristics of a Ceratec precious metal preparation are determined by its production recipe. From each lot produced, we take a sample and check defined characteristics. In case of decal pastes we check the physical properties (e. g. viscosity, thixotropy) and the printing properties compared to a predefined standard. After firing under standard firing conditions, we check the gold colour shade and the adhesion to the substrate. Controlling each single production lot assures the highest product quality and lot-to-lot consistency.

1.Processing

We supply decal pastes ready to use. GSP golds has a thixotropic nature, means the typical printing viscosity is reached at certain printing speed, when the thixotropy is temporarily broken. The applied material hardens instantly and assure a sharp outline of the print.

2.storage

Printing pastes are subject to an ageing process. Therefore, we recommend using the material within 9 months. The material should be stored at room temperature (20°C). Cool storage – but no freezing – has a positive impact on the shelf life.

3.Consumption

The material consumption depends on the thickness of the applied precious metal layer. Under our conditions, the consumption is approx. 0,15 to 0,30g/100 cm².

Properties of finished decorations

The properties of finished decorations are influenced by a number of factors which interact with each other: The precious metal preparation used, possible bordering colours, the quality of the print, the material deposit, the quality of the decal paper, the correct application of the decal and of course the firing conditions. The main properties of fired bright precious metal decorations comprise brilliance and precious metal tone, dishwasher resistance, scratch resistance and resistance against chemical attack. We have processed the bright precious metal preparations under standard test conditions. Then we determined the properties of the finished decorations. The following data indicate achievable quality features for the finished decorations manufactured with bright precious metal preparations. They must, however, always be checked by the user under his own individual conditions.

Dishwasher resistance

All details as to whether decorations are dishwasher durable are to be regarded as approximate values, as test results vary widely according to the type of dishwasher, washing programme, washing-up detergent, water quality and firing conditions. Ceratec tests whether finished decorations are dishwasher durable, roughly following the test-washing programme of the Technical Standards Committee for Material Testing (Fachnormenausschuss Materialprüfung) in a Miele continuous dishwasher. If a decoration withstands 500 washing cycles essentially without damage, we designate it as dishwasher durable. If it withstands 1000 washing cycles, we designate it as dishwasher resistant. Test decorations prepared with GSP golds proofed to be dishwasher resistant at different firing conditions at firing temperatures for each kind of GSP golds ,but normally for glass type GSP golds should care normally it is not guarantee by Ceratec .

ASTM/Colgonite/Cascade-Resistance

Test decorations showed a very good ASTM resistance

Abrasion resistance

Gold decorations with GSP golds showed a reasonable scratch resistance.

Oxidation resistance

As a yellowish gold paste GSP golds contains a small amount of silver. Under unfavourable conditions silver containing precious metal decorations can tarnish in the course of time. Especially the contact to cardboard boxes, high humidity and high temperature support the reaction of silver to silver sulphide.

Application of the material

1.Preparation for the decoration

Work in a well-ventilated room. The room temperature should be between 20-25°C with a relative humidity of 60-70%

2.Preparation of the substrate to be decorated

Make sure that the surface of the object to be decorated is clean and dry. Dust, fingerprints and water condensation can affect the decoration while firing. Take care that the objects to be decorated are not taken from a cold store into a warm shop. A fine condensation film may occur, which is not visible to the naked eye. This results in firing disturbance (pinholes) in the fired precious metal decoration. Allow enough time so that they can adjust to the decoration room temperature.

3.Production of decals

Ceratec supplies decal pastes with a viscosity ready to use. In general, thinning is not necessary. In case the paste has an increased viscosity after a long storage time, the printing properties can be improved with an addition of maximum 5 - 10% of thinner T 170. The thinner has to be stirred in very well. We recommend using a triple roll mill for an optimal homogenisation.
Apply an appropriate quantity of the material onto the screen, so that the screen can be flooded with one squeegee motion. We recommend applying not too much paste. It is better to add fresh paste during the printing procedure. This way, the viscosity increase caused by the evaporation of the solvent from the precious metal paste during printing can be minimized.
During shorter printing breaks (a few minutes), the screen should be continuously flooded, to prevent the paste from drying and blocking of the screen. During longer breaks, the screen has to be cleaned with our screen cleaner before the resumption of printing.
As a general rule, the precious metal paste is printed at first. For the printing of the decal paste we recommend the usage of a 120-34 to 165-34 polyester screen. For a good printing result a well sharpened squeegee is required. Shore hardness 60-75 shore.
After the drying of the precious metal paste, additional colours might be applied. If the precious metal material borders colours, the registration of the prints is very important because an incompatibility reaction with the bordering colour is possible. Precious metals preparations typically react sensitive to bordering cadmium containing colours most of all reds.
The complete motif needs to be covered with layer of covercoat. For the printing of the covercoat we recommend to use a 32HD polyester screen.
After drying, the decal can be transferred to the object to be decorated.

Transfer of the decal

The decals are soaked in slightly warmed water (20 to 30°C). If the water is too cold the decals do not release well from the decal paper. Is the water too warm, the decals might get too soft.
It is important to change with water quite regularly.
It is essential to remove the water between decal and substrate by a careful squeeging of the decal. Trapped water could fire off explosively and create defects in the metal film. Additionally we recommend cleaning the surface of the applied decal with a sponge, in order to remove all dextrin rests on top of the decal.
The decorated ware should be dried before firing at room temperature (20 to 22°C) for 16 to 24 hours

Firing

During the first heating phase the organic components of the preparation burn off. This. The gold film is formed. A constant, slow temperature increase, enough oxygen and sufficient ventilation are decisive for the quality of the fired precious metal decoration.
The firing profile considerably influences the mechanical and chemical properties of the fired decoration.
The rate of cooling has no major influence on the quality of the gold decoration, unlike the firing temperature and soak time. However, the firing process should not be stopped too abruptly after the soak time. If the rate of cooling is too fast, there may be a danger of damaging the article (cracks and broken glass).

Cat No.	Product No.	Color Shades	Usage	Firing Temp
6GSP	6GSP 50	Yellow	Glass	550-680
	6GSP 51	Yellow	Glass	550-680
	6GSP 52	Yellow	Glass	550-680
	6GSP 53	Yellow	Glass	550-680
	6GSP 54	Yellow	Glass	550-680
7GSP	7GSP 70	Yellow	Ceramic	720-880
	7GSP 71	Yellow	Ceramic	720-880
	7GSP 72	Yellow	Ceramic	720-880
	7GSP 73	Yellow	Ceramic	720-880
8GSP	8GSP 60	Yellow	Porcelain	780-900
	8GSP 61	Yellow	Porcelain	780-900
	8GSP 62	Yellow	Porcelain	780-900

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