Definition
The surface energy of a film that governs wetting by inks/adhesives; often expressed via dyne level.
Applications
- Printability checks
- Lamination prep
- Coating adhesion control
Benefits
- Improves wetting
- Reduces fish-eyes and voids
- Stabilizes bond strength
Industry Examples
- Medical: stable wetting for laminate bonds in validated pouch structures.
- Industrial: improved adhesion on tough HDPE liners used in abrasive environments.
- Electronics: controlled to ensure conductive inks properly wet dissipative substrates.
FAQ
Q: How do you raise surface tension?
A: Corona, plasma, flame, or primer depending on substrate and process.
Q: What causes surface energy decay?
A: Time, contamination, and handling conditions.