How To Apply

Application

Depending on the supply form of your TherMark product, different application methods are used to transfer our laser marking material to your substrate. TherMark products are mostly liquid or paste inks except for LMM6018.LF, LMM200, and LMC260 which are tape products. Most of the ink products can be applied to the substrate either by spraying or painting with a foam brush. Two of these products, LMM14 and LMM6000, come in aerosol cans and can be used directly. As well as traditional ink products TherMark also has specialty inks for pad printing and screen printing.

Clean the surface to be marked (all products)

No matter which product and supply form you choose, the process of bonding between laser marking material and substrate occurs at a molecular level so it is important the substrate be free of all kinds of contamination such as oil, debris or coatings. Consequently, the substrate should be thoroughly cleaned before application of TherMark laser marking material: the quality of your mark strongly depends on the cleanliness of the substrate prior to material application. Depending on the substrate, it should be cleaned with a solvent such as denatured alcohol or rinsed with soap and water and completely dried. Be careful not to use a cleaning agent that leaves a residue behind.

Foam Brush Application

Most TherMark laser marking materials come as liquid or paste ink in a variety of container sizes. Depending on the application and the industrial setting a regular foam brush can be an easy choice for ink application. To apply the ink soak the foam brush less than 1/4th of its length (less than 0.25”) into the container. There is no need to soak more than that, otherwise the ink may splash and result in an uneven coat thickness. Apply with smooth, even strokes. When applying ink with a foam brush the two most important variables to control are dilution and coat thickness.

Even after you have achieved the proper dilution for your product (click here for more details) and begun applying the ink you should be on the look out for changes in viscosity. Since TherMark recommends diluting its inks with denatured alcohol, which can evaporate, an open container of TherMark ink may become more viscous over time due to evaporation of its thinning agent. This problem is easily overcome by adding a small additional amount of denatured alcohol and stirring continuously until the desired viscosity and homogeneity is recaptured.

The second major issue is coat thickness and consistency. Desired coating thickness varies by product and substrate so it is important to consult the individual page for your product for exact guidelines prior to application. Most of the time one or two coatings are enough, but for some substrates additional coats may be required. You will achieve better marks using our recommended coating thicknesses than simply applying more ink. If your material coating is too thick it will absorb too much laser energy and fail to bond to the substrate. If your material coating is too thin the pigment density of the material layer will not be high enough to create an optimal mark. It is important to realize that correct coat thickness is often even more important than the accuracy of laser settings for creating optimal marks.
After application, allow the applied marking material to dry. Unaided air drying typically requires
several minutes. A fan, heat gun, or hair dryer can be used to accelerate the process to 10 seconds or less. It is important the marking material be completely dry prior to laser marking.

Aerosol Application

Two TherMark products are for sale as aerosol sprays, LMM14 and LMM6000. Aerosol cans attract many customers due to their relative ease of handling and stand alone nature. Both of these products are also available as liquid/paste ink, but aerosol cans have the added benefit of removing the variable of dilution. However, aerosol products still require some experimentation to learn the application process and generate reproducible and consistent results.

Shake the aerosol can thoroughly before use to achieve a homogenous suspension of marking material inside the can.

Spray uniformly at a 10” distance from the surface and move the nozzle from one side to the other covering the whole substrate area. Start spraying away from the area to be marked and move towards the opposite side and past the target area. Over-spraying before and after the target area allows constant velocity of movement and will help provide an even coating on the substrate. As in all liquid/paste ink products, consistency in application process is important for the quality of the mark.

Again, desired coating thickness varies by product and substrate so it is important to consult the individual page for your product for exact guidelines prior to application. Generally, however, the optimal wet film layer thickness for metals is about 0.5 – 2 mils. As both aerosol products are for use on metal, one or two coatings are typically enough. You will achieve better marks using our recommended coating thicknesses than simply applying more ink. If your material coating is too thick it will absorb too much laser energy and fail to bond to the substrate. If your material coating is too thin the pigment density of the material layer will not be high enough to create an optimal mark. It is important to realize that correct coat thickness is often even more important than the accuracy of laser settings for creating optimal marks.

Allow the applied marking material to dry. Unaided air drying typically requires several minutes. A fan, heat gun, or hair dryer can be used to accelerate the process to 10 seconds or less.

A note on safety: All aerosol sprays represent airborne liquid droplets and solid particles. During the spraying process this matter “floats” in the air. You should exercise the same precautions you would working with any kinds of aerosol: use in a well-ventilated area or use a breathing mask, never spray towards yourself, and wear gloves.

Airbrush Spray Application

TherMark liquid/paste inks can be diluted to a viscosity appropriate for airbrushing. This method is preferable to foam brush application for any job larger than a few parts. In industrial settings, air brush application should be carried out in a spray booth with fume extraction, or, at minimum, in a well-ventilated area with a breathing mask.

A standard air brush (such as Smart Jet from IWATA) generates good results, and you may customize your spray pattern by adjusting the nozzle of your air brush. Application considerations are the same as above in the Aerosol spray application section.

Self-Adhesive Tape

TherMark’s self-adhesive tape, LMM6018.LF, removes the variables of dilution and coating thickness during application, making it the easiest product to use. To apply, unroll a sufficient amount of tape to cover the surface area to be marked and stick it down carefully. It is important the tape have uniform contact with the substrate surface otherwise some areas may not bond properly during laser marking. Care should be taken to remove any air bubbles from under the tape: smoothing down gently with fingers should be adequate to remove air bubbles. If you wish to mark on a surface that is highly irregular with too many bumps or crevices, self-adhesive tape may not be appropriate because uniform tape to substrate contact may be impossible.