ASTM D4361-09

Standard Test Method for Apparent Tack of Printing Inks and Vehicles by a Three-Roller Tackmeter

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Tack of printing inks controls their high-speed transfer properties, as manifested by throughput in roll milling, picking of paper during printing, and wet trapping in multicolor printing. Although an apparent tack measurement does not completely predict the transfer performance of an ink or a vehicle, it provides a meaningful parameter for quality control, development, and research.
A number of three-roller tackmeters are available that differ in design features such as roller weight, geometry, and composition of the distribution system. Instruments of different types do not give the same apparent tack readings.
Instruments of the same type will only give apparent tack readings within tolerance, provided that they are maintained and calibrated properly and in the same manner.
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers the procedure for determining the apparent tack of printing inks using a three-roller tackmeter.
1.2 This test method is applicable to all paste-type printing inks and vehicles that are essentially nonvolatile under ordinary room conditions, provided that any elastomer covered rollers in the tackmeter are resistant to attack by the particular ink or vehicle chemistry. Different elastomers may be required for different ink or vehicle chemistries.
1.3 This test method covers three-roller tackmeters of two different geometries, referred to as Geometry A and Geometry B.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 30-Jun-2009
• ICS: 87.080 - Inks. Printing inks
• Technical Committee: D01 - Paint and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications
• Drafting Committee: D01.56 - Printing Inks

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D4361-97(2002) - Standard Test Method for Apparent Tack of Printing Inks and Vehicles by a Three-Roller Tackmeter
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2009
• Replaced By: ASTM D4361-10 - Standard Test Method for Apparent Tack of Printing Inks and Vehicles by a Three-Roller Tackmeter (Withdrawn 2019)
• Effective Date: 01-Dec-2010
• Referred By: ASTM D6488-08(2020) - Standard Terminology Relating to Print Problems
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2009
• Referred By: ASTM D6336-11(2021) - Standard Practice for Evaluation of Flushing Vehicles for Pigment Wetting Using a Vacuum Modified Sigma Blade Mixer
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2009
• Referred By: ASTM D7188-05(2019) - Standard Terminology for Printing Inks, Materials, and Processes
• Effective Date: 01-Jul-2009

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation:D4361–09
Standard Test Method for
Apparent Tack of Printing Inks and Vehicles by a Three-
1
Roller Tackmeter
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4361; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope* practice, one or more of these surfaces usually consist of
elastomer rollers that may differ in composition and geometry
1.1 This test method covers the procedure for determining
and whose properties tend to change with age, nature of
the apparent tack of printing inks using a three-roller tackme-
previously run fluids, type of wash-up solvent, and mechanical
ter.
flaws. Tack readings are also sensitive to the calibration and
1.2 This test method is applicable to all paste-type printing
zero accuracy of the tackmeter used. Different manufacturers’
inks and vehicles that are essentially nonvolatile under ordi-
tackmeters may use different tack scales.
nary room conditions, provided that any elastomer covered
2.1.2 apparent tack, n— tack reading obtained at a specific
rollers in the tackmeter are resistant to attack by the particular
set of conditions.
ink or vehicle chemistry. Different elastomers may be required
2.1.3 flying, n—tendency of a printing ink or vehicle to be
for different ink or vehicle chemistries.
ejected as large globules from a roller distribution system.
1.3 This test method covers three-roller tackmeters of two
2.1.3.1 Discussion—Flying is generally most severe during
different geometries, referred to as Geometry A and Geometry
rapid roller acceleration such as occurs when switching imme-
B.
diately from zero or a slow speed to a high operating speed.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
2.1.4 misting, n—tendency of a printing ink or vehicle to be
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
ejected as a fine aerosol from a roller distribution system.
standard.
2.1.4.1 Discussion—Misting is generally most severe at
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
high operating speeds and with fluids that produce long
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
filaments.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
3. Summary of Test Method
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3.1 A thin film of the test printing ink or vehicle is applied
2. Terminology to the three-roller distribution system of the tackmeter, which
operates at speeds comparable to those on the roller trains of
2.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
production printing presses. Measurement of the frictional
2.1.1 tack, n—function of the force required to split a thin
torque induced by drag forces in the splitting film provides a
fluid film of a printing ink or vehicle between two rapidly
value for apparent tack. Readings may vary from instrument
separating surfaces.
suppliertoinstrumentsupplierandfromgeometrytogeometry.
2.1.1.1 Discussion—Tack is a rheological parameter indica-
3.2 The procedures in this test method are designed to give
tive of internal cohesion of the fluid. It is not a fixed number
a single value for apparent tack at a specific set of instrument
but varies with operating conditions, primarily separation
conditions. Typical conditions are as follows: a cooling water
velocity, splitting area, force applied by the measuring roller
temperature of 32°C; a film thickness of 12 µm of the test
and film thickness. Tack also varies with changes in the
material applied to the rollers for Geometry A and 5 µm for
rheological properties of the ink or vehicle as a result of time,
Geometry B; and a reading after 1 min of operation. Different
temperature, and interactions with the separating surfaces. In
speeds are specified for different types of instruments. Alter-
native conditions may be used by agreement between the
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D01 on Paint
supplier and the customer.
and Related Coatings, Materials, andApplications and is the direct responsibility of
3.3 Depending on the geometry and model, the torque is
Subcommittee D01.56 on Printing Inks. Subcommittee D01.37 on Ink Vehicles
determined with a manually balanced lever arm, a direct-
assisted in the development of the vehicle portion of this test method.
Current edition approved July 1, 2009. Published July 2009. Originally approved
reading attachment, a digital readout, printer, computer or a
in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as D4361 – 97 (2002). DOI:
recorder.
10.1520/D4361-09.
*A Summary of Changes section appears
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation:D4361–97(Reapproved2002) Designation:D4361–09
Standard Test Method for
Apparent Tack of Printing Inks and Vehicles by a Three-
1
Roller Tackmeter
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4361; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1This test method covers the procedure for determining the apparent tack of printing inks using a mechanical or electronic
model of a three-roller tackmeter.
1.2This test method is applicable to paste-type printing inks and vehicles that are essentially nonvolatile under ordinary room
conditions.
1.3The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information
only.
1.4*
1.1 This test method covers the procedure for determining the apparent tack of printing inks using a three-roller tackmeter.
1.2 This test method is applicable to all paste-type printing inks and vehicles that are essentially nonvolatile under ordinary
room conditions, provided that any elastomer covered rollers in the tackmeter are resistant to attack by the particular ink or vehicle
chemistry. Different elastomers may be required for different ink or vehicle chemistries.
1.3 This test method covers three-roller tackmeters of two different geometries, referred to as Geometry A and Geometry B.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use.
2. Terminology
2.1 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
2.1.1 tack, n—afunctionoftheforcerequiredtosplitathinfluidfilmofaprintinginkorvehiclebetweentworapidlyseparating
surfaces; it is a rheological parameter indicative of internal cohesion of the fluid. —function of the force required to split a thin
fluid film of a printing ink or vehicle between two rapidly separating surfaces.
2.1.1.1 Discussion—Tack ofis a printing ink or vehicle rheological parameter indicative of internal cohesion of the fluid. It is
notafixednumberbutvarieswithoperatingconditions,primarilyseparationvelocity,splittingarea,forceappliedbythemeasuring
roller and film thickness.Tack also varies with changes in the rheological properties of the ink or vehicle due to as a result of time,
temperature, and interactions with the separating surfaces. In practice, one or more of these surfaces usually consist of
rubber-likeelastomer rollers that may differ in composition and geometry and whose properties tend to change with age, nature of
previously run fluids, type of wash-up solvent, and mechanical flaws. On laboratory instruments, tack Tack readings are also
sensitive to the calibration and zero accuracy of the tackmeter employed. used. Different manufacturers’ tackmeters may use
different tack scales.
2.1.2 apparent tack, n—a— tack reading obtained at a specific set of conditions.
2.1.3 flying, n—the tendency—tendency of a printing ink or vehicle to be ejected as large globules from a roller distribution
system.
2.1.3.1 Discussion—Flyingisgenerallymostsevereduringrapidrolleraccelerationsuchasoccurswhenswitchingimmediately
from zero or a slow speed to a high operating speed.
2.1.4 misting, n—the tendency—tendency of a printing ink or vehicle to be ejected as a fine aerosol from a roller distribution
system.
2.1.4.1 Discussion—Misting is generally most severe at high operating speeds and with fluids that produce long filaments.
1
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D01 on Paint and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications and is the direct responsibility of
Subcommittee D01.56 on Printing Inks. Subcommittee D01.37 on Ink Vehicles assisted in the development of the vehicle portion of this test method.
Current edition approved Dec. 10, 1997. Published September 1998. Originally published as D4361–84. Last previous edition D4361–89(1996).
Current edition approved July 1, 2009. Published July 2009. Originally approved in 1984. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as D 4361 – 97 (2002).
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this s
...