CDF® Capillary Film

- EZ-Film for plastisol on 86-156 t/i(33-61 t/cm) mesh
Traditional CDF - The original capillary film relatively mild general purpose solvent inks
Matrix - total solvent resistance
QT Thick Films - SBQ sensitized thick films 30µ up to 400µ
QSR - complete solvent resistance dual-cure
LX - 40µ dual-cure with some water resistance

Within any CDF series film, thinner films are generally used for finer detail, thinner ink deposit applications on fine screen mesh, whereas thicker films are used on coarser mesh when circumstances demand thicker ink deposits inherent to such mesh/stencil combinations.

Shortcuts
Exposure Step Test Video 4Mb 2 minutes
"How Does Capillary Film Work" video 95 Mb 17 minutes
Capillary Film Cross Reference
Ordering Information
Building Thick Film Stencils for Special Effects Printing
Direct Film Troubleshooting Checklist

Low Cost EZ-FILM™ for Plastisol - Let us coat your screens

Color Solids Viscosity Shelf Life
Pink 94% none 18 months in cool dry storage - Coated Screen Life 4 weeks

Product Fact Sheet Technical Data Sheet MSDS


Let us coat your screens
An economical alternative to direct emulsion in material cost and because it offers significant savings in labor and production time. It adheres perfectly, dries faster than direct emulsion, and exposes very quickly.

EZ-FILM is ideal for mesh counts ranging from 86 - 156 threads/ inch (33 - 61 threads/cm.).
Coated on 3-mil (75-micron) matte-surface polyester. EZ-FILM can be adhered with plain water or with QTX direct emulsion in the direct/indirect mode. EZ-FILM is designed for plastisol and should be used with non-aggressive solvent-based inks and mild washup solvents. Screen openers and aggressive solvents will make screen reclaiming more difficult.

Features

 Benefits
Easy to Use Minimal training required
Perfect stencils-every time
Fast processing and exposure Dries faster than direct emulsion
Fast stencil turnaround
94% solids content Perfect EOM (emulsion over mesh thickness)
Consistent stencil thickness Control of ink deposit--and ink costs
Consistent exposure time
"Pre-coated" stencils Significantly less labor and production time
Wet processing Reduces potential for pinholes
Speeds production
Transparent pink color Easy inspection and see-through registration
Prepackaged film sheets No mess, no waste
Speeds up application.

General Purpose 'the Original' CDF®

Color Solids Viscosity Shelf Life
Green 94% none 18 months in cool dry storage - Coated Screen Life 4 weeks

Technical Data Sheet MSDS

The original, diazo sensitized capillary film intended for use with relatively mild solvent-based inks such as enamels, poster inks, UV or plastisols. They should not be used with water-based inks or inks containing vinyl solvents. The green film turns blue upon exposure to UV energy. Adherable with water, FX88 emulsion or other Ulano emulsions for special purposes.


  CDF-15 CDF-2UV CDF-3 CDF-4 CDF-5 CDF-7
Mesh count/IN 419+ tpi 305-419 tpi 230-419 tpi 196-305 tpi 109-196 tpi 76-140 tpi
Mesh count/CM 165+ cm 120-165 cm 90-165 cm 77-120 cm 43-77 cm 30-55 cm
Def            
Res            
Mechanical            
Solvent Res.            
Water Res.            

ROLLS PRODUCTCODE ROLLSIZE ROLLS/CASE APPROX WT./CASE
CDF®-15 CDF-1526130 26" X 130" 12 17 LBS.
CDF-1526260 26" X 260" 9 18 LBS.
CDF-15713 42" X 300" 6 20 LBS.
CDF-155260 52" X 260" 6 26 LBS.
CDF®2/UV CDF2/UV26130 26" X 130" 12 17 LBS.
CDF2/UV26260 26" X 260" 9 18 LBS.
CDF2/UV702 42" X 150" 6 13 LBS.
CDF2/UV713 42" X 300" 6 20 LBS.
CDF2/UV5260 52" X 260" 6 26 LBS.
CDF-3 CDF-326130 26" X 130" 12 18 LBS.
CDF-326260 26" X 260" 9 19 LBS.
CDF3702 42" X 150" 6 15 LBS.
CDF3713 42" X 300" 6 22 LBS.
CDF-35260 52" X 260" 6 27 LBS.
CDF-4 CDF426130 26" X 130" 12 20 LBS.
CDF426260 26" X 260" 9 22 LBS.
CDF4702 42" X 150" 6 17 LBS.
CDF4713 42" X 300" 6 24 LBS.
CDF45260 52" X 260" 6 30 LBS.
CDF/5VT CDF/5VT26130 26" X 130" 12 20 LBS.
CDF/5VT26260 26" X 260" 6 22 LBS.
CDF/5VT702 42" X 150" 6 17 LBS.
CDF/5VT713 42" X 300" 6 24 LBS.
CDF/5VT5260 52" X 260" 6 30 LBS.
CDF-7 CDF-7702 42" X 120" 6 17 LBS.

High Performance CDF/Matrix

Color Solids Viscosity Shelf Life
Green 94% none 18 months in cool dry storage - Coated Screen Life 4 weeks

Product Fact Sheet Technical Data Sheet MSDS
Building Thick Film Stencils for Special Effects Printing

CDF/Matrix is a high quality diazo-photopolymer (dual-cure) capillary film series combining exceptional imaging properties, total solvent resistance, and extremely wide exposure latitude. CDF/Matrix is easy to reclaim, even if underexposed and used with aggressive inks or washup solvents. CDF/Matrix is coated onto 300-gauge optically flat polyester base.

CDF/Matrix films are designed for general graphics printing, including highly demanding UV applications, four-color process and fine detail printing, as well as POP, industrial graphics and sportswear applications requiring excellent quality and high durability. CDF/Matrix is resistant to solvent-based, co-solvent, and UV inks, and to a wide variety of on-press cleaners and wash up solvents.

SELECT A CDF/MATRIX THICKNESS THAT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE MESH COUNT
The emulsion thickness of CDF/Matrix should be matched to the mesh count that will be used for the job. If the mesh is too coarse, the resulting stencil will have low EOM (thickness of emulsion over mesh, on the printing side of the mesh), a high Rz value, and poor acutance. If the mesh is too fine, resolution will be poor, the EOM will be too thick and there may be difficulties forcing ink through the stencil.


  CDF/Matrix-UV CDF/Matrix-20 CDF/Matrix-30 CDF/Matrix-40
Mesh count/IN 419+ 305-419 280-419 196-305 tpi
Mesh count/CM 165+ cm 120-165 cm 110-165 cm 77-120 cm

Rolls 0.66 X 10+m, 1.06 X 10+m, and 1.32 X 10+m. are available outside North America.

Plastisol and Limited Water Resistance CDF®/QT

Color Solids Viscosity Shelf Life
Rubine Red 94% none 18 months in cool dry storage - Coated Screen Life 4 weeks

Thick film on Stainles Steel for UV spacers Product Fact Sheet Technical Data Sheet MSDS

Intended for printing with plastisol inks on t-shirts and imprinted sportswear items. Extremely fast exposure times make the QT series suited for use with low power light sources. SBQ sensitized, pink colored films available in 30, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300 and 400µ thicknesses. Adherable with water or QTX® emulsion.

CDF/QT Thick-Film is ideal for the production of thick stencils for specialty printing needs, including high density, puff, and lenticular effects for imprinted sportswear; peelable solder masks in the electronics industry; false mosaic and leading effects for glass and ceramic decorating; screen printed gaskets and seals; and many other manufacturing and decorating applications requiring ultra-thick ink deposits with non-aggressive solvent inks and pastes.

Thick Film High Density Print CDF/QT Thick-Film is a precisely coated, capillary film version of Ulano’s best-selling QTX® direct emulsion. Like QTX, CDF/QT Thick-Film utilizes pure photopolymer (SBQ) technology to assure extended shelf life and minimal influences from heat and humidity, the fastest possible exposure speed, good imaging properties, and on-press durability. Generally, CDF/QT Thick-Film is adhered to fabric with QTX using the direct/indirect application technique. CDF/QT Thick-Films can be laminated to produce unlimited stencil thickness variations.

The use of CDF/QT Thick-Film offers significant savings in labor and production time over the use of direct emulsion to produce stencils of similar thicknesses.

Packages of mostly 10 Pre-Cut Sheets
  • CDF/QT-30 50 sheets
    PCDF/QT301414 14"x14"
    PCDF/QT301618 16"x18"
  • CDF/QT-50 50 sheets
    PCDF/QT501414 14"x14"
    PCDF/QT501618 16"x18"
  • CDF/QT-100
    PCDFQT100810-X     8"x10"
    PCDFQT1001414-X 14"x14"
  • CDF/QT-150
    PCDFQT150810-X     8"x10"
    PCDFQT1501414-X 14"x14"
    		•
  • CDF/QT-200
    PCDFQT200810-X     8"x10"
    PCDFQT2001414-X 14"x14"
  • CDF/QT-250
    PCDFQT250810-X     8"x10"
    PCDFQT2501414-X 14"x14"
  • CDF/QT-300
    PCDFQT300810-X     8"x10"
    PCDFQT3001414-X 14"x14"
    CDFQT3001414-214" × 14" 2 test sheets/li>
  • CDF/QT-400
    PCDFQT400810-X     8"x10"
    PCDFQT4001414-X 14"x14"
    CDFQT4002026-5     20" × 26" 5 test sheets
    		•

    CDF/QT Exposure Chart

      QT-30 QT-50 QT-100 QT-150 QT-200 QT-250 QT-300 QT-350 QT-400
    Mesh count/IN
    200-400
    60 - 180
    30 - 160 / inch
    Mesh count/CM    
    10 - 75 / cm

    CDF®/QSR - Complete Solvent Resistance - Dual Cure

    Color Solids Viscosity Shelf Life
    Magenta 94% none 18 months in cool dry storage - Coated Screen Life 4 weeks

    Product Fact Sheet Technical Data Sheet MSDS

    Fast exposing SBQ/diazo sensitized films intended for use with all solvent-based inks. Magenta colored films adherable with water or QFX® emulsion.

    The CDF/QSR series (available in thicknesses of 10, 20, 30, and 40 microns, and in rolls or custom-cut sheets) is formulated using pure photopolymer (SBQ), technology in combination with a special diazo resin. This combination yields very fast exposure times, excellent storage properties (conservatively speaking, 15-month shelf life; six weeks adhered to mesh time but unexposed), a minimal influence of temperature and humidity on exposure speed, minimal changes in solubility with age (for consistent EOM), virtually universal solvent resistance, superb durability, and effortless stencil removal.

    CDF/QSR is manufactured to the highest quality control standards in the industry: ± 1 micron. This high degree of control, in combination with the emulsion formulation, permits a repeatable low and defined stencil profile and a low Rz value with excellent resolution and ink transfer. Similarly, mesh bridging is superb.

    CDF/QSR has a special backing sheet with a special matte-surfaced polyester that imparts slight irregularity to the bottom of the stencil. This has no consequential effect on the Rz value, yet provides special benefits under extremes of humidity. When the humidity is high and the substrate is smooth, CDF®/QSR releases easily from the substrate after the print stroke. Under low humidity conditions, the CDF®/QSR stencil has minimal hydrostatic attraction to the substrate, minimizing ink "feathering" or "whiskering."

    CDF/QSR is produced with a special magenta colour that reduces light transmission under the edges of the positives, offers contrast for easier stencil inspection, yet permits the see-through registration of multi-screen jobs. This colour is environmentally safe and contains no heavy metals or other ecologically-damaging components in the formulation.

    CDF/QSR is ideal for the reproduction of the finest details and for thin ink deposits applications on fine screen meshes. It is recommended for such higher quality screen making applications as: graphics, printed circuit boards, compact discs, membrane switches, ceramic decals, glass (automotive, architectural, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, hollowware, slot machines), and high resolution textile requirements.

    CDF/LX Dual Cure - some water resistance

    Color Solids Viscosity Shelf Life
    Violet 94% none 18 months in cool dry storage - Coated Screen Life 4 weeks

    Technical Data Sheet MSDS

    Diazo-acrylic (dual-cure) film intended for use with most solvent-based, some water-based or co-solvent inks for point-of-purchase displays, industrial graphics and sportswear printing, using 196-305 tpi/inch (77-120/cm) mesh.

    CDF/LX's violet colored emulsion is coated on a textured polyester which leaves a slight texture on the surface of the stencil, minimizing hydrostatic attraction to printing stock. Capillary films adhere with water or Ulano dual-cure emulsions.