Fredrik,

I wished to lend a bit of moral support and ask a question or two.  

I've always found that Zestron-US was quick to help me out if I had a
problem - unpaid plug for them


You said the problem surfaced last Summer.  Did the problem go away again
last Winter?  Over the years, I've run into many situations where outside
humidity appears to have a reasonably strong correlation to problems within
a 'temp/humidity controlled' environment - my belief is that it is because
some of the raw materials [solvents for example] are not stored in as good
of a temp/humidity controlled environment.

If the problem comes and goes, I would start by pulling a roll of the label
stock and the ribbon into a dessicant chamber to dry out, while placing
another pair into a known moist environment - and compare the results from
both.

Is the pH of the bath changing with respect to time?

There is likely not much to be gained, but you might run an FTIR - IR
Spectra on the old and new ribbon to verify relative proportion of
constituents and confirm there were no new components [and no missing
components].  Just have them dissolve in acetone, or something, and do a
comparative scan.

The label material itself - can you do a wetting angle test on the old and
new labels to see if there is anything significant with respect to how well
the ink may adhere in the first place?  Do you see differences with
something simple like a Scotch tape test on the printed ink, before solvent
exposure?

I am sure that you have been over the equipment looking for thermal and
pressure differences.

Sorry I can not be of direct asssistance

Steve C 

---------------------------------------------------
Technet Mail List provided as a service by IPC using LISTSERV 15.0
To unsubscribe, send a message to [log in to unmask] with following text in
the BODY (NOT the subject field): SIGNOFF Technet
To temporarily halt or (re-start) delivery of Technet send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet NOMAIL or (MAIL)
To receive ONE mailing per day of all the posts: send e-mail to [log in to unmask]: SET Technet Digest
Search the archives of previous posts at: http://listserv.ipc.org/archives
Please visit IPC web site http://www.ipc.org/contentpage.asp?Pageid=4.3.16 for additional information, or contact Keach Sasamori at [log in to unmask] or 847-615-7100 ext.2815
-----------------------------------------------------