Above: Example of silkscreen peeling due to UV degradation
When a new customer came to us with a recurring issue — silkscreen ink peeling from their cover glass — their frustration was evident. Their existing vendor had failed to resolve the issue, and the customer was seeking both answers and a lasting solution.
☀️ Diagnosing the Root Cause: UV Exposure
Our first question was straightforward:
“Are your products exposed to sunlight?”
When they confirmed that the devices were used in outdoor environments, we immediately recognized the problem. The existing vendor had used non-UV resistant ink in their silkscreening process. The result?
Ink peeling and flaking — sometimes within just a month of sunlight exposure.
Above: Cracking and peeling due to non-Anti-UV silkscreen ink
🧪 Going Beyond the Ink: A Complete Process Rebuild
While the ink was clearly the wrong choice, just switching to Anti-UV ink is not enough. For optimal durability and adhesion, several other steps must be executed with precision:
🔧 1. Glass Surface Pre-Treatment
- Meticulous cleaning and preparation of the glass to remove micro-contaminants.
🎯 2. Ink Selection & Application
- We used Anti-UV formulated inks that resist fading, cracking, and peeling.
- Optimized for high-heat and outdoor UV exposure.
- Trial & tested by us to last up to 1300 hours.
🏭 3. Controlled Silkscreening Environment
- Uniform ink deposition with calibrated mesh and squeegee pressure.
- Curing temperatures tailored to ink-glass chemistry.
- Dust-controlled printing zone to avoid micro-defects.
📋 4. Quality Validation
- UV aging simulation tests
- Cross-cut adhesion and pull tests
- Humidity & temperature cycling to replicate real-world outdoor usage
💼 The Result: A New Partnership Forged in Trust
Within just six months, the customer transferred four existing projects to us. They were impressed not only by the technical fix but also by our methodical approach to long-term durability.
These included:
- Outdoor industrial displays
- Medical kiosk interfaces
- Smart control panels
- Commercial touchscreen modules
By delivering what others could not, we became more than just a vendor — we became a trusted solution partner.
✅ Key Takeaways
If your silkscreen print is peeling:
- Check UV resistance of the ink first.
- Ensure the entire silkscreen process — from pre-treatment to curing — is optimized.
- Never underestimate environmental exposure when selecting materials.
At KANOU, we specialize in solving exactly these challenges — delivering reliability that performs not just in labs, but in the real world.
Raymond Chew
SGK
30.05.2025
