How to Use Marabu Mara Glow GW 

Marabu offers one of the widest ranges of pad printing inks in the market. ​The Marabu Mara Glow ink series is a glow-in-the-dark ink which was originally designed for screen printing.  However, one of these ink colors also works well for pad printing and is perfect to print long lasting glow-in-the-dark images on many parts.  Whether the parts are watch dials, Lego characters or even products made for the firearm industry, the Mara Glow ink will work great.

 

Mara Glow is made by Marabu who has a real commitment to the environment.  These products are made without radioactive materials, lead or phosphorus, all of which are corrosive to the environment or dangerous to operators. 
To use the Mara Glow product in pad printing, some precautions are required.
 
Cliché (Printing Plate) – The printing plate required to print with should be etched deeper than standard depth at 25 to 30 microns. The pigments in Mara Glow are very abrasive and can wear the cliche, ceramic ring, and ink cup, so we need a printing plate that can withstand some abuse.
 
Background – A white background should be printed first to really make the glow give a nice pop off the substrate and appear as bright as possible.
 

Image provided by Bodega Brick 

Durability – The additive Marabu SA 1 can increase abrasion resistance by increasing the hardness and lubricity of the print against other surfaces. This additive allows printed areas to slide over one another or slide off other items increasing life of the print. A clear coat varnish print can also be used and is recommended for long term indoor and outdoor use to protect against the elements, especially humidity.
 
Color – The white-green long term phosphorescent Mara Glow is the color that is possible for pad printing.  The other colors offered in this lineup have larger pigments which will mean it is not suitable to use for pad printing.
 
By using the above guidelines Mara Glow ink will allow you to print beautiful glow-in-the-dark pad printed parts with images that really shine!  

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