MacDermid Autotype, a Colorado based developer and manufacturer of specialised screen print chemicals and films, says its latest Sigmagraf hard coated film is being used in Australia by Gat Technologies Pty Ltd as part of a major internal refit of roadside truck stops.
Sigmagraf film offers enhanced mechanical and chemical properties, making it highly resistant to scratches and abrasion, while also being able to withstand cleaning with solvents and other products. The anti-graffiti capabilities of the film also make it a sophisticated solution, offering a superior level of resistance to pens and paints by comparison with competing substrates.
Chosen for its ability to resist graffiti and to be easily cleaned without surface damage, the Sigmagraf film has also enabled Gat Technologies to create a range of high impact display panels and murals for decoration, promotion and signage. The film’s colour rendition and image resolution capabilities were key deciding factors in the specification of the film.
The major refit is part of an ongoing project that sees Gat Technologies working with global oil companies as they build and refurbish large truck stop roadhouses throughout the country. Each facility has been designed to feature the large murals, some as large as 10m by 2.5m, on the ceilings, wall and doors of the restrooms, change rooms, and parent rooms.
The murals have been created by both screen and digital printing MacDermid Autotype’s Sigmagraf film to provide a long term solution that delivers durability, combined with aesthetic qualities.
The Sigmagraf film incorporates a robust polyester base protected by a tough hardcoat upper, or outer, surface layer with an inkjet printable underside layer, for reverse printing. In particular, the hardcoat surface layer has been specially developed to be scratch, scuff and abrasion proof, while graffiti can easily be cleaned with conventional isopropanol solvents or aqueous detergents, which can be used without leaving any cleaning stain residues or marks. Although graffiti can be removed from some competing films, the cleaning process often scratches the surface, and repeated cleaning will quickly require the display to be replaced. This makes Sigmagraf ideal for displays and graphics that are in high traffic areas or are prone to abuse.
Similarly, the hardcoat surface layer ensures that the material remains dimensionally stable under a variety of storage, production and end-use environments, and has proved to be particularly easy to handle and print using standard equipment. Furthermore, as the hardcoat layer is formulated to eliminate the need for filler materials, levels of image definition and colour rendition are far higher and brighter than many competing films, ensuring brilliant results when producing high impact graphic displays.
The formulation of the hardcoat layer also plays a crucial role in providing the unique anti-glare and high optical clarity properties. To eliminate the problem of glare, which is a common phenomenon with many display films, MacDermid Autotype has modified the surface characteristics of the hardcoat, producing a nano-roughened finish that reflects less that 55 percent of light at a 60° angle. Many competing materials will reflect over 90 percent of light at 60°, creating glare that effectively blinds the viewer from the image.