Rutland EH0540 NPT VO Base - 5 Gallon
High-opacity, press-ready non-phthalate plastisol mixing base engineered for use with Rutland C3 NPT Color Boosters, delivering vibrant custom colors, excellent printability, low wet tack, and efficient wet-on-wet production.
Characteristics
Rutland EH0540 NPT VO Base is a professional Very Opaque (VO) plastisol mixing base designed for creating custom screen printing colors with Rutland C3 NPT Color Boosters. The press-ready formulation provides excellent opacity while maintaining a smooth, production-friendly viscosity for printing detailed graphics and solid areas.
EH0540 features a short body and very low wet tack, helping reduce ink buildup during production and improving wet-on-wet printing performance. Its fast shearing characteristics allow the ink to flow efficiently through the screen, supporting higher press speeds and consistent production.
The base is primarily designed for 100% cotton garments. When printing on polyester/cotton blends, an appropriate NPT low-bleed underbase should be used to help control potential dye migration.
When combined with compatible Rutland C3 NPT Color Boosters, EH0540 provides a versatile mixing platform capable of producing a broad range of custom colors while retaining its non-phthalate formulation. C3 Color Boosters can be incorporated at concentrations up to 50%, depending on the desired color formulation.
- Press-ready non-phthalate plastisol mixing base
- Very opaque formulation for strong color coverage
- Designed for use with Rutland C3 NPT Color Boosters
- Excellent performance on 100% cotton
- Suitable for cotton/polyester blends when used over an appropriate NPT low-bleed underbase
- Short-body rheology for easy printing
- Very low wet tack helps minimize screen buildup
- Fast shearing action supports higher production speeds
- Maintains printable viscosity when mixed with C3 Color Boosters
- Excellent wet-on-wet printing capability
- Suitable for detailed graphics and solid areas
- Standard-cure plastisol system
- Professional formulation for production screen printing
- Rutland C3 NPT Color Boosters: Recommended colorants for creating custom colors with EH0540 NPT VO Base. Color Boosters may be incorporated at concentrations up to 50%, depending on the desired formulation.
- K2910 Viscosity Buster: May be used when viscosity adjustment is necessary.
- K2940 Hugger Catalyst: Compatible bonding agent for applications requiring additional adhesion.
- Additives should only be used when required and according to the manufacturer's recommended amounts and application guidelines.
- Thoroughly mix EH0540 before use.
- Combine the base with the appropriate C3 NPT Color Boosters according to the desired color formulation.
- Maintain accurate mixing ratios when producing repeat colors to ensure consistency between batches.
- For maximum print definition, use a 70–80 durometer sharp-edge squeegee.
- Recommended mesh range is 86–230 threads per inch (34–90 threads/cm).
- Maintain approximately 1/16 in. (2 mm) or greater off-contact for proper screen release.
- Flash at approximately 140–150°F (60–65°C) on preheated pallets when required.
- The complete ink film should reach 320°F (160°C) for proper cure.
- Verify actual dryer settings and dwell times under production conditions.
- Garment type, ink deposit, dryer airflow, belt speed, and other production variables can affect curing.
- For polyester-containing garments where dye migration may occur, use a compatible low-bleed or barrier underbase.
- Always test the complete ink formulation and garment combination before beginning a production run.
- Clean screens and equipment using standard plastisol cleaners, press wash, or an appropriate ink degradant.
- Keep the container tightly sealed when the product is not in use.
- Store at approximately 65–95°F (18–35°C).
- Protect the product from direct sunlight during storage.
- Maintain appropriate storage conditions to preserve ink consistency and printing performance.
- Rutland recommends using EH0540 within one year of receipt.
- Custom plastisol color mixing
- Rutland C3 NPT Color Booster formulations
- 100% cotton garments
- High-opacity custom colors
- Wet-on-wet production printing
- Detailed graphics and solid print areas
- High-speed automatic screen printing
- Manual production screen printing
- Cotton/polyester blends when used over an appropriate low-bleed underbase
- Professional production environments requiring repeatable custom colors
Rutland EH0540 NPT VO Base is primarily designed for printing on 100% cotton garments. When printing on polyester/cotton blends or other garments where dye migration may occur, use an appropriate NPT low-bleed or barrier underbase rather than relying on EH0540 itself for bleed resistance.
C3 NPT Color Boosters may be incorporated at concentrations up to 50%, depending on the desired color formulation. Accurate weighing and consistent mixing procedures are recommended when producing repeat colors.
The finished ink film should reach 320°F (160°C) for proper cure. Dryer temperature settings alone do not confirm cure; verify the temperature reached throughout the complete ink deposit under actual production conditions.
Always test the complete ink formulation on the intended garment before production and verify color, opacity, cure, adhesion, wash durability, and resistance to dye migration where applicable.
