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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS


Which board cleaning fluids are compatible with Multichem White Board inks?

We recommend our CC 800.3 board cleaner and conditioner for this purpose. If you are unsure about a cleaner you would like to use, please refer the query with a sample of the cleaner to our laboratory and we'll advise you.

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Can Multichem make special colours?

Yes, we'll do our best but naturally there are limitations both commercial and practical.

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What are 'wood certificates'

Many countries are trying to prevent timber pests from entering the country by ensuring that wood products are effectively sterilised prior to entering. Multichem predominantly use a synthetic pallet type (pressed wood) which is exempt from these requirements. However any regular wooden pallet that we are asked to supply or use will be certified as being heat-treated. Please note that any palletising outside of our normal usage will incur a surcharge.

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What factors affect flow in a White Board Marker?

Flow is dependent on the nib, reservoir and ink. All three need to be in balance for the optimum performance. Any White Board or dry-erase marker should be designed with the following points in mind.
Nibs - should be capable of handling pigmented inks and be solvent resistant.
Reservoirs - should have a minimum of processing oils on the fibres and be capable of holding pigments in suspension.
Inks - Multichem inks are designed to have the smallest particle sizes for maximum shelf life and performance. However with all pigmented ink systems some sedimentation over time is inevitable.

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My customers / distributors store and pack their White Board Markers point up or down. What can I do to avoid drain back / forward?

Ideally, markers should be stored horizontally at all times. The performance of a marker against drain back can be improved by careful selection of the reservoir and nib. A higher capillarity nib or reservoir will reduce the level of drain-back but will never prevent it.

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How can I make sure that my components are fully compatible with Multichem inks in the long term?

Ask for a copy of the Multichem test procedures and apply them to your test programmes. We will always give our advice on any ink problems that you may have. For extra security Multichem will quote you for testing components (Plastic parts, nibs, reservoirs etc) with our inks and provide a test report.

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Why are White Board inks so easily upset by component incompatibility?

The main reason is that reservoirs and nibs may contain surfactants, detergents and oils. Polyester nibs in particular are often prone to this defect because they are principally used for water-based inks in other types of markers. Where they are used for water-based inks they need to have some conditioning applied so as to make them water receptive. Nibs so conditioned should never be used for dry-erase products. There are other reasons as to why components may be incompatible. We recommend you seek advice from our technical department.

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Can I label markers with an 'AP' seal of approval as they contain Multichem inks?

You must first register as a member of the ACMI (Arts & Crafts Materials Institute) and submits product for approval and state which of our products they contain. For further information see: http://www.acminet.org

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How long can Multichem White Board inks be left on the board and still wipe off cleanly and easily?

Multichem inks are designed to erase on compatible boards for up to a month.

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Which standards and technical norms do Multichem inks conform to?

Please refer to the Formulation Compliance table in the Quality section for information on standards.

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How does humidity affect inks when they dry especially permanent and White Board inks?

Humidity can affect the time an ink takes to dry and the appearance of the dried ink. In particular where the humidity is high, a drying ink will most likely produce a localised temperature below the dew point. This means that some water vapour will condense as a liquid and affect the colour density because the inks are not compatible with water. We accommodate some of this tendency with careful formulation but extremes are always possible such that black for example may become dark grey under certain conditions.

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With what inks can I use cap off additives?

Multichem Cap-off Additives are designed to operate with alcohol-based permanent inks. Such inks do, however, often contain auxiliary solvents other than straight ethyl alcohol or simple aliphatic alcohols. Definitive rulings are difficult to make and we would encourage all potential users to enquire (under strict confidentiality) whether the use of auxiliary solvents will interfere with the performance of our additives.

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Can Multichem inks be used with free ink systems?

Multichem has much experience with these types of product and we find that our regular products operate well in these systems.

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How do I get help in finding the right components that are compatible with Multichem inks?

Contact us. We are happy to provide technical assistance to ensure you get optimum performance from your markers.

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What is Ghosting?

When a fresh mark is made on a board and then erased a ghost of the original mark is still visible. The effect is caused by new marks cleaning a dirty board surface leaving a reversed out mark. The solution is to ensure that your boards are kept in good and clean condition using our CC 800.3 board cleaning system.

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What are your lead times?

We aim for ten working days from receipt of order to despatch.

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What methods of payment do you accept?

With a large proportion of our inks being exported, Multichem operate on an international scale and we are familiar with all common payment methods. Our preferred method of payment is in Pounds Sterling by telegraphic transfer before despatch of goods. Please note: We offer attractive discounts for this form of payment.

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What are your pack sizes?

Our standard packaging is in 20 Kg (25 litre) plastic jerry can (UN approved) or 170kg (210 litre) metal drums. Other sizes or containers are available on request but a minimum order quantity will apply as will a packing surcharge.

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How many colours do Multichem offer?

Please refer to the relevant Product page for the colour range available.

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How will the requirements of REACH impact the supply of Multichem product.

All raw materials used in our products and processes will be registered under the REACH Regulations and we will issue suitable MSDS's as soon as the official guidance is complete.

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How should I store Multichem flammable inks?

In a flameproof store and between 10 and 25oC. Inks so stored should be thoroughly mixed before use and raised in temperature to over 20oC.

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How long can I store Multichem inks?

We guarantee our inks for 12 months as long as they have been stored correctly. Some settlement may occur after time with our pigmented inks. Inks that have been stored undisturbed for any length of time should be raised to above 20oC and shaken or stirred, especially inks that have a cap off attribute.

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