Visprox Retarder 4 for TCP 9900 Pad Printing Ink
TW Graphics
Visprox Retarder 4 is the slow-evaporating additive for TCP 9900 pad printing ink — used to extend pad open time, prevent premature drying on fine-detail clichés, and maintain ink workability in hot or dry shop conditions.
Where Thinner 10 keeps ink moving at standard speed and Thinner 2 accelerates dry, Retarder 4 deliberately slows evaporation. Use it for fine-line clichés that flash too fast, hot summer pressroom conditions, or any time the pad picks up half-dried ink.
Part of the Visprox TCP 9900 pad printing ink system manufactured by TW Graphics in Commerce, California, USA. SKU: VXTH4L1. Pack size: 1 Liter. Compatible with the full TCP 9900 ink range (Colormatic mixing colors A through K, Extra Opaque whites and blacks, and TCP 9949 Transparent Base) for one-component (1K) and two-component (2K) pad printing on PVC, ABS, polycarbonate, acrylic (PMMA), polystyrene, PES, PET-G, pre-treated polypropylene, aluminum, and glass — covering industries from cosmetics packaging and medical devices to electronics, automotive trim, and promotional products.
$107.00
Description
Slow-evaporating retarder for fine-detail work and longer working time on the pad
Visprox Retarder 4 is the slow-evaporating additive for TCP 9900 pad printing ink — used to extend pad open time, prevent premature drying on fine-detail clichés, and maintain ink workability in hot or dry shop conditions.
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Why Choose This Product
Deliberately Slow
Slower evaporation than either thinner — preserves ink workability where standard thinners flash too fast for the cliché or pad.
Fine-Detail Friendly
Indispensable when printing fine halftones, small text, or detailed line work that suffers from premature ink dry on the cliché.
Hot Shop Solution
Pressroom temperature climbing? Add retarder to keep ink open through the full pickup-transfer cycle.
TCP 9900 System Match
Chemically matched to the TCP 9900 resin system — reduces evaporation without altering color, gloss, or final cure.
What’s Included
- ✓One 1 Liter container of Visprox Retarder 4 for TCP 9900 Pad Printing Ink (SKU: VXTH4L1)
- ✓Manufacturer technical data sheet (TDS) and safety data sheet (SDS) available on request
- ✓Lot number and batch traceability for production quality control
- ✓Live chat, phone, and email support from River City Supply’s pad printing specialists
See Pad Printing in Action
A demonstration of pad printing — how silicone pads pick up ink from etched clichés and transfer it onto curved, textured, or three-dimensional substrates.
Production Specifications at a Glance
Application Rate
Add to TCP 9900 ink in small percentages (typically 2–10%) to slow evaporation
Storage
Sealed in original container, away from heat sources, 15–30°C ambient.
Compatibility
All TCP 9900 colors and EO/L/M variants. Use sparingly — too much retarder slows production cure.
When to Use
Hot pressroom conditions, fine-detail clichés, ink flashing on the cliché between cycles, or extending working time on slow manual presses.
Background & Context
Pad Printing 101
Pad printing transfers ink from an etched cliché to a silicone pad, then to the substrate. Ink flashes off solvent on the cliché before pickup — the pad needs partially dry, tacky ink. Retarder slows that flash so ink stays workable.
When You Need Retarder
Pressroom over 80°F, low humidity, fine halftone clichés, small-text printing, slow manual presses with long cycles, or any time you see ink building up on the cliché’s image area between picks.
Don’t Overdo It
Too much retarder leaves ink that won’t release from the pad cleanly or that takes too long to cure on the substrate. Add 2–5% as a starting point and increase only if needed. Combine with standard Thinner 10 — don’t replace it entirely.
Choosing the Right Hardener by Substrate
Use this guide to select the correct two-component hardener for your substrate. Always test on actual production parts before running a job.
| Substrate | Hardener | Addition | Cure |
|---|---|---|---|
| PVC, ABS, PS | 1K (no hardener) | — | Air dry |
| PMMA, PES, PET-G | 1K (no hardener) | — | Air dry |
| Polycarbonate (PC) | 1K, optional N.2 | 0–5% | Air dry |
| Polyester / PET | Polyester Bonding Improver | Up to 20% | Air dry |
| Pre-treated Polypropylene (PP) | Hardener N.2 | Up to 10% | Air dry |
| Glass (high-cure) | Hardener N.5 | 20% | 150°C / 20 min |
| Glass (low-percentage) | Hardener N.9 | 6% | 150°C / 20 min |
How to Use This Product
A step-by-step workflow for safe, repeatable pad printing results. New to TCP 9900? Open live chat with the bubble in the bottom corner — fastest way to get questions answered before you start a job.
Identify the Symptom
Retarder solves a specific problem: ink drying on the cliché between cycles, halftone dots dropping out, or pressroom heat causing tackiness issues. If your problem is something else, retarder won’t fix it.
Mix Ink First
Stir TCP 9900 ink thoroughly. If running 2K, add hardener first.
Add Thinner Normally
Add your standard Thinner 10 (typically 5%) to set baseline viscosity. Retarder is added on top of thinner, not as a replacement.
Add Retarder Sparingly
Start with 2–3% retarder by weight. Mix thoroughly.
Test on Press
Run several impressions. Watch for ink flashing on the cliché and dot integrity. Retarder takes a few cycles to show effect — don’t immediately add more.
Adjust If Needed
If ink is still flashing too fast, add another 1–2% retarder. Maximum total addition is typically 8–10% — beyond that, ink won’t release cleanly from the pad.
Plan for Slower Cure
Retarded ink takes longer to fully cure on the substrate. Plan for slightly longer downstream handling or oven dwell.
Clean Up With Cleaner 920
When done, clean equipment with Visprox Cleaner 920 (NCL920L5).
Safety, Handling & Regulatory
Important Notes
Always test ink/thinner ratios and full adhesion on actual production substrates before running a paid job.
Start with small thinner additions (5%) — over-thinning weakens hide power, opens halftones, and can compromise adhesion.
Hot, dry shops dry ink faster on the cliché. Adjust thinner choice (or add retarder) seasonally as conditions change.
Shipping & Lead Time
Visprox TCP 9900 inks are batch-mixed at TW Graphics in Commerce, California at the time you place your order — never pulled from pre-mixed inventory sitting on a warehouse shelf. You receive the freshest possible product with maximum pot life every time.
Allow 3–4 business days total from your order to delivery — that includes the fresh-mix production time at the manufacturer plus standard ground shipping. Free shipping over $200; drop-ship items count toward the threshold. Need it faster? Click the live chat bubble for rush options.
TW Graphics manufactures the Visprox TCP 9900 line domestically in California. Every order ships with full lot and batch traceability — no overseas customs delays, no stale-inventory concerns, and quality you can audit back to the production run.
Browse the Full Visprox TCP 9900 Color Range
Click any color to view its product page. The Colormatic mixing system (letters A through K) lets you mix any Pantone color from the 9 base primaries plus White L and Black M. The currently-viewed product is highlighted in amber.
Compatible Additives & Auxiliaries
Complete the Visprox TCP 9900 system with the right hardener for your substrate, the right thinner for your press speed, and Retarder 4 when you need to slow ink dry on fine-detail clichés or in hot pressroom conditions.
| Type | Product | What It Does | Application | Size | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardener | Hardener N.2 | Two-component hardener for adhesion to pre-treated polypropylene and difficult plastics | Up to 10% by weight added to TCP 9900 ink before any thinning | 0.5 kg | View Product → |
| Hardener | Hardener N.5 | Two-component hardener for high-cure adhesion to glass and ceramics | 20% by weight added to TCP 9900 ink | 0.5 Liter | View Product → |
| Hardener | Hardener N.9 | Low-percentage two-component hardener for glass — economical, high-cure adhesion | 6% by weight added to TCP 9900 ink | 0.1 Liter (100 mL) | View Product → |
| Thinner | Fast PAD Thinner VVD-2 | Fast-evaporating thinner for crisp pad pickup and quick dry-in-place printing | Add to TCP 9900 ink as needed to reach desired viscosity for your printer and substrate | 1 Liter | View Product → |
| Thinner | Thinner 10 | Standard medium-speed thinner — the everyday choice for TCP 9900 viscosity adjustment | Add to TCP 9900 ink as needed to reach desired viscosity for your printer and substrate | 1 Liter | View Product → |
| Retarder | Retarder 4CURRENT | Slow-evaporating retarder for fine-detail work and longer working time on the pad | Add to TCP 9900 ink in small percentages (typically 2–10%) to slow evaporation | 1 Liter | View Product → |
Frequently Bought Together
What other customers typically order alongside this product to run a complete TCP 9900 system.
| Thinner 10 | 1 Liter | Add to Order → | |
| Extra Opaque Black | 1 Liter | Add to Order → | |
| Hardener N.2 | 0.5 kg | Add to Order → |
Talk to a Pad Printing Specialist
River City Supply has been distributing pad printing inks, presses, and chemistry since 2008. Not sure which TCP 9900 color, hardener, or thinner is right for your job? Reach out — our specialists will help you spec the right system the first time.
Product information last reviewed November 2026 • Specifications subject to change — request current data sheet via live chat for production-critical applications.
Technical Specifications
Technical Specifications
Reference data drawn from the manufacturer’s TCP 9900 technical data sheet. For application-specific advice, click the live chat bubble for fastest response.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Product Type | Slow-evaporation retarder for TCP 9900 pad printing ink |
| Brand | Visprox by TW Graphics |
| Distributor | TW Graphics |
| Manufacturer Part Number | VXTH4L1 |
| Evaporation Profile | Slow (intentionally retarded) |
| Compatible Ink | Visprox TCP 9900 (all colors and EO/L/M variants) |
| Application Rate | Add to TCP 9900 ink in small percentages (typically 2–10%) to slow evaporation |
| Use Case | All TCP 9900 colors; fine-detail clichés and hot ambient conditions |
| Pack Size | 1 Liter |
| Storage Temperature | 15–30°C (59–86°F) |
| Shelf Life (sealed) | 2 years from manufacture |
| Country of Origin | United States — Commerce, California |
| Ships From | TW Graphics manufacturing facility — Commerce, California (fresh-mixed when ordered) |
| Lead Time | 3–4 business days from order to delivery (fresh-mixed at the manufacturer + ground shipping) |
