XG-866AH Vs XG-866A Vs XG-20Z-1: How To Choose High Density Silicone Ink？

XG-866AH vs XG-866A vs XG-20Z-1: How to Choose High Density Silicone Ink?

High density silicone ink is used to create thick, raised and flexible three-dimensional effects on textile products.

However, not every high density printing process uses the same silicone system.

For our high density silicone range, three commonly used models are:

XG-866AH

XG-866A

XG-20Z-1

XG-866AH and XG-866A are heat-curing systems, while XG-20Z-1 is designed for self-drying high-build printing.

The correct choice depends on the printing equipment, required elasticity, production process, working time and final application.

For a complete overview of all three systems, see our High Density Silicone Ink for Textile Screen Printing.

XG-866AH: High-Transparency High-Build Silicone

XG-866AH is a high-transparency liquid silicone developed for hand and machine screen printing.

It is particularly useful when the printing process requires easy height building together with good elasticity and strong adhesion.

Typical technical values include:

Because of its relatively high elongation and tear-strength values, XG-866AH can be considered when the raised print also needs good flexibility.

It can be used for:

Raised garment logos

High-build lettering

Transparent 3D layers

Colored raised patterns

Manual screen printing

Machine screen printing

If your design requires particularly clean dimensional edges, also read How to Keep Sharp Edges in High Density Silicone Printing.

XG-866A: Standard Heat-Cure High Density Silicone

XG-866A is another heat-curing high density silicone system.

Typical technical data include:

XG-866A can be used for clear or colored high-build printing.

Color can be produced by mixing compatible pigment paste into the main silicone system before printing.

Typical pigment options include:

XG-102 White

XG-501 Black

XG-302 Red

XG-203 Yellow

XG-408 Blue

The final formulation should be tested according to the required color, printing thickness and substrate.

XG-20Z-1: Self-Drying High Density Silicone

XG-20Z-1 is designed for applications where a self-drying process is required.

Its typical system ratio is 10:1 using compatible catalysts such as XG-MB-1, XG-ZB-1, XG-KB-1 or XG-TMB-1.

Typical technical values include:

XG-20Z-1 can therefore be considered when the production process needs high-build printing without relying on the same final heat-curing workflow as XG-866AH or XG-866A.

However, self-drying does not mean that process control is unnecessary.

Mixing ratio, working time, layer condition, substrate compatibility and environmental conditions should still be evaluated.

Heat-Cure or Self-Drying: Which System Should You Use?

There is no single silicone system that is automatically correct for every factory.

Evaluate:

Printing equipment

Manual or machine printing

Available heating equipment

Required working time

Required elasticity

Printing height

Substrate

Production speed

Surface finish

Finished-product use

For example, a factory using a controlled heat-curing production line may prefer XG-866AH or XG-866A.

A project requiring a self-drying process may instead consider XG-20Z-1.

Surface Effects Can Be Added After Height Building

The high density silicone creates the main three-dimensional structure.

After the required height has been achieved, additional surface effects can be added.

For heat-cure printing:

XG-399-3 for glossy effects

XG-866M-6+ for matte effects

For self-drying printing:

XG-399-2 for glossy effects

XG-866M-6 or XG-136M-1 for matte effects

The surface finish should be selected according to the visual requirement rather than only the main silicone model.

Start With the Actual Printing Requirement

Instead of asking only:

"Which high density silicone is best?"

A more useful starting point is:

"What substrate, curing method, elasticity and 3D effect does the finished product require?"

For raised garment branding, see our application guide High Density Silicone Ink for Raised Garment Logos.

Technical values are typical values and may vary with testing conditions and product adjustments. Sample testing on the actual substrate is recommended before bulk production.