Enumerating the Types and Characteristics of Digital Inkjet Inks

[ppzhan abstract] Digital inkjet technology is very widely used in daily life, but depending on the ink, the direction of application differs. What types of digital inkjet inks are there? Digital inks are generally divided by binder into water-based inks, oil-based inks, solvent-based inks and thermosetting inks.

1. Water-based inks

They are usually used on porous and uncoated substrates, such as paperboard and paper, and are also often used in the printing of direct mail products and commonly used in other commercial printing markets. They can also be divided into pigment type and dye type. Because pigments are insoluble in water and will settle, pigment particles must be ground very fine, down to below 30μm, to achieve a relatively good inkjet effect; otherwise, blocking is likely to occur when high resolution is used. Pigments themselves have very good weather resistance, light fastness, washing fastness and abrasion resistance. The advantage of dyes is that there is no problem with solubility, and there are very many color types with relatively good vividness, but the fastness is relatively poor.

1. Oil-based inks

They are suitable for printing on porous materials because they dry by absorption. Their formulations contain vegetable oil or mineral oil, and their application in the paperboard packaging field is particularly prominent; they are not suitable for use in closed office spaces because they cause air pollution.

The colorants used can also be divided into pigment type and dye type. Oil-soluble inks are characterized by fast drying, so they are relatively commonly used in industry.

1. Solvent-based inks

They have relatively wide applications, from signage printing to barcode printing to outdoor advertising. Using this kind of ink brings high economic benefits; it dries quickly and can be printed on many materials, and is especially suitable for printing on uncoated materials such as vinyl, mesh, glass and paper.

1. UV/EB thermosetting inks

These inks are suitable for printing on various flexible and rigid substrates, such as corrugated board and metal foil. UV/EB inks cure relatively quickly under the action of UV light and have strong durability. They are very suitable for DOD applications, such as point-of-purchase display advertising, phone cards, credit cards and frequently used shopping cards.

In the era of the technological revolution of the transformation of digital printing methods, inkjet printing is developing rapidly. As an environmentally friendly and green printing method, UV inkjet printing has seen its market share rise rapidly, especially as UV inks applied to flatbed UV inkjet printing equipment have begun to develop rapidly.

——This article is reprinted from China Packaging Network (pack.cn). Original link: http://news.pack.cn/show-361788.html