Inkjet inks come in a number of types to suit all kinds of applications. To understand all your options, you can learn about the different materials that compose industrial inks, factors that affect ink performance, and current ink technology. Knowledge about these three subject areas will prepare you to select the best ink for your particular needs.
Industrial inks are composed of four basic elements. They include resins, colorants, solvents and additives. Resins act as an adhesive for the colorant, which is a dye or pigment. Solvents allow the mixture of resin and colorant to be transferred to the surface of a product or label. Additives are added to the ink formula to enhance certain desirable features, such as flow and stability. The chemical makeup of these four ink components vary depending on its purpose and application.
An ink specialist can help you determine the specific factors that are especially important for your purposes. Some basic considerations are the surface material (also known as the substrate), print environment, drying time, durability, and industry standards. Some inks, for example, will transfer easily onto porous surfaces such as paper, but not so well on non-porous surfaces such as glass. The performance of the ink will also be affected by the humidity, temperature and overall quality of the atmosphere. In some cases, the ink must dry quickly in order to avoid potential smudges. In other situations, it must be durable enough maintain its legibility after further processing.
Advancements in ink technology have made it possible to increase certain desirable properties in inks. Some of these inks are resistant to fading, high temperatures, alcohol, chemicals or condensation. They can be made invisible except under UV light. These are only a sampling of the enhanced features available, thanks to innovative ink technology.
In a continuing effort to help our customers make informed decisions, PrintJet has developed an informative eBook on this topic. For more details about selecting the best ink for your application, we invite you to download it for free on our website.
