How to measure the goodness of the resin in the ink?

Quick answer: Surface-control additives are usually selected by defect type, compatibility, and dosage window. The strongest commercial choice is the one that fixes the real problem without creating a new one.

There are many indicators to measure the physical and chemical properties of a resin. For the ink industry, the following issues should be of interest.

(1) the viscosity of the resin
Resin viscosity will largely affect the viscosity of the ink, the size of its viscosity should be considered when choosing a resin.

 

(2) The solubility of the resin in the solvent
In the production of ink, the need to add a certain amount of solvent in the resin to adjust the viscosity and other indicators, therefore, the resin can be completely dissolved in the selected solvent or mineral oil, is the basic requirement for the production of ink;.

(3) the release of the solvent in the resin
The release of the solvent in the resin refers to the speed at which the solvent is released from the resin. This affects the drying speed of the ink. This is related to the resin itself, with the solvent volatility performance is good or bad, but also with the resin and solvent mixed with the preparation process and other factors.

(4) The color of the resin
Resin should be colorless or light-colored liquid, in order to avoid the color of the ink because of the color of the resin.

(5) The resin’s water resistance
The water resistance of the resin will affect the water resistance of the ink, especially in offset printing ink, poor water resistance of the ink will occur emulsification, paste plate, not under the ink and other phenomena. Water-based inks used in the resin requires good water dilution performance, but in the substrate after the film requires can not be dissolved in water.

How buyers usually evaluate coating and ink additives

Additive selection is usually most effective when the team defines the defect first and then screens compatibility, dosage range, and process stage. That is often much more reliable than choosing only by chemistry family or by a single dramatic lab result.

• Start from the defect, not the additive name: wetting loss, crater, microfoam, and instability often need different solutions even inside the same formula.
• Check compatibility at the intended dosage: the strongest additive can still be the wrong commercial choice if it narrows the process window too much.
• Review the stage of use: some products are most useful during grind, while others matter more during let-down, filling, or final application.
• Balance cure or film quality with defect control: the right additive fixes the problem without sacrificing adhesion, gloss, or appearance.

Recommended product references

• CHLUMIAF 094: A balanced defoamer reference for waterborne coatings and many general foam-control screens.
• CHLUMIAF 3062: Useful when printing-ink and UV-ink compatibility matter in the defoaming screen.
• CHLUMIAF 3037: A stronger process-defoaming option when persistent foam survives harsher conditions.
• CHLUMIWE 3280: A strong wetting-agent reference for inks, coatings, and difficult substrate wetting.

FAQ for buyers and formulators

Why does an additive that looks powerful in a beaker sometimes fail in production?
Because shear, temperature, substrate, and the full formula can all change the way the additive performs under real process conditions.

Should the most aggressive additive always be preferred?
Not usually. The best additive is the one that solves the real defect while preserving the broadest safe operating window.