Is solvent-based ink on the way out? This seems to be a topic of great interest in the printing industry. In recent years, with the gradual increase in environmental awareness, many companies have begun to look for more environmentally friendly and sustainable printing solutions. Against this background, the question of whether solvent-based ink can continue to gain a foothold in the market has become a focus of attention. So, let’s learn about solvent-based ink.
Solvent-based ink generally refers to inks that use various solvents as diluents, including alcohols, esters, benzenes, and ketone solvents. Due to the high toxicity of benzene and ketone solvents, the use of these two types of solvent-based inks has been banned in gravure cigarette label printing. In foreign countries, most gravure printing uses water-based inks to reduce solvent residues. In China, solvent-based inks are still mainly used due to the color gamut and drying problems in practical applications of water-based inks. [1
As an important part of the printing industry, its performance is directly related to the quality and effect of the printed matter.
1
Performance of solvent-based inks
1. Good printability
Solvent-based inks have moderate viscosity and drying speed, which can meet the needs of various printing equipment and ensure the clarity and color vibrancy of printed materials.
2. Wide applicability
Solvent-based inks are suitable for a variety of substrates, such as paper, plastic, metal, etc., and can meet the printing needs of different fields.
3. High printing efficiency
Solvent-based inks can dry quickly during the printing process, which improves printing efficiency and reduces production costs.
However, according to experiments, the maximum average value of non-methane total hydrocarbons (NMHC) in the gravure continuous printing process using solvent-based inks reaches 5975.67 mg/m3, which is about 31.2 times that of flexographic printing using water-based inks (191.67 mg/m3)[2]. They are usually volatile organic compounds in the air, causing air pollution and potential harm to human health.
2
Classification of solvent-based inks
Solvent-based inks can be divided into several categories according to different classification criteria.
1.According to the solvent’s chemical properties, we can divide them into several categories, including ketones, ethers, esters, alcohols (monohydric alcohols – aliphatic, alicyclic and glycolic), and hydrocarbons (aliphatic, aromatic, naphthenic). Within these categories, we can further distinguish between polar solvents, non-polar solvents, reactive solvents, inert solvents and strippers (rinsing agents).
- Polar solvents: These solvents have a high dielectric constant. Examples include alcohols and ketones, which contain hydroxyl and carbonyl groups in their molecules and are therefore polar.
- Non-polar solvents: These solvents have a lower dielectric constant than polar solvents. Examples include various hydrocarbons, which are generally non-polar.
- Reactive solvents: These solvents are able to dissolve or disperse nitrocellulose and therefore have a specific chemical activity.
- Inert solvents: These solvents cannot dissolve nitrocellulose, but have a synergistic effect with reactive solvents, thereby fulfilling their function in specific circumstances.
2. By solvent type
- Water-based solvent-based inks: Water is the main solvent, which has the advantages of being environmentally friendly and easy to clean. They are widely used in food packaging, children’s products and other fields.
- Oil-based solvent-based inks: Organic solvents are the main solvent, which has the characteristics of drying quickly and bright colors. They are often used to print high-end products.
3. By drying method
- Self-drying ink: naturally dries at room temperature and is suitable for simple printed products;
- Baking ink: requires high-temperature baking to dry and cure, and is suitable for printing products with high requirements, such as automobiles and electrical appliances.
4. By use
- Printing ink: mainly used for printing on various materials such as paper, plastic, and metal;
- Coating ink: mainly used for coating and decorating various surfaces;
- Inkjet ink: widely used in advertising, decoration, and other fields.
3
Development of solvent-based inks
In recent years, the ever-increasing environmental protection requirements have also made the requirements for inks more stringent, mainly involving aspects such as no toluene, low VOCs emissions, low migration, and safety and hygiene. Against this background, the use of toluene-based solvents and ketone-based solvents is gradually decreasing, and the focus is shifting to more environmentally friendly ester solvents and alcohol solvents to reduce the burden on the environment.
On the one hand, the development of environmentally friendly solvent-based inks has become the mainstream in the industry, with the aim of reducing pollution emissions during the printing process. On the other hand, the rise of environmentally friendly inks such as water-based inks and UV inks has had a significant impact on the solvent-based ink market.
Under these circumstances, the solvent-based ink industry must actively promote technological innovation and environmental upgrades while maintaining high-quality printing results, in order to cater to market demand and meet environmental standards.
As for whether solvent-based inks will be phased out, this is not an absolute question. Although environmentally friendly printing solutions are gradually gaining a share of the market, solvent-based inks still have unique advantages, such as excellent printing results and a wide range of applications. Therefore, solvent-based inks are likely to continue to exist in the market for some time to come.
Looking to the future, the ink industry will continue to develop in the direction of alcohol-soluble, water-soluble and water-based inks to better adapt to current and future market trends and promote the application of more environmentally friendly packaging printing inks.
What is the ideal ink for the automotive industry?
There is a rapidly growing market demand for lead-free glass inks. At the same time, the rapid development of the automotive industry has driven a strong increase in the demand for automotive tempered glass, which has also driven the development of automotive tempered glass inks, while also placing higher demands on the performance of the inks [1].
Because the lead content is quite small or no ink pigment is used, which greatly reduces the harm of pollution, it is often referred to as environmentally friendly glass inks.
1
Application of lead-free glass inks in the automotive industry
Automotive glass inks are composed of low-melting glass, inorganic melanin and organic toner, and are usually printed around the edges of automotive glass, commonly known as the “black frame” [2-3]. They have a decorative function, but also enhance the firmness of the bond between the glass and the car body, reduce the transmittance of ultraviolet light, etc. [4].
As lead-free glass inks can meet the automotive industry’s needs for environmental protection, safety and high-quality printing, in recent years, the application of lead-free glass inks in the automotive glass field has attracted more and more attention and favor. Common applications are as follows:
- Rear windshield: Lead-free glass inks are often used to print on the rear windshield of automobiles to form an ink coating with good gloss, acid resistance and anti-blocking properties. This ink coating can meet the production process requirements of the rear windshield of automobiles while ensuring the clarity of the driving field of view.
- Solar control glass: In some high-end car models, solar control glass has also begun to be printed with lead-free glass inks. This glass can effectively control the temperature inside the car and improve driving comfort, while the application of lead-free glass inks also meets environmental requirements.
- Side windows: Lead-free glass inks can also be used to print on side windows. The use of lead-free glass inks ensures that the printed patterns on the side windows are clear and durable, without posing a hazard to the environment or human health.
2
Preparation of lead-free glass inks for automotive glass inks
① Preparation of SiO2-Bi2O3-ZnO lead-free glass ink [5
The composition of glass largely determines its structure and properties. According to tests, the use of SiO2-Bi2O3-ZnO lead-free glass powder as a glass ink has been shown to have a softening temperature of 575 ℃ and a crystallization temperature of 600 ℃, exhibiting good glass-forming properties. When the glass powder content is 60%, the automotive rear window glass ink coating prepared under the conditions of 680 ℃ and 1.5 minutes of holding time meets the process requirements of the automotive rear window glass production line. The formed glass film has excellent luster, acid resistance and anti-sticking properties.
② Automotive glass ink prepared with lead-free low-melting point glass [6
experimentally studied the glazing process using R2O-Bi2O3-B2O3-SiO2 glasses as the research object. The effects of the Bi2O3/B2O3, Bi2O3/SiO2 and R2O (Li2O, Na2O, K2O) compositions on the glass structure and thermal properties were investigated using X-ray diffractometers, infrared absorption spectrometers, scanning electron microscopes and thermal expansion analyzers. Low-melting glass was applied to automotive glass inks, and automotive glass inks with good adhesion, blackness, opacity and gloss were successfully obtained.
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