Black inkjet ink components
The inkjet ink consists of:
- Binder. Its task is to combine the solids in the ink after the solvent dries. It is one of the most important components because it determines the durability of the print, its adhesion to the substrate and gloss (see PVC - Pigment Volume Concentration).
- Coloring substances or pigments which give the ink a color. They are added to the ink at the production stage, most often in dry form, as fine powders or as a liquid, concentrated solution of these powders in a solvent. The CMYK model is used for inkjet inks, where Cyan-Magenta-Yellow-Black are used respectively.
- Modifying additions. Their task is to change the surface of the particles so that they are easily dispersed in the ink and do not cause agglomeration. Most often, they are added in small amounts at the stage of grinding the powders in high-speed mixers. Another task is to change the rheology of the ink if necessary. They are able to increase or decrease the viscosity of the ink or its surface tension.
- Organic or aqueous solvents. They are used to dissolve the binder and thus give the system an appropriate viscosity and allow the powders to be grindable at the production stage. The selection depends on the application, but there is a difference from organic solvents such as xylene, toluene due to the harmful effects on the environment, replacing them with water systems.
Wion Technology offers a concentrated black iron oxide (II,III) solution as a replacement for the popular carbon blacks. We present the benefits in the next post.
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