Classification and Analysis of Low VOC Ink
Date: Apr 24 2025 From: Star Color Views:
The printing industry is currently undergoing a transformation, and various low VOC inks have become the key points for the industry's transformation and upgrading due to their environmental protection characteristics. Low VOC inks are not a single type of product but a classification system presented according to different standards. This article will deeply analyze the diverse world of low VOC inks from dimensions such as chemical composition, curing technology, and environmental protection certification.
I. Classification by Chemical Composition
Low VOC inks can be classified into three basic systems according to their chemical composition: water-based inks, UV inks, and plant-based inks. These three types of inks have their own unique characteristics in terms of VOC content, curing methods, and market performance.
1.1 Water-based Inks
Water-based inks use water as the main solvent, which has the remarkable characteristics of strong environmental protection and low VOC content. Their VOC content is usually controlled at ≤ 5%. During the curing process, water-based inks dry and form a film through the evaporation of water. This process does not require high-temperature baking, effectively reducing energy consumption.
The water-based inks of Zhongzhixing, a well-known Chinese brand, have a good reputation in the market. With excellent color expression and stable printing performance, they are widely used in packaging printing, label printing, and other fields.
According to the Smithers report, in 2023, water-based inks accounted for as high as 58% of the global market share, becoming the main force in the low VOC ink market. This fully confirms their advantages in balancing environmental protection and performance.
1.2 UV Inks
UV inks have an even lower VOC content, usually ≤ 2%, and are a type of low VOC ink with relatively outstanding environmental protection performance. They use ultraviolet curing technology. When the ink is irradiated by ultraviolet light of a specific wavelength, the photoinitiator in the ink absorbs light energy and rapidly initiates a polymerization reaction, enabling the ink to cure in an extremely short time. The curing speed is 400% faster than that of traditional inks, and it can be completed within < 0.5 seconds.
The flexographic UV inks of Zhongzhixing are representative brands in the UV ink field. Their products are widely used in the printing of various materials such as plastics, metals, and papers.
In the global market in 2023, UV inks accounted for 31% of the market share. With characteristics such as fast curing, high gloss, abrasion resistance, and scratch resistance, they play an important role in fields with high requirements for production efficiency and printing quality.
1.3 Plant-based Inks
Plant-based inks mainly use renewable bio-based materials such as soybean oil and vegetable oil as their main components, and their VOC content is generally ≤ 3%. Their curing method is oxidation polymerization, in which the unsaturated fatty acids in the ink react with the oxygen in the air to gradually form a solid film layer.
Although plant-based inks only accounted for 11% of the global market share in 2023, with the continuous enhancement of people's environmental protection awareness and the increasing demand for sustainable materials, plant-based inks are expected to have a broader development space in the future.
II. Classification by Curing Technology
Curing technology is a key factor determining the performance and application range of inks. Low VOC inks have been continuously innovating in curing technology, deriving four innovative solutions: EB electron beam curing, LED-UV curing, infrared drying type, and room temperature oxidation type.
2.1 EB Electron Beam Curing
The EB electron beam curing technology has a VOC content approaching 0%, which is an extremely environmentally friendly curing method. It uses a high-energy electron beam generated by an electron accelerator to irradiate the ink, causing the monomers and prepolymers in the ink to undergo a polymerization reaction for curing.
Due to its environmental protection and high efficiency, this technology is particularly suitable for the sterile medical packaging field, such as vaccine box printing. It can ensure that no volatile harmful substances are introduced during the printing process of the packaging material, meeting the stringent requirements of the medical industry for safety and hygiene.
2.2 LED-UV Curing
The LED-UV curing technology performs excellently in energy conservation. Compared with traditional UV curing, its energy consumption can be reduced by 70%. This technology uses an LED light source with a wavelength range of 365-405nm, which has the advantages of long lifespan, low heat generation, and no need for preheating. In practical applications, the LED-UV curing technology is widely used in the screen printing of high-end products such as iPhone packaging boxes. It can achieve fast curing and high-quality printing effects, while meeting the strict requirements of electronic product packaging for environmental protection and appearance.
2.3 Infrared Drying Type
The infrared drying type technology has unique advantages for temperature-sensitive materials, such as PE films. It uses the heat generated by infrared radiation to rapidly evaporate the solvent in the ink for drying. The drying temperature of this technology is usually controlled at 40-60°C, avoiding the impact of high temperature on the material performance and ensuring the quality of the printed matter and the original characteristics of the material. In the packaging printing field, especially for the printing of temperature-sensitive plastic films, papers, and other materials, the infrared drying type low VOC inks play an irreplaceable role.
2.4 Room Temperature Oxidation Type
The room temperature oxidation type low VOC inks have the characteristic of 100% solid content, that is, zero solvents, eliminating the generation of VOCs from the source. During the curing process, the ink undergoes an oxidation reaction with the oxygen in the air at room temperature and gradually dries and forms a film. The drying time is generally 4-8 hours. Although its drying speed is relatively slow, due to its environmental protection and applicability in some scenarios where the drying speed requirement is not high, it also has a certain application space in fields such as label printing and textile printing.
III. Classification by Environmental Protection Certification Level
Different environmental protection certification standards have clearly specified the VOC limits, applicable fields, and detection methods for low VOC inks. These certifications are not only important bases for measuring the environmental protection performance of inks but also directly affect the market access and operating costs of enterprises.
3.1 EU EcoLabel
The EU EcoLabel certification has strict requirements for the VOC limits of inks, stipulating that the VOC content should be ≤ 3%. This certification is applicable to products exported to the EU, ensuring that products meet the strict environmental protection standards of the EU throughout their entire life cycle. Its detection method uses GC-MS chromatographic analysis, which can accurately detect the types and contents of volatile organic compounds in the ink.
3.2 US SCAQMD Rule 1135
The US SCAQMD Rule 1135 standard is mainly applicable to printing factories in the California area, requiring that the VOC content of inks be below 50g/L. This standard uses EPA Method 24 for detection. Through accurate measurement and calculation, it ensures that the inks meet the local environmental protection requirements.
3.3 China HJ 371-2018
The China HJ 371-2018 standard is an important basis for green printing in China. It stipulates that the VOC limit for water-based inks is ≤ 15%. This standard uses the gravimetric method to determine the VOC content in the ink, which is relatively simple to operate and has high accuracy.
From the perspective of compliance costs, although obtaining environmental protection certification requires paying a certain fee, if non-certified inks are used, enterprises will face high VOC treatment surcharges, usually $0.35/kg. Therefore, considering the long-term and comprehensive costs, obtaining environmental protection certification is of great significance for the sustainable development of enterprises.
The diverse classification system of low VOC inks provides a rich choice for the printing industry. Enterprises can select appropriate low VOC ink types and technical solutions according to their own production needs, product characteristics, and market positioning.
With the increasing strictness of environmental protection regulations and the continuous growth of market demand for green products, low VOC inks will play an even more important role in the future printing industry, promoting the industry's development towards sustainable development.
Among numerous low VOC ink products, the water-based inks of Zhongzhixing have been professionally tested by CNAS, and their VOC content is lower than 1%, fully meeting the standards of low VOC inks.
These inks are specially designed for food-grade packaging materials such as paper bags, envelopes, cake papers, paper cups, and paper plates. With a unique formula, they have the characteristics of low viscosity and low odor, and have good fluidity during high-speed printing, which can effectively improve production efficiency.
At the same time, the low VOC water-based inks of Zhongzhixing have strong adhesion and abrasion resistance, ensuring that the printed patterns are not easy to fall off or wear during subsequent processing and use; the characteristic of strong covering power can also make the color presentation more vivid.
Whether it is the stringent requirements for safety in the food packaging printing field or the pursuit of color expression in commercial printing, the low VOC water-based inks of Zhongzhixing can perform excellently, providing printing enterprises with high-quality solutions that combine environmental protection and high performance.
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