The difference between UV ink and offset printing ink

Date: Aug 28 2024 From: Star Color

In the fast-developing printing industry, ink as one of the core materials, its performance and characteristics directly affect the quality of printed materials and production efficiency.

UV ink and offset ink, as the two mainstream ink types, each in a specific application area to show the unique advantages.

Definition and Principle
UV ink is an ink that cures quickly under ultraviolet light. Its working principle mainly depends on the photopolymerization reaction, that is, the photoinitiator in the ink in the ultraviolet light irradiation generates free radicals or ions, which in turn triggers the crosslinking polymerization reaction between monomers and prepolymers, and ultimately the formation of a solid ink film layer. This curing method is not only fast, and no solvent volatilization, so it has significant environmental advantages.

Offset ink is a kind of ink that dries through solvent evaporation and resin oxidation film. It is mainly composed of resin, pigment, solvent and additives, etc. It has good fluidity and printing stability. During the printing process, the offset ink is attached to the paper surface by the transferring action of the roller, and then gradually dries into a film in the air.

Definition and Principle

Composition Comparison
There are significant differences between UV inks and offset inks in terms of composition; UV inks mainly contain polyester acrylic resins, acrylate monomers, photoinitiators, polymerization inhibitors and other components, which can quickly react to form a hard film under UV light irradiation.

Offset inks, on the other hand, are mainly composed of resins, vegetable oils, mineral oils, pigments and additives, and their drying process depends on the volatilization of solvents and the oxidation of resins.

Comparison of Performance Characteristics
The advantages of UV inks are mainly reflected in the following aspects:
Curing speed is extremely fast, usually only a few seconds to a few minutes to complete the curing process, which greatly improves production efficiency; UV ink without volatile organic matter to achieve good curing results, reducing environmental pollution and print management issues; UV ink also has wear-resistant, solvent-resistant, weathering and other characteristics, which can significantly improve the quality of the printed materials and service life.

The advantages of offset printing ink is its good fluidity, high printing stability and bright colors and other characteristics. However, offset inks also have some obvious disadvantages, such as slow curing speed and relatively poor environmental performance and other issues.

Comparison of application areas
Due to the UV ink and offset ink in the performance of the differences, they also show different characteristics in the application areas. UV ink because of its fast curing speed, environmental performance and other advantages, in the field of high-grade packaging, electronic products, label printing and other areas have been widely used. These areas require high quality and efficiency of printed materials, and UV inks are able to meet these needs.

Offset printing ink, on the other hand, has dominated the bulk of printed materials such as books, newspapers and leaflets due to its low cost and stable printing effect. These areas have a high demand for printed materials and high cost requirements, offset printing ink has become the material of choice due to its good cost performance.

Technology Development Trend
With the improvement of environmental awareness and technological advances, UV inks and offset inks are constantly looking for technological innovation and performance enhancement, UV inks, water-based UV ink research and development and application has become a new hot spot. This ink not only retains the advantages of fast curing UV ink, but also greatly reduces the emission of VOCs, further enhancing the environmental performance.
As for offset printing ink, it is trying to improve its environmental performance and printing efficiency.

In summary, UV ink and offset ink in the composition, performance characteristics and application areas, there are significant differences. UV ink with its fast curing speed, environmental performance and other advantages in the field of high-grade printing occupies a place; and offset ink with its low cost, stable printing results and other characteristics of the bulk of the printed matter has been widely used.