Comparison of water-based ink and oil-based ink
Date：Jul 09 2024 From：Star Color
In the printing industry,
water-based ink and oil-based ink are very important printing materials, and their types and properties directly affect the quality and environmental protection of printed matter. Among them, water-based ink and oil-based ink as two main ink types, each has a unique advantage and scope of application. Here, water-based ink and oil-based ink will be compared in detail from environmental protection, drying speed, printing effect, application range and cost.
| Feature |
Water-Based Ink |
Oil-Based Ink |
| Environmental Friendliness |
High environmental friendliness, low VOC emissions, minimal harm to humans and the environment |
Relatively less environmentally friendly, higher VOC emissions, may pose some risks to humans and the environment |
| Drying Speed |
Relatively slow drying speed, requiring good drying systems |
Faster drying speed, suitable for high-speed printing |
| Printing Effect |
May have slightly inferior color vividness, gloss, and saturation compared to oil-based inks, but excellent print quality stability |
Excellent color representation, gloss, and wear resistance, suitable for high-resolution and high-gloss printing |
| Application Range |
Widely used in food packaging, pharmaceutical packaging, children's toys, and gradually expanding into books, magazines, commercial printing, etc. |
Dominant in packaging printing, label printing, advertising printing, etc. |
| Cost |
Higher production costs, with greater initial investment and operating costs |
Lower production costs, abundant supply in the market, relatively stable prices |
| Operational Difficulty |
Easier to control, less prone to clogging or smudging |
Higher operational skills required to maintain consistent printing results |
| Sustainability |
Aligns with green printing trends, enhancing corporate environmental image |
May face sustainability challenges with tightening environmental regulations |
Environmental FriendlinessWater-Based Ink: Water-based ink uses water as its solvent, significantly reducing the emission of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) compared to traditional solvent-based inks. It is virtually odorless and poses minimal harm to the environment and human health. Consequently, water-based ink is widely adopted in environmentally sensitive sectors such as food packaging, children's toys, and pharmaceutical packaging.
Oil-Based Ink: Oil-based ink employs organic solvents as diluents, which volatilize into the air during printing, contributing to air pollution and potentially affecting the health of operators. Although some oil-based ink formulations have been improved to lower VOCs, their environmental performance still lags behind water-based ink.
Drying SpeedWater-Based Ink: Due to the relatively slow evaporation rate of water, water-based ink dries more slowly. This necessitates the use of efficient drying systems in printing equipment to prevent sticking or deformation during subsequent processing or stacking. However, advancements in technology have significantly improved the drying speed of water-based ink.
Oil-Based Ink: The high volatility of organic solvents in oil-based ink results in faster drying, enhancing productivity on high-speed printing machines. Nevertheless, it also imposes stricter requirements on ventilation and exhaust systems.
Printing EffectsWater-Based Ink: Water-based ink may slightly lag behind oil-based ink in terms of color vividness, gloss, and saturation. Nevertheless, technological advancements are gradually narrowing this gap. Additionally, water-based ink offers better control during printing, minimizing issues like plate clogging and smudging, thus ensuring print quality stability.
Oil-Based Ink: Renowned for its exceptional color rendition, gloss, and wear resistance after drying, oil-based ink delivers more intricate and vibrant printing effects, especially for large solid areas and high-resolution prints.
Application RangeWater-Based Ink: Thanks to its superior environmental performance, water-based ink is prevalent in sensitive industries like food packaging, pharmaceutical packaging, and children's toys. With technological advancements and cost reductions, its application is expanding into books, magazines, and commercial printing.
Oil-Based Ink: Oil-based ink dominates packaging printing, label printing, and advertising printing due to its impressive printing effects and fast drying speed. It is indispensable for prints requiring high gloss and wear resistance.
CostWater-Based Ink: Despite its notable environmental advantages, water-based ink's higher production costs and stricter requirements for printing equipment and processes increase initial investment and operational costs.
Oil-Based Ink: Oil-based ink boasts relatively lower production costs and stable market prices due to ample supply. However, as environmental regulations tighten and consumer demand for eco-friendly products grows, the long-term costs of using oil-based ink may rise.
In conclusion, water-based and oil-based inks each have their merits. The choice between the two depends on specific printing requirements, environmental considerations, and budgetary constraints. With heightened environmental awareness and technological advancements, water-based ink is poised to replace oil-based ink in more sectors, becoming the mainstream choice in the printing industry.
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