Water-based ink or UV ink for food packaging?

Date: Oct 29 2024 From: Star Color

Food packaging ink selection has a significant impact on human health, with water-based inks and UV inks being two common eco-friendly options. Below is a comprehensive comparison of these two types of inks:

I. Water-Based Inks

Environmental Impact

Water-based inks are eco-friendly, with water as the primary solvent and only containing a small amount of alcohol (about 3% to 5%). They do not contain organic solvents or volatile organic compounds (VOCs), making them less harmful to the environment.

During printing, water-based inks produce no irritating odors, enhancing workplace safety and protecting the health of operators.

Printing Quality

Water-based inks produce clear, vibrant prints with high gloss.

They exhibit excellent adhesion, water resistance, alkaline resistance, and abrasion resistance.

Applications and Cost

Water-based inks are suitable for various printing methods, such as gravure printing and flexographic printing, and are particularly well-suited for printing on plastic films like PE, BOPP, PVC, PET, and PP.

Water-based inks are relatively low in cost due to their solvent-free nature and ease of cleaning, which reduces equipment and maintenance costs.

Drawbacks

Color performance may be somewhat weaker, especially on certain special materials, compared to oil-based inks.

Weather resistance is relatively poor, making them less suitable for outdoor use over extended periods.
Water-based ink or UV ink for food packaging?

II. UV Inks

Environmental Impact

UV inks are also eco-friendly, as they do not require any solvents and are cured and dried through ultraviolet light, resulting in nearly zero pollutant emissions.

Printing Quality

UV inks offer exceptional print quality with vibrant colors and high gloss.

They possess good abrasion resistance, solvent resistance, and weather resistance, making them suitable for high-quality printing needs.

UV inks can also achieve special effects such as refraction, matte, and texture, adding diversity to printed materials.

Applications and Cost

UV inks are applicable in various printing fields, including packaging and commercial printing.

However, UV inks are relatively high in cost due to the need for specific UV lamps for curing and the higher price of the ink itself.

Drawbacks

The printing process is relatively complex, requiring specific equipment and technical expertise.

If the ink is not fully dried, it may cause skin irritation.
food grade UV Ink

III. Conclusion

For food packaging printing, water-based inks are favored for their environmental impact, low cost, and good printing quality. UV inks, on the other hand, occupy a prominent position in high-quality printing due to their exceptional print quality, abrasion resistance, and weather resistance.

When selecting ink, those who prioritize cost will opt for water-based inks, while those who prioritize print quality will choose UV inks.