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Position: HOME > Ink Knowledge > Ink Pedia
Date: Nov 03 2024 From: Star Color
Although water-based inks have already matured, there are still some doubts about their performance. Let's delve into a detailed explanation and comparison of the performance of water-based inks.
Drying Speed:
Under ideal conditions, the drying time for water-based inks typically ranges from 1 to 5 minutes, depending on the substrate type and drying method employed. In contrast, solvent-based inks dry faster, usually within 30 seconds to 1 minute.
Adhesion Properties:
Adhesion can be quantitatively assessed through standard tests such as ASTM D3359 (Tape Test). Water-based inks can typically achieve an adhesion rating of 4B to 5B on treated surfaces, where 5B represents the best adhesion performance.
Color Vibrancy:
Color intensity can be measured by the K/S value (Kubelka-Munk scattering coefficient, reflecting reflectance). Carefully formulated water-based inks can achieve a K/S value range of 1.5 to 5.0, depending on the pigment concentration level.
Durability:
Water resistance tests show that water-based inks can withstand approximately 24 to 48 hours of water immersion before significant fading occurs, while solvent-based inks may offer longer water resistance.
Abrasion Resistance:
Abrasion resistance, measured by the number of cycles before wear, varies on different substrates, typically ranging from 100 to 500 cycles, depending on the specific ink formulation.
Flexibility:
Flexibility can be assessed through bend tests. Water-based inks can withstand a bending radius of up to 1/8 inch without cracking, whereas some solvent-based inks may crack at larger bending radii.
Environmental Impact:
Compared to solvent-based inks, water-based inks generally contain lower levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), typically below 50 g/L, while solvent-based inks may have VOC levels as high as 200 to 700 g/L. Therefore, water-based inks have a significant advantage in reducing air pollution.
User Safety:
Water-based inks usually do not contain harmful air pollutants (HAPs), posing lower health risks to workers and minimal to no smoke exposure.
Equipment Compatibility:
The viscosity range of water-based inks is between 200 and 800 centipoise (cP), which may require specific adjustments to printing equipment to ensure optimal printing results.
Storage and Shelf Life:
When stored at room temperature, water-based inks typically have a shelf life of 6 months to 1 year, while solvent-based inks may last for 1 to 3 years under similar conditions.
Cost Considerations:
Although the cost of water-based inks usually ranges from $5 to $15 per kilogram, higher than the $3 to $10 per kilogram for solvent-based inks, in the long run, the reduction in environmental compliance costs may make water-based inks more cost-effective.
The above is a detailed explanation of the performance of water-based ink and its comparison with oil-based ink. I believe you have gained some understanding of water-based ink.
Huizhou ZhongZhiXing Color Technology Co., Ltd. is a food grade water-based ink manufacturer specializing in the production of environmentally friendly inks such as flexographic printing ink, uv flexo ink,gravure printing ink, water-based varnish, etc
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