How to choose UV ink and water-based ink in flexographic printing?
Date: Jan 27 2025 From: Star Color
In the field of flexographic printing, the choice of ink directly affects multiple key factors such as printing quality, cost, and environmental friendliness. UV ink and water-based ink are currently the two most common choices, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Today, we will discuss in detail how to choose.
1. Advantages and disadvantages of UV ink
（1） Advantages
Fast curing speed: UV ink can quickly cure under ultraviolet irradiation, greatly improving production efficiency. In some scenarios that require high printing speed, such as large-scale packaging printing, UV ink can quickly dry and form, reducing waiting time and allowing the production line to run at high speed.
High printing quality: The ink film formed after UV ink curing has good wear resistance, chemical resistance, and glossiness. The printed patterns have bright colors and distinct layers, which can enhance the visual effect and texture of some high-end product packaging, such as cosmetics and electronic product packaging.
（2） Insufficient
High cost: UV ink itself is relatively expensive and requires specialized UV curing equipment, which increases the initial equipment investment cost. Meanwhile, the replacement of consumables such as UV lamps also incurs certain costs.
Generally environmentally friendly: Although UV ink does not produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during the curing process, some components in the ink may pose potential risks to the environment and human health, and its waste disposal is relatively complex.
2. Characteristics of water-based ink
（1） Advantages
Superior environmental performance: Water based ink uses water as a solvent and contains almost no organic volatiles, which can effectively reduce air pollution and comply with current environmental protection concepts. In fields with high environmental requirements such as food and pharmaceutical packaging printing, water-based ink is the preferred choice.
Low cost: Water based ink is relatively inexpensive and does not require special curing equipment. Only natural drying or simple drying equipment is needed, reducing equipment investment and operating costs.
（2） Insufficient
Slow drying speed: Compared to UV ink, water-based ink has a slower drying speed, which may result in incomplete drying during high-speed printing, affecting production efficiency.
In terms of printing quality, water-based ink is slightly inferior in glossiness and wear resistance, and is not suitable for some fine printing that require extremely high printing effects.
3. How to choose
From the perspective of printing product types, UV ink is more suitable for high-end printing products that require high glossiness and wear resistance, such as luxury packaging; The environmental friendliness and cost advantages of water-based ink are more prominent in the printing of ordinary packaging such as food and daily necessities.
According to production efficiency requirements: pursuing high-speed production, the rapid curing of UV ink can meet the needs; The production speed requirement is not high, and more emphasis is placed on cost and environmental protection. Water based ink is a good choice.
Considering cost factors: limited budget, do not want to invest too much in equipment and ink, water-based ink has simple supporting equipment and low ink prices; With sufficient funds and high requirements for printing quality and speed, UV ink, although expensive, can bring better comprehensive benefits.
In summary, there is no absolute good or bad between UV ink and water-based ink. When choosing which ink to use in flexographic printing, it is necessary to consider multiple factors such as product type, production efficiency, and cost, weigh the pros and cons, and make the most suitable decision for one's own production needs.
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