Meeting production quality standards requires finding an ink that is suited for the most advanced digital presses. One option is UV-curable ink. With UV printing, ultraviolet light is used to cure and dry ink, which occurs virtually in an instant. By comparison, traditional solvent inks take time to dry, require additives to aid drying, release volatile organic compounds during evaporation, and are absorbed into the substrate, which can dilute colors.
Components of UV Ink
UV ink is uniquely made up of:
- Monomers: The building blocks of the ink, monomers can control ink viscosity, softness, hardness, flexibility, and elongation characteristics.
- Oligomers: Are compatible with a wide range of substrates and incorporate adhesive compounds and reactive resins that allow the ink to bind with the material.
- Pigments: Provide the color but must consist of fine enough particles to optimize dispersion. Particles under 200 nanometers are coated to prevent them from clumping together and clogging printer nozzles.
- Photoinitiators: Exposure of photoinitiators to UV light triggers the cross-linking of oligomers and monomers, a process known as polymerization. The photoinitiators are tuned to a specific UV wavelength; no heat or air is needed for curing.