Digital inkjet inks can be classified as aqueous and solvent resistant. According to the solvent, it can be classified as non-water based water based and / ink. According to the classification water-based pigment inks can be divided into pigment, dye, and sublimation inks; non-water-based inks can be divided into oil-based pigment inks, and solvent-based pigment inks. From the chemical point of view, oil is one of the solvents. We are referring to a non-water based ink. In addition, there is a now rarely mentioned domestic UV-curable inks. Inkjet inks can be divided into six categories.

    Advantages and advantages and disadvantages of various types of printing inks.

    Water-based dye ink: The advantage is the bright colors, because it is made of water, water volatilization, there is no harm to the environment, more environmentally friendly; disadvantage is that it is easy to fade, generally only in indoor use.

    Pigment ink: the advantages of good light resistance; disadvantage is that the color is darker.

    Water-based thermal sublimation ink: the advantage is that you can transfer to a different medium, not just on the paper surface. Such as ceramic, glass, etc.. Many different media have been transferred in the past; the disadvantage is that it is more cumbersome and more expensive.

    Water-soluble ink: made as oil-soluble pigment ink, odorless, good light resistance advantages; disadvantages are expensive, and must be printed in the paint medium.

    Solvent inks: Due to the pigments in nature, so light resistance, the advantages of water resistance, and can be printed on any media. The disadvantage is that with oil-based inks themselves are flammable, hazardous, and have a strong odor that can be harmful to humans.

    UV-curable ink: The advantage is that the ink itself does not contain volatile solvents, and curing, light resistance after water resistance are very good, so it is suitable for the printing industry; the disadvantage is that it can not be pre-cured, it is easy for some monomers lead to some people allergic reactions.

    Applications in the market and inks

    These inks are recognized in the market for several key factors.

    1, the price, the domestic market price has fallen exponentially from the previous to the present.

    2, the requirements of the application, in some special applications, the general water-based pigment ink, dye ink can not achieve the desired effect, so it is necessary to use some special purpose ink, such as sublimation ink. It can be printed on ceramics, metal, cloth.

    3, environmental requirements, especially in the European market on the cartridge very strict control, there are also different legal requirements, but in the domestic market, solvent ink can be seen now very popular in this industry at present the government does not necessarily environmental requirements. In the domestic market, price is the main determinant. In Europe, the Japanese market is more focused on quality, safety, environmental protection.

    Future trends

    Water-based dye ink indoor use will increase the proportion of

    Because some new applications, such as digital printing, photo printing, pre-press proofing will need to use some non-fading, good light, can save ink, so water-based pigment ink / m is a future trend.

    Solvent pigment ink needs to be further standardized, professional, environmental protection

    We should develop specifications, some product safety indicators. Solvent inks try to present to these areas. At some point in the future highly corrosive, strong solvent-based inks will slowly be replaced.

    Such as the oil industry - limited to certain industry-specific applications of oil-based pigment inks

    Sublimation ink and UV-curable ink is currently a relatively small domestic applications, but it has its own possesses some unique advantages, characteristics, these two technologies have a rising trend abroad.

    Environmentally friendly inks are the direction of future efforts.