This article starts with the composition of the ink, makes a rough analysis of the impact of the printing process and the use and waste of the printed matter on the environment, and talks about what is meant by "green ink". Environmental protection ink has become a hot topic in the printing industry
With the successive launch of a series of non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvent inks (such as alcohol, ester-soluble inks), water-based inks, UV inks, soybean oil-based inks and other environmentally friendly inks, the environmental protection of inks is gradually deepening.
Environmental protection
The so-called "environmental protection" is relatively speaking, and should be considered from the following aspects.
Heavy metal content
This concept was first proposed by Germany. Because children often put toys printed with ink into their mouths, there is a possibility of inadvertently absorbing heavy metals, so people began to demand the heavy metal content of ink. Heavy metals are mainly derived from pigments and additives in inks. Although most of the inks have reduced the content of heavy metals, there are still people who use chrome yellow and chrome red to make inks.
Aromatic hydrocarbon solvent
Mainly refers to toluene, xylene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their derivatives. They will evaporate into the air with the drying of the ink, which not only pollutes the air, but also poses a threat to the health of printing workers.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
There are many kinds of it, such as alcohol, ester, ether, ketone, mineral oil and so on. Like the aromatic hydrocarbon solvent, it will evaporate as the ink dries, thereby polluting the air.
China's environmental protection ink development history
The environmentally friendly inks launched in the Chinese market can be divided into the following categories in chronological order.
Solvent ink
Ordinary solvent inks generally contain aromatic hydrocarbon solvents (toluene, xylene). Some international ink companies first introduced non-aromatic hydrocarbon solvent inks in the Chinese market, using alcohols, esters, ethers, ketones, and gasoline as solvents, eliminating the harm that aromatic hydrocarbon solvents may cause.
The solvent inks currently used for flexographic printing are basically free of aromatic hydrocarbons, but there are still many volatile organic solvents, which mainly affect the air quality of the printing workshop. Residual odors are already very few in prints. There may be a small amount of odor in composite prints, but they are basically not found in surface prints.
Water-based ink
Compared with solvent-based inks, water-based inks have a further environmental performance. Not only does it not contain aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, but VOC is also greatly reduced, but it still cannot achieve zero content, and still contains a small amount of alcohol, ether, and even organic amines. It has little impact on the environment, mainly polluting the air in the workshop.
UV ink
UV offset printing inks do not contain volatile organic compounds, which is a big step from this point of view. It is safer than water-based inks. But its drying is achieved by ultraviolet light. Ultraviolet rays may induce skin cancer and make oxygen into ozone, so the drying device of the printing machine should be installed with exhaust equipment to exhaust ozone outside. Water-based UV inks, like water-based inks, have a small amount of volatile organic solvents. Compared with ordinary UV offset inks, their environmental performance is worse.
Four steps of environmental protection for offset printing ink
As mentioned earlier, environmental protection is only relative, but for the most used offset printing ink, its contribution to environmental protection has not stopped.
The first generation of environmental protection products-heavy metals meet the standards
This has been achieved many years ago. Of course, it cannot be ruled out that a few low-priced, low-grade offset printing inks still contain a lot of heavy metals.
Through printing, heavy metals will remain in the print. Dry ink film contains more heavy metals than wet ink. Of course, if it is not in direct contact with food, it may be harmless not to enter the human body, but in fact, it is difficult to avoid.
Therefore, achieving the standard of heavy metals in ordinary offset printing inks is the first step to realize the environmental protection of inks.
The second generation of environmental protection products-no aromatic hydrocarbons
The main solvent in ordinary traditional offset inks is mineral oil. Some mineral oils contain higher levels of aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, which are prone to volatile pungent odors. Although aromatic hydrocarbons have almost no residue on completely dried prints, the market still looks forward to related environmentally friendly products.
Therefore, in some high-end inks, mineral oils that are completely free of aromatic hydrocarbons have been basically replaced.
The third generation of environmental protection products-soybean oil-based ink
The aromatic hydrocarbons of mineral oil in the ink are reduced or disappeared, and the influence of VOC is still unavoidable, so a soybean oil-based ink in which some mineral oils are replaced by soybean oil appears. Due to the relatively reduced VOC, the air pollution in the printing workshop will also be reduced, but after all, there is still a small amount of mineral oil.
The fourth generation of environmental protection products-low VOC ink (VOC <1%)
Its contribution to environmental protection exceeds water-based inks and UV inks. The discarded printed matter can be recycled, even if it is really discarded, its decomposition in nature is easier than other inks. Therefore, it can be regarded as the most environmentally friendly ink.
Shanghai Yaying Ink Co., Ltd. has introduced the fourth generation of environmentally friendly ink GQ600 series to the market since 2005, and is currently mainly sold in the US market.
Pay attention to details of life
Although the environmental protection of inks is constantly increasing, it is necessary to pay attention to even changing life habits to completely get rid of the pollution from inks.
After the solvent in the ink volatilizes, mainly pigments, resins and additives are left in the printed matter. If it is a printed matter used for food and pharmaceutical packaging, it is best not to directly contact the food. The fat, alcohol and esters in food (in wine and spices) may dissolve the resin in the ink. Then the food may be contaminated with resin and pigment. In particular, solvent-based, water-based and other volatile dry inks are more likely to be reconstituted. UV ink may be a little better, because it is photo-cured, and the oxidized conjunctiva, which is different from offset printing ink, is dried, and it is less likely to be reconstituted after drying.
When reading through books and newspapers, people must overcome the bad habit of using their fingers to take saliva from their tongues, so as not to bring ink into their mouths.
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