Industrial inks consist of a colorant, solvent (or vehicle), and various additives. They are generally used for printing on materials, such as rubber, cardboard, paper and metal. Industrial inks are also used for printing on plastic cards, films, porous and non-porous substrates.

There are several ways in which industrial inks function. Industrial inkjet ink is sprayed from the print head as it passes over print media. The print head moves over the print media in a horizontal direction while the paper moves in a vertical direction. In this process, the ink solvent, present in various color combinations, is sprayed using a nozzle on the print media.

Industrial inks are used in many applications. Examples include marking in the automobile industry, as well as medical, electronics, and packaging industries. Industrial inks are also widely used in the aerospace industry, food, lumber, paper, and home building products industry.

Types of Industrial Inks

• Ink solvents - Ink solvents are dye based and contain a mixture of solvents. They are used in quick drying applications.
• Solid inks - Solid ink is present in the solid state at a normal ambient temperature and is in the liquid state when present in the printing device. Solid ink technology gives a more enhanced quality printing on paper with more vivid colors. Solid ink sticks and solid ink toner and inkjet ink cartridges are common dispersal methods for this type of ink.
• Ink additives 

Applications

Industrial inks can be applied using a wide array of technologies. These include, but are not limited to:

• Film drying (also known as air setting) - Film drying or air setting forms a continuous, dry film from a binder which can be pigmented. The evaporation of the solvent, carrier, or thinner sets the coating.
• Laser marking - Laser marking uses a laser beam to fuse the industrial ink with the substrate's surface. Laser fused coatings are extremely corrosion resistant.
• Multicomponent coating - Multicomponent coating systems use a polymeric protective film that applies a prime coat, intermediate coat, and/or finish coat.
• Thermoplastic or thermoset coatings - Thermoplastic coatings are powders which melt repeatedly when heated. They solidify when cooled. Thermoset coatings are powders which, when heated, undergo a chemical reaction during the cure cycle.
• UV or radiation cured - UV or radiation cured inks only cure via the application of ultraviolet radiation.

Specifications

Bulk inkjet ink should a have high adhesion property for various print media surfaces. Moreover, an industrial inkjet ink should also have good resistance properties to various solvents and chemicals. The ink used in an industrial ink marking system should be non-acidic, have good adhesion property, and should be waterproof. 

Standards

Industrial inks should adhere to adhesive, resistance, liquidity, and volatility standards.

A-A-208 - Ink, Marking, Stencil, Opaque (Porous and Non-porous Surfaces)

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Newark / element14