Offset printing ink target: environmental protection (below)

3. There is no relevant standard in China
In the ink and printing industries, there are no corresponding environmental protection standards and environmental protection laws.

Environmentally friendly offset printing ink

1 environmental protection offset ink classification
According to environmental standards, offset inks are classified into: aromatic-free inks, soybean oil inks, low-VOC inks, and solvent-free inks.

2. The difference between environmental ink and general ink
1) Differences in components
Several offset printing inks are composed of pigments, resins, additives, vegetable oils, and mineral oils. The main difference is that the proportion of mineral oil components is different.

2) The difference in VOC content
Green ink reduces VOC production, as shown in Figure 1. The VOCs emitted during the printing process can contaminate the atmosphere and cause damage to the human respiratory system and crops.

3) Difference in the content of harmful substances
Generally, the content of aromatics in the solvent used in the ink is 10% to 20%. The environment-friendly printing ink uses an aromatic-free solvent, that is, the aromatic content in the solvent is less than 1%. Aromatic hydrocarbons are harmful to the human body, so the reduction of aromatics or the reduction of solvent content is a reduction of harmful substances.

4) The difference in ink performance
Generally, the drying method of offset printing ink is penetration, volatilization, and oxidative conjunctive film combination. Since the VOC of environment-friendly ink is reduced, the drying method gradually transitions to the drying mode mainly consisting of oxidized conjunctiva, and the film forming substance thereof increases accordingly, and therefore, the friction resistance thereof. Performance is better than general offset inks.

3. Environmental ink products
Japan is a country that attaches great importance to environmental protection and has taken the lead in introducing environmentally friendly ink products. For example, Japan’s Toyo Corporation has completely adopted low-aromatic or oil-free solvents for the production of environmentally friendly products such as offset inks, soy inks, and solvent-free inks.

With the increasing awareness of environmental protection in China, environmental protection inks are increasingly favored by printers. Many printing companies have begun to require ink manufacturers to provide MSDS data, heavy metal content data, and proof of compliance with environmental ink standards. This also promoted the rapid development of our country's offset printing ink toward the environment-friendly ink. In 2001, Tianjin Toyo Ink Co., Ltd. introduced TNV solventless offset inks, thermosetting aromatic-free inks and aromatic-free soybean oil inks. These products have been used by printing plants and have been widely used. China's ink industry will continue to pay attention to the global environmental ink technology trends, and continue to introduce more environmentally friendly products for the printing industry. Green ink is the development direction of offset inks.

Source: China Ink Network