How Ink Thinners Enhance the Print Quality Across Industries?
Ink thinner is a special solution for diluting the ink, making it much easier to use. Especially used in the printing and packaging industry, they also renew the ink of old stamp pads and other cleaning equipment. The higher the viscosity of the ink, the higher the amount of thinner will be used to dilute it and allow it to spread effectively Moreover, apart from printing applications, the thinner is also used for effectively cleaning the equipment including metals. Thinners are classified based on their drying speed and ink, whether water-based or solvent-based. However, high-quality ink thinners can not only perform effectively but also help achieve the desired results.
Major Applications of Ink Thinners
As Drying Chemical
Viscous ink solutions can take a long time to dry up and increase the chance of defects by the people who handle the documents. Ink thinners are often mixed with high-viscosity printing ink so that the printed results can dry faster. This eliminates the risk of smudging for the printing documents.
Restoring Ink Pads
Dried-up ink on the stamp pads does provide effective printing and makes the stamps ineffective. The ink thinners are used in such cases to restore the ink of the pads and make them efficient again for stamping.
Effectively Cleaning Stamps and Equipment
Ink thinners are the best cleaning solutions for equipment and stamps with printing ink residue. It makes the dried-up, thick ink diluted again for the time being till you can clean it thoroughly with water and cloth. These solutions are the most cost effective method to clean the printing equipment and tools.
Provides Better Adhesion
High viscosity or drying of the printing ink can reduce its adhesion significantly. In such cases, the right type of ink thinners is used to restore its effectiveness by diluting it. With the right amount the desired results can be remarkable, helping to achieve high-quality printing.
Increasing Image Life
The life of an old and vintage image can be enhanced or it can be restored to its prime, with the help of various types of ink thinners as they help the ink to effectively attach to the surface of the printing material.
Best For Writing Tools
There are different types of writing tools including ballpoint pens, fountain pens, gel pens, etc. which have ink thinners along with the ink, for maintaining its viscosity to the desired levels and help in quality writing.
Solvent Inks
Solvent-based inks have a great reputation for being used effectively on almost every surface. That’s why they are extensively used in the printing industry. However, to maintain their quality, the ink thinners are mixed in precise quantities.
Types of Printing That Use Ink Thinners
Flexographic Printing
In this type of printing application, solvent-based ink thinners and printing ink are used for a wide range of surfaces. This powerful solution enables companies to print quality work on a wide range of surfaces.
Water Based Ruling Flexographic Ink - Color: Multicolor
Price: 1000 INR / Kilograms
Screen Printing
Screen printing is one of the major applications used for printing on various types of materials that require high-quality ink thinners and printing inks for better print quality.
Cleaning
In printing facilities, often the ink residue gets struck on the equipment and rubber stamps. So, best-quality ink thinners are utilized, as a cost-effective solution, for cleaning equipment and rubber stamps, by reducing its viscosity.
Various Types of Ink Thinners Used Across Industries
Water-Based Inks Thinners
These ink thinners are more cost-effective and eco-friendly than solvent thinners, effectively reducing the drying time of the inks for high-quality printing. They are most used in printing facilities and do not release toxic fumes and are safe for nature.
Solvent-Based Ink Thinners
Solvent-based thinners are used in industrial spaces where they require more durability and fast drying time. Most commonly these types of thinners help facilitate large-scale printing operations. The ink dries up pretty fast and efficiently sticks to the surface no matter what type it is: plastic, metal, fabric, etc. Some examples of solvent-based ink thinners are: Acetone (best for screen printing and cleaning ink residue), Toluene/Xylene (best for industrial printing, making ink flowable), and Methyl Ethyl Ketone ( for flexographic and gravure printing).
Alcohol Ink Thinners
Most commonly alcohol-based ink thinners are used in packaging and labeling applications for bold and vibrant printing quality. It does not only offer fast drying time but also provides stability to the ink. Two of the few examples of alcohol ink thinners are Isopropyl Alcohol, which offers great stability, and Ethanol, for higher printing quality on packaging surfaces.
UV-Curable Thinners
Used for printing high-end products including electronics, magazines, etc. this type of thinner lets the ink dry quickly when it comes in contact with UV light. Reactive Monomer and Photo-Initiators are the two types of thinners that fall under this category. The first one helps adjust the thickness of ink without compromising its efficacy, and the second is for high-quality prints that stay for a long time.
Oil-Based Thinners
Most commonly used in traditional printing including newspapers, and books. These types of inks are used in large publications allowing the ink to develop deep and rich colors. Linseed Oil and Petroleum Distillates are two examples of oil-based thinners that are obtained naturally and considered eco-friendly options.
Customized Ink Thinners
These types of thinners are developed using any of the above category thinners on demand for unique printing applications. The two most commonly used customized ink thinners are Silicone-Based Thinners and Acrylic-Based Thinners.
How to Choose The Right Ink Thinners?
You will have to consider multiple factors to make a final choice:
Ink Type
The very first thing to do is know about what type of ink you are using to publish items, including water-based, alcohol bases, solvent-based, or UV-based. By knowing the right type of ink, you can make a spot-on choice for the thinner.
Drying Rate
As per your application, you must choose the ink reducer thinner that has the exact drying time you want. For quick operations, you must choose the quick-drying thinners and if you prefer quality over quantity then choose the slow-drying rate thinners.
Rapid Absorption
Find out if you want rapid absorption of the ink or slow and make the choice accordingly. Some of the companies avoid quick absorption of the ink for better quality.
Consult
You can consult with an expert about your application and requirements for the right type of ink thinners. They know all about the ink types and their benefits for your applications.
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