Effects on print quality of varying acrylic binder types in water‐based flexographic ink formulations

Abstract

The ink industry is one of the world's largest markets due to the increasing demand for printing inks for the packaging industry. Flexography printing is a well‐known promising technology for large‐area printing due to its high printing speed and roll‐to‐roll capability to print economically on a variety of surfaces and is used in nearly in all areas of packaging printing. Water‐based inks are considered non‐toxic, odourless, and more environmentally friendly options compared to solvent‐based inks. Therefore, in this article, the goal was to develop new water‐based ink formulation with different acrylic binders for flexographic printing on commercial solid bleached sulphate (SBS) board. Five inks were formulated with four different acrylic binders and compared to a commercially available ink to study their performance. The developed inks were investigated with regard to their print qualities and print characteristics. It was found that the binder type influenced some print quality while the effect was not significant for others. Using flexography printed cyan inks, the ink formulated with the highest molecular weight had the lowest print density and the largest tonal value increase (TVI) observed between 40 and 60 tone values. The same ink had the largest mottle values and variation in topography. For values of print contrast and delta gloss at 75°, although differences were observed between average values, data had inconclusive variation and spread around averages, where no conclusive trends or effects of acrylic binder type on these response factors were observed. Print chroma and dot roundness results were equally close for all printed samples.

Numerical Simulation on Ink Transfer Channel of Flexography Based on Fluid–Solid-Heat Interactions

“…High-viscosity fluids show greater internal friction when they flow. Although ink viscosity is an important parameter that affects fluid flow [32], in some cases, especially when ink viscosity changes are not extreme, the effect of slight changes in viscosity on the flow rate and temperature may not be sufficient to cause significant differences.…”

Development of acrylic based antimicrobial water‐based ink using curcumin for active packaging applications

“…Acrylic resinbased ink contains a water-soluble acrylic polymer as its primary component, which provides excellent adhesion to various surfaces and ensures that the ink dries quickly. 4,5 Additionally, it does not emit harmful VOCs during printing, making it a much safer option for the environment and human health. Acrylic resin-based ink also offers excellent color retention and durability, crucial for packaging materials that must withstand various conditions during storage and transportation.…”

“…One of its primary benefits is that it can be used water‐based ink, which is much safer for the environment than solvent‐based ink. Acrylic resin‐based ink contains a water‐soluble acrylic polymer as its primary component, which provides excellent adhesion to various surfaces and ensures that the ink dries quickly 4,5 . Additionally, it does not emit harmful VOCs during printing, making it a much safer option for the environment and human health.…”