1. Different raw materials

Solvent-based ink uses organic solvents or solvent-based polymer film-forming agents as carriers, and the pigments or dyes are dispersed in the carrier to form ink. Water-based ink is simply called water ink, and flexographic water-based ink is also called liquid ink. It is mainly made of water-soluble resin, organic pigments, solvents and related additives through compound grinding.

2. Different application scopes

Due to the high durability of printed images and low raw material costs, solvent-based inks have huge potential in large-format and wide-format applications. market.

Water-based ink is particularly suitable for packaging and printing products with strict hygienic requirements such as tobacco, alcohol, food, beverages, medicines, children's toys, etc.

3. Different types

Solvent-based inks are distinguished according to the ink base and can be divided into water-based inks, solvent-based inks and UV inks. Solvent-based ink uses a non-water-soluble solvent as the main component to dissolve the colorant. The colorant here can be either a pigment or a dye. Solvent-based ink usually consists of colorants, solvents, surfactants, humectants, pH adjusters, driers, metal ion chelating agents, preservatives and other additives.

Water-based inks are mainly divided into four categories according to format:

Letterpress ink: a type of ink used to print books, newspapers, albums, documents, account books, etc. The main feature of letterpress printing is that the inked part of the printing plate protrudes from the non-inked part. Letterpress inks are divided into lead printing inks, copperplate inks, letterpress rotary inks, and flexographic letterpress inks according to the type of printing machine and the use of printed products.

Lithographic ink: A type of ink suitable for lithographic printing. All parts of the lithographic printing layout are basically on a flat surface. The patterned parts are oil-wet and the non-patterned parts are hydrophilic. The principle of oil-water repulsion is used for printing, so lithographic ink must have water-resistant properties. According to the process, it is divided into offset printing ink, web offset printing ink, flat offset printing ink, waterless offset printing ink, iron printing ink, lithographic ink, and Co? plate ink.

Gravure ink: a type of ink suitable for gravure printing. During printing, the pattern portion recessed in the layout is filled with ink, and the ink in the non-pattern portion is wiped off or scraped clean before printing. There are engraving gravure inks and photogravure inks.

Mesh ink: a type of ink that leaks through the mesh of the printing plate onto the printing surface for printing. Mesh printing ink is divided into writing ink and screen printing ink.

Baidu Encyclopedia-Water-based Ink

Baidu Encyclopedia-Solvent-based Ink