Dynamic Wetting of Water-Based Inks in Flexographic and Gravure Printing

Abstract Organic solvents have been frequently and excessively used in the printing process for a long time. The use of organic solvents in solvent-based ink is responsible for fire hazards, volatile organic compounds emission, and high manufacturing cost during printing. The present study aimed at replacing solvent based ink with water-based ink for reducing the volatile organic compounds emissions and carbon footprints in gravure printing without affecting overall printing quality. The PET film was printed with a water-based ink laser engraved cylinder having reduced cell depth and it resulted in the transfer of a low volume of inks on printing substrate. The cost of printing one kg of polyester film with water-based ink was reduced by US$ 1.95 compared to solvent-based ink. The volatile organic compounds emissions for water-based ink were measured at 2478 ppm against 3373 ppm for solvent-based ink. The water-based ink reduced the carbon footprint by 3.04 kg, which was equivalent to CO2 during printing of one kg polyester film used for making flexible pouches compared to solvent-based ink. The outcome of this study may be the benchmark to authorities for green manufacturing systems in gravure printing applications for the betterment of the environment and humanity.

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Fluorescent Carbon Dots Ink for Gravure Printing

C – Journal of Carbon Research ◽

10.3390/c5010012 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 12 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Apostolos Koutsioukis ◽

Vassiliki Belessi ◽

Vasilios Georgakilas

Keyword(s):

Present Article ◽

Carbon Dots ◽

Gravure Printing ◽

High Quality ◽

Carbon Dot ◽

Water Based ◽

Fluorescent Carbon Dots ◽

Effective Water ◽

Fluorescent Carbon

In the present article, we describe the use of highly fluorescent carbon dots (CDs) for the preparation of an effective water-based carbon dot ink (CD-ink) for gravure printing. Carbon dots were prepared hydrothermally from citrate and triethylenetetramine, and mixed properly with certain resins that are used in gravure inks. The as-produced CD gravure ink was used successfully for printing high quality fluorescent images.

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Study on Temperature Control Microcapsule Drying Agent Applies to Water-Based Gravure Ink

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.469.46 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 469 ◽

pp. 46-50 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ying Jie Xu ◽

Xian Fu Wei ◽

Bei Qing Huang

Keyword(s):

Calcium Oxide ◽

Temperature Control ◽

Gravure Printing ◽

Agent Based ◽

Hydrophobic Compound ◽

Volatile Organic ◽

Water Based ◽

Printing Ink ◽

Printing Machine

The water-based gravure ink does not contain volatile organic solvent, which is an environmentally friendly ink. But slow drying is a bottleneck of water-based gravure ink in use. Proposed the water in Water-based gravure ink reacts with temperature control microcapsule drying agent when heated in drying box of gravure printing machine to increase the ink drying speed. Designed preparation purification and drying methodthe of calcium oxide microcapsules, which surface is coated with hydrophobic compound and surfactant. The coating layer of Water-based gravure ink drying agent has good water resistance below 60°C, which will drop from the surface of the calcium oxide in the process of temperature continues to rise. Use the rheometer to test the rheology of water-based gravure ink contain microcapsule drying agent, characterization of the drying effect of the microcapsule drying agent based on the change in viscosity of the ink. Experimental results show that, the excitation temperature of the drying agent is 40°C. The Prepared temperature control microcapsule drying agent can effectively improve the drying speed of the water-based gravure printing ink.

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