Aqueous and Solvent Ink

Whenever you need job of a printer and ask the printer provider for the services its mean there are wide varieties of printers which they have to use. Sometimes it is necessary that you ask the printer provider that what kind of ink they are using. If you have knowledge about the printing industry then you definitely know that there are two types of ink which is in common use of the printing industry. Many people think that no matter what kind of ink they are using in their printers. However, it is not true because the type of ink, which you use for your printer,actually shows the quality and longevity of your printer which you will order to any printer provider industry. As mentioned above that, there are two types of inks, which are in common use in the printer industry. These two types of inks are solvent ink and aqueous ink. These two types of inks have different formulations which make them different from each other.

As there are wide varieties of printers, therefore some printers work effectively with solvent ink while many other works with an aqueous ink. If you will have enough knowledge that which kind of ink is useful for your printer or which kind of ink one printer use then you can increase efficiency, quality and longevity of your printer. What is the main difference between solvent inks and aqueous inks? As it is clear from the names of these inks that “aqueous and solvent” are, actually liquid, which are carrying, inks in formulation? It does not matter that ink is pigment based or dye based; it is actually carried of the ink, which matter, that carrier can be aqueous or solvent. In the first kind of ink, which is solvent, carrier comes from alcohol or oil, which is non-polar substance. Therefore this kind of ink works very well with a plastic medium for example vinyl. In the second type of ink which is aqueous has its carrier from water. Therefore this ink is of polar nature because water has polar nature. Therefore this ink works well for quality printing on polar substances like paper etc.

As now, you know the main difference between these two inks therefore think that which one is better to use and for your printer. If you see these two inks according to their cleanliness and ecological benefits than aqueous, ink has an edge. As water is safe and clean and it is necessary for environment, therefore this type of ink is eco friendly. This type of ink never leaves volatile substance in the environment, which are dangerous for the environment. As water is a source which is renewable therefore this kind of ink is much safer and better than the other. While on the other hand solvent ink is not good for environment or you can say it is eco friendly. As you can see from its formulation that this ink is, petroleum bases which is non-renewable source. This kind of ink also send much kind of volatile organic compounds, which are dangerous for the environment.