Effect of Pigment Particle Size of Offset Inks on Printability

Open Access

Year : 2024 | Volume : 12 | Special Issue 05 | Page : 275 283
    By

    Madhura Mahajan,

  • A. Arulmozhi,

  1. Research Scholar, Department of Printing Technology, School of Engineering, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India
  2. Associate Professor, Department of Printing Technology, School of Engineering, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

The pigment is the most expensive part of printing inks. The process of making ink involves physical processes that require even distribution of pigments in the surrounding vehicle. This process is known as “Dispersion”. The quality of the final dispersion decides print parameters like dot gain, density, print contrast, and gloss. In this work, the aim was to study how the ink behaves on the printing press based on the ink particle size during printing trials. It is well known that pigment particle size controls ink optical properties like print density, specular gloss, and color characteristics. In our project, we prepared four process cyan inks with two varying levels of pigment particle size obtained by varying the number of milling passes/milling time, i.e., single pass and double pass. The agglomerate particle sizes used were 0.5 microns and 3.5 microns. Rheological analysis including parameters such as viscosity, hysteresis loop area, and index of thixotropy was conducted using a Physica MCR 301 rheometer to understand the interaction between the pigment and the vehicle, and the flow behavior. Press trials were conducted to evaluate the behavior of the prepared inks on Solid Bleached Sulphate and Folding Box Board paperboards. The results showed that ink pigment particles with small sizes showed better printability results. Particle Size Analyzer equipment works on the principle of light scattering and was used to measure the pigment particle size distribution of the developed inks. The maximum density obtained by the test chart with the wedge shape represents the target color density that the developed ink and thus achieves printability.

Keywords: Pigment, particle size, ink rheology, printability, paperboard

[This article belongs to Special Issue under section in Journal of Polymer and Composites (jopc)]

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How to cite this article:
Madhura Mahajan, A. Arulmozhi. Effect of Pigment Particle Size of Offset Inks on Printability. Journal of Polymer and Composites. 2024; 12(05):275-283.
How to cite this URL:
Madhura Mahajan, A. Arulmozhi. Effect of Pigment Particle Size of Offset Inks on Printability. Journal of Polymer and Composites. 2024; 12(05):275-283. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/jopc/article=2024/view=185300


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Special Issue Open Access Original Research
Volume 12
Special Issue 05
Received 04/03/2024
Accepted 23/05/2024
Published 05/08/2024
164


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