Inkjet printers are mostly known for their carrier fluids, but in other printers, the same is based on the printer’s properties. They comprise ink cartridges that help deliver the required image or text on a surface. Although inkjet printers use ink cartridges to print the desired image, people ought to be aware of many types in the digital inkjet market. Here, we have discussed the six types of ink used in Inkjet printers.
Water-based inks
As the name suggests, in these types of inks, the carrier fluid is water, which is used in printing onto coated substrates. Furthermore, the water ink is solvable. Hence they are quickly absorbed by the printable surfaces, leaving the ink, pigment, or dye particles on the surface, leaving the desired image. These links are mainly used in textile or graphic applications.
Solvent-based inks
Solvent-based inks use a particular solvent as their carrier fluid. The solvents are volatile compounds that dry instantly by evaporation. Since they are cheap and durable, they work great on non-porous vinyl and other art substrates, providing good image coverage. However, their use is limited as they are toxic to the environment and leave a pungent smell once the ink dries. These links are also strongly corrosive, requiring unique solvent print heads and other affiliate devices.
Latex inks
These types of inks are relatively new and are made of 70% water and 30% solvent material to achieve the desired performance. Microscopic polymer particles are generally suspended in ink, which gives excellent durability. Since solvent-based inks are hazardous to the environment, many companies have shifted to latex inks for indoor printing and outdoor signage. However, they require a unique drying mechanism that evaporates the latex polymerase and encapsulates the colorant. The layer of the printed material is left with a continuous layer of the latex polymer, giving a crisp and detailed image.
Oil-based inks
These inks comprise three components – binder, varnish, and colorant. The varnish is generally a vegetable oil induced to increase the glossiness of the dried substance on the printed surface. Since these inks dry quickly, they are used on porous substances like coated paper, plain paper, cardboard, etc.
UV ink
UV inks are the most widely used in the industrial printing market. They are cured using photoinitiators with the help of high-intensity UV lights. Unlike the other methods, in this process, the whole UV ink liquid turns into a solid, which remains on the substrate. Therefore, they are used to print on non-porous surfaces in graphics and industrial painting.
Hot melt inks
They are also called phase change inks which are heated in the printhead to keep them in liquid form. Once they appear on the substrate, they turn into a solid form. This phase change occurs during the droplet spreading, which is controlled tightly. Since these inks do not cause bleeding of color and ink penetration, they are more advantageous than aqueous-based inks. They are generally used in packaging segments and code marketing.