The

Printing
Ink Manual
 The
Printing
Ink Manual
FIFTH EDITION

Edited by

R.H. Leach, R.J. Pierce

E.P. Hickman, M.J. Mackenzie and H.G. Smith
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

ISBN 10 0-948905-81-6
ISBN 13 978-0-948905-81-0

Published by Springer
P.O. Box 17, 3300 AA Dordrecht, The Netherlands.

www.springer.com

First edition 1961

Reprinted 1963 (with revisions)
Second edition 1969
Third edition 1979
Reprinted 1984
Fourth edition 1988
Reprinted 1988, 1989, 1991
Fifth edition 1993
Reprinted 1999, 2002, 2007

Printed on acid-free paper

All Rights Reserved

ß 2007 Springer
No part of the material protected by this copyright notice may be reproduced or
utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and
retrieval system, without written permission from the copyright owner.
Contents

Preface xi
The editors and authors xiii
List of figures xiv
List of tables xx
Foreword xxii

1 The nature of printing ink 1

1.1 A brief history 1
1.2 The nature of printing inks 5
1.3 Visual characteristics of inks 5
1.4 The nature of printing inks as determined by
the printing process 7
1.5 Methods of drying printing inks 9
1.6 The adhesive nature of printing inks 10
1.7 The resistance properties of printed inks 11

2 Printing processes 14
2.1 The offset lithographic process 15
2.2 The flexographic process 33
2.3 The gravure process 42
2.4 The letterpress process 53
2.5 The screen printing process 58
2.6 Ink-jet printing 62
2.7 Toner printing systems 66
2.8 Other printing processes 74
2.9 Print recognition 75
2.10 Substrate selection 81
2.11 The need for communication 84

3 Colour and colour matching 86

3.1 The physical nature of colour 86
3.2 The perception of colour 91
3.3 Additive and subtractive colour mixing 95
vi CONTENTS

3.4 Origins of colour in printed material 101

3.5 Graphic reproduction 103
3.6 The measurement of colour 105
3.7 The recording of colour data and the specification
of colour 110
3.8 Colour matching 115
3.9 Instrumental colour match prediction 120

4 Raw materials 140

Section 1: Pigments 141

4.1 Yellow pigments 142
4.2 Orange pigments 149
4.3 Red pigments 153
4.4 Green pigments 170
4.5 Blue pigments 173
4.6 Violet pigments 180
4.7 Brown pigments 185
4.8 Black pigments 187
4.9 White pigments and extenders 189
4.10 Pearlescent materials 195
4.11 Metallic pigments 185
4.12 Fluorescent pigments 196
4.13 General properties of pigments 197
Section 2: Dyestuffs 199
4.14 Acid dyes 200
4.15 Basic dyes 201
4.16 Solvent dyes 204
4.17 Disperse dyes 207
Section 3: Oils 210
4.18 Drying vegetable oils 210
4.19 Other oils 215
Section 4: Resins 218
4.20 Natural resins 219
4.21 Synthetic resins 225
Section 5: Solvents 250
4.22 Hydrocarbon solvents 253
4.23 Alcohols 255
4.24 Glycols 257
4.25 Ketones 259
4.26 Esters 260
Section 6: Plasticizers 261
Section 7: Waxes 265
4.27 Synthetic waxes 266
4.28 Petroleum waxes 269
4.29 Natural waxes 271
CONTENTS vii
Section 8: Driers 273
4.30 Liquid driers 274
4.31 Paste driers 275
Section 9: Miscellaneous additives 276
4.32 Chelating agents 276
4.33 Anti-oxidants 277
4.34 Surfactants 278
4.35 Deodorants and reodorants 280
4.36 Pure chemicals 280
4.37 Defoaming agents 282
4.38 Laking agents 283
Section 10: Raw materials for radiation curing systems 284
4.39 Pigment selection 284
4.40 Prepolymers 285
4.41 Reactive diluents 286
4.42 Photo-initiators 287
4.43 Additives and inhibitors 287
Section 11: Health and safety at work 288

5 Letterpress inks 323

5.1 Nature of the process 323
5.2 Types of press 323
5.3 General characteristics of letterpress inks 325
5.4 Physical properties 326
5.5 Raw materials 326
5.6 Letterpress ink formulation 330
5.7 Newspaper inks 333
5.8 Inks for packaging 334
5.9 Ink-related problems and their possible solution 336
5.10 Special purpose applications 339

6 Lithographic inks 342

6.1 General introduction to lithography 342
6.2 Cold-set lithographic inks 353
6.3 Web-offset heat-set inks 360
6.4 Sheet-fed inks for paper and board 387
6.5 Three piece tin-printing inks 431

7 Dry offset inks 453

Section 1: Dry offset inks for plastic 453
7.1 Drying mechanisms and the influence of the
substrate 455
7.2 Formulating principles 456
7.3 General characteristics of dry offset inks 459
7.4 The future 461
viii CONTENTS

Section 2: Two-piece can decoration 461

7.5 Method of print application 462
7.6 Ink formulation 463
7.7 Ink properties required 465
7.8 Printing problems 466
7.9 Problem solving 467
7.10 Future trends 472

8 Gravure inks 473

8.1 General characteristics 475
8.2 Physical properties of inks and their measurement 483
8.3 Formulating principles 490
8.4 Inks and varnishes for specific end-use applications 502
8.5 Printing ink faults 536
8.6 Recent developments 540

9 Flexographic inks 547

9.1 General characteristics of the inks 549
9.2 Physical properties of flexographic inks and their
measurement 554
9.3 Formulating principles 560
9.4 Inks and varnishes for specific purposes 569
9.5 Ink-related printing problems and possible solutions 592
9.6 Recent trends 595

10 Screen inks 599

10.1 Important characteristics of screen inks 599
10.2 Requirements of raw materials 604
10.3 Inks for paper and board 607
10.4 Inks for impervious surfaces 610
10.5 Inks for plastic containers 615
10.6 Textile inks 618
10.7 Transfer inks 621
10.8 Overprint varnishes 622
10.9 Daylight fluorescent inks 622
10.10 Process inks 623
10.11 Metallics 624
10.12 Speciality screen inks 626
10.13 Inks for the electronics industry 628
10.14 Ink-related printing problems 632
10.15 Recent trends 634

11 Ultra-violet and electron-beam curing systems 636

11.1 Radiation-curing processes 637
11.2 Electromagnetic radiation and electron beams 638
11.3 Introduction to formulation 641
11.4 Advantages and limitations for ultra-violet and
electron-beam inks and varnishes 642
CONTENTS ix
11.5 Chemistry of ultra-violet initiation and cure 642
11.6 Prepolymer resins for electron beam and
ultra-violet formulations 652
11.7 Diluents for electron beam and ultra-violet
formulations 657
11.8 Formulation principles for ultra-violet-curable inks 661
11.9 Ultra-violet-curable varnish and coatings 666
11.10 Cationic-curing systems 668
11.11 Present and future uses 669
11.12 Electron-beam-curable inks and varnishes 670
11.13 Radiation-curing equipment 671

12 Ink-jet inks 678

12.1 Introduction 678
12.2 Continuous ink-jet inks 679
12.3 Drop on demand ink-jet printing 694

13 Manufacture of inks and varnishes 699

13.1 General requirements 699
13.2 The manufacturing process 700
13.3 Mixing equipment 720
13.4 Milling equipment 726
13.5 Handling, storage and manufacture of UV inks 745
13.6 Manufacture of newspaper inks 746
13.7 Handling and storage of inks 749
13.8 Modern production trends 758
13.9 The future 765

14 Rheology of printing inks 766

14.1 Flow in ideal systems 767
14.2 Deviations from Newtonian behaviour 768
14.3 Apparatus for the measurement of the viscosity
of Newtonian liquids 775
14.4 Practical measurements for non-Newtonian systems 778
14.5 Tack 786
14.6 Tack measurement 787
14.7 Ink distribution and related matters 792
14.8 Rheological measurements and machine design 797

15 Testing, control and quality assurance 804

15.1 Standard tests 805
15.2 Sampling technique 805
15.3 Pigment testing 806
15.4 Inkmaking characteristics 808
15.5 Chips, predispersions and flushed pastes 814
15.6 Dye testing 814
15.7 Resins 815
15.8 Varnishes and oils 817
x CONTENTS

15.9 Solvents 820

15.10 Radiation-curing products 825
15.11 Miscellaneous materials 826
15.12 Ink quality control 827
15.13 Short-term ink testing 828
15.14 Long-term ink testing 833
15.15 Press performance tests 837
15.16 Dry print performance tests 843
15.17 Statistical process control 854
15.18 Quality assurance 861

16 Analysis of printing inks 865

16.1 Introduction 865
16.2 Chemical tests 866
16.3 Physical techniques 871
16.4 Instrumental techniques 873
16.5 Surface analysis techniques 897
16.6 Environmental monitoring 898

17 Health, safety and the environment 901

17.1 General indroduction to UK legislation 901
17.2 Health and Safety at Work, etc. Act 1974
(HSW Act) 903
17.3 Handling of dangerous substances in the
manufacture of printing inks 906
17.4 Mechanical and operational aspects 929
17.5 Specific printing ink applications 943
17.6 Some international constraints 949
Preface

The first edition of the Printing Ink Manual was published by the Society of
British Printing Ink Manufacturers in 1961 to fill the need for an
authorative textbook on printing technology, which would serve both
as a training manual and a reliable reference book for everyday use. The
book soon became established as a standard source of information on
printing inks and reached its fourth edition by 1988. This, the fifth
edition, is being published only five years later, so rapid has been the
development in technology.
The objective of the Printing Ink Manual remains unchanged. It is a
practical handbook designed for use by everyone engaged in the printing
ink industry and the associated industries. It provides all the information
required by the ink technical for the day-to-day formulation of printing
inks. It supplies the factory manager with details of the latest equipment
and manufacturing methods, including large-scale production, and gives
guidance on achieving quality assessment and total quality management
specifications. Care has been taken to maintain the value of the Manual
for training both technical personnel and others who require some know-
ledge of inks. Readers with little scientific knowledge will not find diffi-
culty in using the Manual, but sufficient chemistry and physics have been
included to provide an explanation of the underlying principles and
theories governing the behaviour of inks for use by the advanced tech-
nologist. Suppliers of raw materials, substrate manufacturers, printers
and print users will find the book a valuable source of information.
Both environmental issues and quality management concepts have
grown in significance and are having a marked effect on ink development
and manufacture. These trends are covered in detail, incorporating the
latest practices in a continuously changing situation. Many chapters have
been written by authors working for international companies, ensuring
that the contents will include the widest international practices. Legisla-
tion, mainly European and from the United States, together with speci-
fications set by world-wide end-users have established printing ink as a
truly international product and the Manual will consequently be of help
to a very wide readership.
This edition contains many significant changes. The lithographic chap-
ter has been expanded to cover in more detail cold-set, heat-set, sheet-fed
xii PREFACE

paper and metal-decorating inks; dry-offset inks have now been allocated
a separate chapter and have been divided into inks for plastics and two-
piece inks. Analysis has been separated from quality control and both are
covered in individual chapters. A new chapter has been introduced
dealing with ink-jet inks. All the remaining chapters have been reviewed,
updated and expanded where needed.

R.H. Leach
R.J. Pierce

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The editors wish to acknowledge the valuable help from P.W.G.
Seabrook, Director of the Society of British Printing Ink Manufacturers.
Without his organizational skills their tight target schedule could not
have been met.
The editors and authors

Editors
Dr R.H. Leach Joint Editor-in-Chief
Mr R.J. Pierce Joint Editor-in-Chief
Mr E.P. Hickman Technical Consultant, Manders Printing Inks
Mr M.J. Mackenzie Technical Director, Usher-Walker Printing Inks Ltd
Dr H.G. Smith Technical Director (Oil Inks),
BASF Coatings þ Inks Ltd

Authors
Chapter 1 Dr R.H. Leach
Mr R.J. Pierce
Chapter 2 Mr J.W. Birkenshaw PIRA International
Chapter 3 Mr J.F. Brown Mander-Kidd (UK) Ltd
Mr K. Lau Datacolour International
Chapter 4 Mr M. Clayton Sun Chemical Ltd
Chapter 5 Mr G.B. Burdall Usher-Walker plc
Chapter 6 Mr G.B. Burdall Usher-Walker plc
Mr D. Owen Sun Chemical Ltd
Dr R. Paradine Carnaud Metalbox Technology plc
Chapter 7 Mr J.E. Kenee Can Print Ltd
Mr P. O’Flynn Coates Lorilleux Ltd
Chapter 8 Mr B. Hancock BASF Coatings þ Inks Ltd
Chapter 9 Mr F.C. Wyatt Coates Lorilleux Ltd
Chapter 10 Mr M.J. Barker Dane and Company Ltd
Chapter 11 Mr I. Hargreaves Sun Chemical Ltd
Chapter 12 Dr A. Hudd Domino Amjet Ltd
Chapter 13 Mr M.J. Heath Coates Lorilleux Ltd
Chapter 14 Mr G.A. Tabbernor Manders Oil Inks Ltd
Chapter 15 Mr P. Simpson Manders Oil Inks Ltd
Chapter 16 Mr D. Easterby Coates Lorilleux Ltd
Chapter 17 Mr J.L. Orpwood Coates Lorilleux Ltd
Index Mr P. Greene PIRA International
List of figures

Fig. 2.1 Single-colour rotary Fig. 2.18 Common-impression

offset machine. press.
Fig. 2.2 Two-colour rotary offset Fig. 2.19 A gravure printing unit.
machine. Fig. 2.20 Doctor blade angles.
Fig. 2.3 Blanket-to-blanket Fig. 2.21 A gravure screen.
perfector press. Fig. 2.22 Gelatine layer on copper
Fig. 2.4 A typical complete cylinder.
four-colour press. Fig. 2.23 The etched surface.
Fig. 2.5 Blanket-to-blanket Fig. 2.24 Platen presses.
perfector press units. Fig. 2.25 Flat-bed cylinder press
Fig. 2.6 Web printing units with arrangement.
common-impression Fig. 2.26 Etching a letterpress
cylinders. plate.
Fig. 2.7 Three-cylinder Fig. 2.27 Basic screen press
principle. arrangement.
Fig. 2.8 (a) A plate scanner. Fig. 2.28 Cylinder press.
(b) Press console. Fig. 2.29 Continuous ink-jet
Fig. 2.9 Dot gain characteristic printhead.
curve. Fig. 2.30 Hertz ink-jet system.
Fig. 2.10 Real dot gain Fig. 2.31 Impulse or drop on
characteristic curves. demand printhead.
Fig. 2.11 Cross-section through Fig. 2.32 Canon bubble-jet.
simple ink duct. Fig. 2.33 Schematic layout of
Fig. 2.12 Flexographic printing electrophotographic
unit. printer.
Fig. 2.13 Laser-engraved ceramic Fig. 2.34 Photoconductor
anilox roller. sensitivity.
Fig. 2.14 Reverse angle doctor Fig. 2.35 Ion-deposition printer.
blade. Fig. 2.36 Electrostatic printer.
Fig. 2.15 An enclosed ink chamber Fig. 2.37 Intaglio printing unit.
system. Fig. 2.38 Offset lithographic
Fig. 2.16 Configuration of typical print.
stack press. Fig. 2.39 Flexographic print.
Fig. 2.17 A stack press. Fig. 2.40 Gravure print.
LIST OF FIGURES xv
Fig. 2.41 Gravure prints: Fig. 3.26 Reflectance and derived
(a) conventional; K/S curves.
(b) halftone. Fig. 3.27 A modern integrated
Fig. 2.42 Letterpress prints. match-prediction
Fig. 3.1 (a) A range of illuminants. system.
Fig. 3.1 (b) Colour 84. Fig. 3.28 Reflectance curves of a
Fig. 3.1 (c) Cool White 33. yellow ink.
Fig. 3.1 (d) Spectral power Fig. 3.29 The decrease in
distribution – Graphica. reflectance values with
Fig. 3.2 Sections of the eye. increasing
Fig. 3.3 The spectral sensitivity of concentrations.
the eye. Fig. 3.30 The increase in K/S
Fig. 3.4 Spectral reflectance curves values with increasing
of metameric matches. concentrations.
Fig. 3.5 The additive primaries. Fig. 3.31 Mistake of measuring a
Fig. 3.6 The subtractive primaries. sample twice for two
Fig. 3.7 Maxwell’s triangle. concentrations.
Fig. 3.8 The spectrum locus. Fig. 3.32 Mistake of reversing the
Fig. 3.9 The imaginary primaries. order of two
Fig. 3.10 The mechanism of concentrations.
three-colour Fig. 3.33 Reflectance curves
reproduction. showing saturation and
Fig. 3.11 (a) Conventional bronzing.
separation; (b) Fig. 3.34 K/S curves showing
achromatic separation. saturation and
Fig. 3.12 Spectral distribution of bronzing.
the tristimulus filter. Fig. 3.35 The dropping of K/S
Fig. 3.13 Layout of a simple values at higher ink
colorimeter. concentrations.
Fig. 3.14 Spectral profiles of typical Fig. 3.36 K and S curves for a red
densitometer filters. ink.
Fig. 3.15 Reflection densitometer. Fig. 3.37 Reflectance curves.
Fig. 3.16 Reflection densitometer. Fig. 4.1 Relationship between
Fig. 3.17 A modern reflectance cobalt content and
spectrophotometer. drying time.
Fig. 3.18 Common illuminating Fig. 4.2 The effects of adding
and viewing conditions. surfactants.
Fig. 3.19 Munsell hue. Fig. 6.1 Lithographic plate
Fig. 3.20 Y, x y colour space. surface characteristics.
Fig. 3.21 Colour differences of Fig. 6.2 Ink profiles in a duct.
pale-blue specimens. Fig. 6.3 Modern newspaper
Fig. 3.22 Colour circle. cold-set press.
Fig. 3.23 Ideal surface coating used Fig. 6.4 Ratio of fount to press
in Kubelka-Munk speed.
analysis. Fig. 6.5 High Speed Baker Perkins
Fig. 3.24 Cross-section of an ink G16 web-offset heat-set
on an absorbant press.
substrate. Fig. 6.6 Chill stack efficiency.
Fig. 3.25 Addition of reflectance Fig. 6.7 Harris Duotrol
and K/S curves. dampening system.
xvi LIST OF FIGURES

Fig. 6.8 Dahlgren integrated Fig. 8.7 An automatic viscosity

dampening system. controller.
Fig. 6.9 Harris brush dampening Fig. 8.8 The process of
system. dry-boiling adhesive
Fig. 6.10 Surland curves. lamination.
Fig. 6.11 Conductivity and pH Fig. 8.9 The process of extrusion
versus fount lamination.
concentration. Fig. 8.10 The process of heat
Fig. 6.12 Influence of boiling range lamination.
on stability. Fig. 8.11 The effect known as dot
Fig. 6.13 Influence of aromatics on skip or speckle.
stability. Fig. 8.12 Properties of aqueous
Fig. 6.14 High speed sheet-fed resin systems.
Speedmaster press. Fig. 9.1 A typical flexographic
Fig. 6.15 Conventional dampening printing unit.
system. Fig. 9.2 Dilution–viscosity
Fig. 6.16 Roland-Matic dampening curve.
system. Fig. 10.1 The principle of screen
Fig. 6.17 Heidelberg Alcolor printing.
dampening system. Fig. 10.2 Simple hand-operated
Fig. 6.18 Drying process of screen printing.
quick-setting inks. Fig. 10.3 A fully automated
Fig. 6.19 Tack peak versus time. screen printing press.
Fig. 6.20 Examining resins by Fig. 10.4 Screen printing on
V-graph (pentalyn 802). metal.
Fig. 6.21 Examining resins by Fig. 10.5 Diagram of screen
V-graph (pentalyn 833). bottle printing.
Fig. 6.22 Integrated inking system Fig. 10.6 Screen printing on
– small-offset. polyurethane
Fig. 6.23 Set-off and the influence containers.
of tack characteristics. Fig. 10.7 Screen printing on
Fig. 6.24 Examples of sheet-fed textiles.
metal printing. Fig. 10.8 A typical transfer print
Fig. 6.25 Properties of tin-printing on simplex paper.
inks. Fig. 10.9 The structure of a
Fig. 7.1 Principle of dry offset lottery ticket.
printing. Fig. 10.10 The structure of a
Fig. 7.2 Examples of printed tubs. membrane switch.
Fig. 7.3 Two-piece can decorator. Fig. 11.1 UV curing unit.
Fig. 7.4 Two-piece DWI cans. Fig. 11.2 An elliptical reflector.
Fig. 8.1 The gravure printing Fig. 11.3 Diagram of an
system. electro-curtain EB
Fig. 8.2 A conventional gravure system.
engraving. Fig. 12.1 The principle of ink-jet
Fig. 8.3 Direct engraving. printing.
Fig. 8.4 Electronic engraving. Fig. 12.2 An ink-jet ink
Fig. 8.5 Typical press-ready ink exhibiting good drop
composition. formation.
Fig. 8.6 A gravure unit with the Fig. 12.3 An ink-jet ink showing
duct open. smaller satellite drops.
LIST OF FIGURES xvii
Fig. 12.4 An ink-jet ink producing Fig. 13.24 Bulk news-ink plant.
droplets connected with Fig. 13.25 Typical liquid ink
thin ink ligaments. storage.
Fig. 12.5 Modulation voltage Fig. 13.26 Flexible dispersing
range. end.
Fig. 12.6 Modulation voltage Fig. 13.27 Tanking system filling
versus viscosity. end.
Fig. 12.7 A range of typical Fig. 13.28 Canning line.
ink-jet applications. Fig. 13.29 Bulk web-offset
Fig. 12.8 Ink-jet printing in the production.
dairy industry. Fig. 13.30 Publication gravure ink
Fig. 12.9 Ink-jet printing on a production.
high speed printing Fig. 13.31 Condition-based
press. monitoring system.
Fig. 12.10 An example of an Fig. 13.32 Maintenance graph.
ink-jet printing onto Fig. 14.1 Newtonian flow.
eggs. Fig. 14.2 Rheogram for
Fig. 13.1 Varnish manufacture Newtonian liquids.
control panel. Fig. 14.3 Ideal plastic substance.
Fig. 13.2 Temperature/time Fig. 14.4 Pseudo-plastic
related cooking cycle. substance.
Fig. 13.3 Flow pattern in practical Fig. 14.5 Pseudo-plastic
terms. substance with
Fig. 13.4 Z-blade mix of flushing. yield value.
Fig. 13.5 Thumbnail sketches of Fig. 14.6 Dilatant substance.
production routes. Fig. 14.7 Thixotropic substance at
Fig. 13.6 Batch production flow different shear rates.
chart. Fig. 14.8 Thixotropic material.
Fig. 13.7 Dispense production Fig. 14.9 Apparent viscosity.
flow chart. Fig. 14.10 Schematic diagram of a
Fig. 13.8 Liquid ink manufacture rotational viscometer.
from chips. Fig. 14.11 Schematic diagram of a
Fig. 13.9 Chip manufacture. cone and plate
Fig. 13.10 High-speed hydraulic viscometer.
mixer. Fig. 14.12 Schematic diagram of a
Fig. 13.11 Twin shaft mixer. falling rod viscometer.
Fig. 13.12 Hopper with float. Fig. 14.13 Chart to determine the
Fig. 13.13 Press-out feeding. apparent viscosity.
Fig. 13.14 Saphir triple-roll mill. Fig. 14.14 Tackmeter principle
Fig. 13.15 Roll pressures. (torque measurement).
Fig. 13.16 Effect on dispersion Fig. 14.15 Typical tackmeter (drag
level of energy used. measurement).
Fig. 13.17 Tex mill. Fig. 14.16 Schematic diagram of
Fig. 13.18 Dyno mill. LithoLab.
Fig. 13.19 STS chamber. Fig. 14.17 Press stability prediction
Fig. 13.20 STS shaft. from inkometer
Fig. 13.21 STS sketchform. readings.
Fig. 13.22 BOA 251 mill. Fig. 14.18 Ink profiles in a duct.
Fig. 13.23 Horizontal versus Fig. 14.19 Representation of an
vertical. ink film splitting.
xviii LIST OF FIGURES

Fig. 15.1 A Joyce Loebl disc Fig. 16.2 A Perkin-Elmer

centrifuge. infra-red spectometer.
Fig. 15.2 A fineness of grind Fig. 16.3 Nitrocellulose and
gauge. polyamide as a cast
Fig. 15.3 Shear stress versus sheer film on KBr.
rate for a Newtonian Fig. 16.4 Polyamide resin as a cast
liquid. film on KBr.
Fig. 15.4 Shear stress versus sheer Fig. 16.5 CI Pigment Red 48:1 as
rate for thixotropic a nujol mull.
systems. Fig. 16.6 Fourier-transform
Fig. 15.5 Viscosity versus time infrared
curve – sheer spectrophotometer.
stopping. Fig. 16.7 High performance liquid
Fig. 15.6 Viscosity versus time chromatograph.
curve – sheer starting. Fig. 16.8 Gel permeation
Fig. 15.7 Falling rod viscometer. chromatograms.
Fig. 15.8 Abel apparatus for Fig. 16.9 Gas chromatogram on a
measurement of conventional packed
flashpoint. column.
Fig. 15.9 The Tack-O-Scope Fig. 16.10 Gas chromatogram on a
tackmeter. 25 m capillary column.
Fig. 15.10 A wire-wound Fig. 16.11 A Perkin-Elmer
applicator. chromatograph with
Fig. 15.11 Distribution unit of data station.
the IGT printability Fig. 16.12 Bench-top gas
tester. chromatograph with
Fig. 15.12 The print unit of the mass spectroscopy.
IGT printability tester. Fig. 16.13 Combined bench-top
Fig. 15.13 A gravure proofer. GC-MS–FT-IR.
Fig. 15.14 An anilox roller. Fig. 16.14 Gas chromatogram of
Fig. 15.15 A screen proofer. liquid ink solvents on a
Fig. 15.16 A PIRA rub tester. packed column.
Fig. 15.17 A PIRA carton board Fig. 16.15 Automated thermal
crease tester. desorber.
Fig. 15.18 Deventest dynamic Fig. 16.16 An atomic absorption
friction tester. spectrophotometer.
Fig. 15.19 Hydraulic ram for Fig. 16.17 A UV
blocking tests. spectrophotometer.
Fig. 15.20 A BCL heat sealer. Fig. 16.18 NMR spectrum of
Fig. 15.21 Histogram. ethanol.
Fig. 16.19 13
Fig. 15.22 Bell-shaped graph. C NMR spectrum of
Fig. 15.23 Normal distribution DCHP.
curve. Fig. 17.1 Flammability limits.
Fig. 15.24 Quality control chart. Fig. 17.2 Colour-coded fire
Fig. 15.25 Processes ‘under extinguishers.
control’ and ‘out of Fig. 17.3 Supply and conveyance
control’. label.
Fig. 15.26 (a) Incapable process; Fig. 17.4 Front page of CEPE
(b) capable process. model safety data
Fig. 16.1 Ink extraction scheme. sheet.
LIST OF FIGURES xix
Fig. 17.5 HAZCHEM sign and Fig. 17.8 Notice to contractors.
card. Fig. 17.9 Permit to work.
Fig. 17.6 SBPIM transport Fig. 17.10 Recommendations for
emergency card (for personal protective
nitrocellulose-containing equipment.
inks). Fig. 17.11 Examples of hazard
Fig. 17.7 CEFIC TREMCARD. label.
List of tables

Table 2.1 Main characteristics of Table 4.18 Alkalis

the printing processes Table 4.19 Acids and acid
Table 3.1 Different forms of the anhydrides
colourant part Table 4.20 Prepolymers
Table 3.2 The red, yellow and Table 4.21 Reactive diluents
blue components Table 4.22 Aromatic ketone
Table 4.1 Yellow pigments initiators used with a
Table 4.2 Azo pigments formed proton donor
by coupling Table 4.23 Photoactivators
Table 4.3 Diarylide yellow Table 4.24 Acetophenone,
pigments benzoin and benzil
Table 4.4 Diarylide yellow ketal initiators
variants Table 6.1 Lithographic properties
Table 4.5 Average properties for Table 8.1 Precision of flow cups
tests to BS 4321:1969 (NPIRI)
Table 4.6 Black pigments Table 8.2 Properties of gravure
Table 4.7 White pigments and solvents
extenders Table 9.1 Solvent resistance of
Table 4.8 Benzimidazolone stereo materials
pigments Table 9.2 Alkali properties
Table 4.9 Source, uses, Table 11.1 Radiation in ink
composition, physical curing
and chemical constants Table 11.2 Significant regions in
of oils the electromagnetic
Table 4.10 Properties of resinates spectrum
Table 4.11 Properties of maleics Table 11.3 Advantages of
Table 4.12 Softening points of UV-curable
rosin-modified formulations
phenolic resins Table 11.4 Some photo-initiators
Table 4.13 Typical alkyd resins in common use
Table 4.14 Epoxy resins Table 11.5 Photosynergists
Table 4.15 Classification of Table 11.6 Some acrylated
nitrocellulose prepolymers
Table 4.16 Solvents Table 11.7 Difunctional acrylate
Table 4.17 Surfactants diluents
LIST OF TABLES xxi
Table 11.8 UV-curable coatings Table 16.1 Detection limit
and varnishes Table 17.1 Recommended limits of
Table 11.9 Substrates for ink raw materials
overprinting with UV Table 17.2 Specific dust limits for
varnishes powders
Table 12.1 Properties of a Table 17.3 Flammable limits
solvent-dye based Table 17.4 Substance
ink-jet ink identification numbers
Table 12.2 A simple CIJ and packing groups
formulation Table 17.5 Comparative sound
Table 13.1 Comparison chart of levels
finished ink Table 17.6 Recommended
Table 13.2 Materials used as maximum toxicity
grinding medium levels
Foreword

The first edition of The Printing Ink Manual was published in 1961. Since
then it has been constantly up-dated to reflect changes in raw materials,
manufacturing and printing processes to meet the new challenges of the
packaging and publishing industries. It has clearly become an inter-
nationally recognized authority on all aspects of printing ink.
It is with this formidable background that I have pleasure in welcoming
the publication of the fifth edition of The Printing Ink Manual. It has
maintained its traditions and in particular has recognised the significant
changes which have occured since the fourth edition published five years
ago.
The editors and authors are experts in their fields from international
companies and I congratulate them on their knowledge and presentation.
The European ink industry will find the fifth edition essential to all
involved in and practising printing ink. Students, raw material suppliers,
schools and printers will also find The Printing Ink Manual an important
reference book.

Hans A. Lentze
Secretary General
European Confederation of Paint, Printing Ink and
Artists’ Colours Manufacturers’ Associations (CEPE)