Photo industry inks are distinguished according to their use. They can be divided into two types: one is water-based ink, and water and water-soluble solvent are the main components of the dissolved color base. The other is an oily ink which is a water-insoluble solvent as a main component of a dissolved chromophore. According to the solvent solubility, it can be divided into three types. First, the dye type ink. It is a dye-based ink that is currently used in most indoor photo printers. Second, the pigment ink, which is a pigment-based ink, is used in outdoor inkjet printers. Third, eco-solvent ink, between the two, used in outdoor photo printers.
In particular, these three inks cannot be mixed. Water-based machines can only use water-based inks. Oil-based machines can only use eco solvent inks and solvent inks. Since the machine is installed, the water-based machine and the oil-based machine have different ink cartridges, pipes, and nozzles. Therefore, the ink cannot be used indiscriminately.
There are five main factors affecting ink quality: dispersant, conductivity, pH, surface tension, and viscosity.
1) Dispersant: It is a kind of surfactant. Its function is to improve the physical properties of the ink surface and enhance the affinity and wettability of the ink and the sponge. Therefore, the ink which is generally stored and transmitted through the sponge contains a dispersing agent.
2) Conductivity: This value is used to reflect the level of salt. For better quality textile inks, the salt content should not exceed 0.5% to avoid crystal formation in the nozzle. According to the particle size of the pigment, the oily ink determines which nozzle to use. The large jet machine 15pl, 35pl, etc. is the basis for determining the accuracy of the inkjet printer according to the particle size. This is very important.
3) PH value: refers to the liquid pH, the more acidic the solution, the lower the PH value, and conversely, the more alkali the solution, the higher the PH value. To prevent ink from eroding the nozzle, the pH should generally be between 7 and 12.
4) Surface tension: It can affect whether the ink can form droplets. The better quality ink is low viscosity and high surface tension.
5) Viscosity: the resistance of the liquid flow, the viscosity of the ink is too large, which will interrupt the ink supply during the printing process; the viscosity is too small, and the ink head will flow during the printing process.
The ink can be stored for 3-6 months at normal room temperature, too long or precipitation, which affects the use or plugging. Ink preservation requires sealing, avoiding direct sunlight, and the temperature should not be too high or too low.