Raw materials used in UV curable ink jet ink formulations are, not surprisingly, required to provide solid performance at three essential stages: to enable ink dispersion and preparation, as vehicles of color in the printing equipment and as part of the formed thin film, enhancing resistance. Ink jet, particularly UV curable ink jet, systems are mandatorily very low viscosity formulations, with demanding visco-stability and dispersion stability criteria. These criteria are best achieved if the ink system has optimal homogeneity. This makes selection of components a challenge and an opportunity, and is also an excellent example of inter-dependency between pigments, dispersants, resins, diluents, additives, etc. In this paper, Ciba and Sartomer have collaborated to study new materials offering formulators new latitude to adjust the performance of their inks from manufacturing to printing and the resistance required of the finished products.
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