The use of high-speed gravure water-based printing ink

Abstract: With the environmental protection requirements getting higher and higher, the high-speed, gravure, water-based inks developed by our company have been developed. After a parallel evaluation on the machine, compared with the solvent ink, the ink and the solvent ink have the obvious advantages in solvent residue and environmental impact under the premise of fully satisfying the printing requirements; and after one year and more than one hundred tons, the ink has matured.

Keywords: water-based ink, gravure printing, cigarette marking

The global environmental protection calls have been continuously enhanced and the demand for green products in all walks of life continues to rise. The domestic cigarette industry has become increasingly demanding of solvent residues in trademarks; many tobacco companies have established corresponding standards to limit the amount of solvent residues to a certain smoke. Plant as an example: Common organic solvents are all limited except for ethanol, aromatics, ketones are not detected, ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, n-propyl acetate, isopropyl acetate, isopropyl alcohol N, n-propyl, n-butanol and the like are all required to be below 50 ppm, and propylene glycol ethers, which are generally considered as environmental protection solvents, are required to be below 50 ppm. Solvent-based inks that are commonly used by domestic smoke label gravure printing companies cannot meet the requirements of tobacco plants.

In response to the trend, our company took the lead in developing and introducing water-based inks for high-speed gravure printing of cigarettes in China. Since June 2005, we have used more than one hundred tons of “SJ Sijiang” ink series.

I. Requirements for Printing Equipment of High-Speed ​​Gravure Printing Water Printing Ink

Since water-based inks use water as the main solvent, and the volatilization rate of water is much slower than common solvents such as isopropanol and ethyl acetate, the printing equipment can be determined by its drying system using ink; generally, > ≥ 2M, the highest controllable temperature of 90 °C above the press can be used by the company's water-based ink; cigarette marking gravure printing the most common BOBST, CERUTTI models are not a problem.

Second, the main performance of water-based inks and solvent-based inks

We use the JH8 solvent-based gravure printing ink of the mature product of our company as a blank control, and the equipment is CERUTTI940. The results are compared with the following table:

Solvent Residual Quantity Environmental Printing Effect Total Residual Solvent Thinner Irritant Diluent Harmful to Environmental Impact Ink High-profile Out-rate Shallow-web transition luster
JH8 Series ≥ 3.0mg/m2 Irritating to the eyes, skin, respiratory system harmful to the human body's respiratory, circulatory system, etc. Emission of a large number of harmful pollutants OK OK 7-8 into the net 58° (20° angle)
SJ Sijiang series 0.4mg/m2 No basic harmless Basic no hazard OK OK 0-10 into the net gentle flat 60 ° (20 ° angle)
Conclusion Advantages Significant advantage Significant transitional softness, no grid connection, other effects are comparable

Equipment settings Squeegee adaptability UV reprint drying temperature (field version) Air flow (field version) Speed ​​(field version) Knife frequency Frequency Fog version Frequency requirements Roll connection UV
JH8 Series 80°C Maximum 130M/min NO
SJ series series 90°C max. 130M/min Ibid. slightly higher than JH8, slightly lower viscosity, slightly harder, OK No special requirements OK
Conclusion The temperature is adjusted slightly higher and does not affect the apparent obvious advantage of the speed. As can be seen from the table, the ink ink has the obvious advantages in solvent residue and environmental impact on the premise of fully meeting the printing requirements.

Third, the characteristics of our company's water-based ink

At present, our company's high speed intaglio printing inks are classified into three series: "SJ thinking", "SC" and "SY Rain".
The main solvents are alcohol and water. The drying mechanism is both volatile and dry with conjunctiva reaction. The basic color species are: 100 white, 200 light yellow, 201 transparent yellow, 300H red (yellow golden red), 310H red (blue phase red) 311 red (Blue Phase Pink), 400 Green, 500 Blue, 600 Violet, 700 Ink, 900 Orange.
Three sets of ink and ink have their own characteristics
SJ series will be: glossy, high transparency, good re-solubility, direct UV including inline UV, high temperature resistance;
SY Mountain Rain Series: Good gloss, good printing, fast drying, low odor when opening cans;
SC series: shiny, transparent, fast drying, UV reprint;

Fourth, use

1. Diluent alcohol (industrial 95 alcohol, the same below): Water (refers to tap water, the same below) = 1:1 to 1:4, according to dry regulation, unless specifically required, alcohol should not be added alone.
2. Use caution
a, ink and solvent ink can not be mixed together, in the exchange of ink, be sure to clean, pay special attention to the ink pump, or try the ink directly on the new (clean) ink tank ink tank;
b. Always clean the ink system in time when shutting down, especially the plate roller. Make sure to wash it. The dot plate version needs more attention. Otherwise, it is very likely that there will be lost dots when it is used for the next time. If it is cured, it can only be used by me. Company washing solution or adding a small amount of washing powder to it, wipe carefully with copper brush or fiber rod;
c. The bubble has no benefit to the printing of printing dots, and can easily cause a variety of printing failures. It should be avoided when using it.
d, the conductivity of water, resulting in the use of ink color group, electrostatic ink does not work, pay attention to high-profile printing.

Source: Ink Information