what is Eco-solvent ink
Eco-solvent ink, also known as mild solvent ink or weak solvent ink, is a relatively gentle and environmentally friendly solvent-based ink. It has been improved in terms of its solvent composition, significantly reducing the harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in traditional solvent inks. This results in a milder odor and lower health risks for operators and the environment.
Eco-solvent ink Core Technology
The core technology of eco-solvent ink lies in its innovative solvent system. It uses one or more environmentally friendly, low-toxicity, and low-odor solvents as carriers, replacing the highly toxic and volatile organic solvents like benzenes and ketones found in traditional inks. These eco-friendly solvents effectively dissolve the pigments and evaporate slowly, allowing the pigment particles to adhere better to the printing media and ensuring vibrant colors and strong adhesion.
Eco-solvent ink Advantages
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High Environmental Friendliness: This is the most significant advantage of eco-solvent ink. It reduces the emission of harmful gases, has a less pungent odor, and improves the working environment.
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Wide Compatibility: Due to its gentle properties, eco-solvent ink is compatible with various uncoated media, such as PVC, vehicle wraps, light box fabric, and self-adhesive vinyl, without needing special coatings, which helps to lower costs.
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Strong Weather Resistance: Images printed with eco-solvent ink have excellent waterproof, UV-resistant, and scratch-proof properties. They are fade-resistant and suitable for long-term outdoor use.
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High Printing Accuracy: It can produce vivid colors and fine image details, meeting the demands for high-quality advertisements and signage.
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Good Equipment Compatibility: Eco-solvent ink is less damaging to print heads, which helps extend the life of printing equipment.
Eco-solvent ink Main Applications
Due to its excellent weather resistance and wide media compatibility, eco-solvent ink is widely used in the outdoor advertising and signage production fields, including:
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Vehicle Wraps: Advertisements for buses, taxis, and other vehicles.
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Outdoor Light Boxes: Advertising light boxes in malls and on streets.
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Exhibition Posters: Promotional posters and backdrops for large exhibitions.
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Signage: Various directional signs and road signs.
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Banners and Flags: Banners and flags used for outdoor promotions.
Common Printing Inks Difference
| Feature | Eco-Solvent Ink | Traditional Solvent Ink | Water-Based Ink | UV Ink |
| Solvent Composition | Eco-friendly, low-toxicity, low-odor solvents | Highly toxic and volatile solvents like benzenes and ketones | Water and a small amount of alcohol | No solvents, photopolymer resins |
| Environmental Impact | High, low odor, friendly to environment and people | Low, pungent odor, high VOC emissions | High, non-toxic, odorless | High, instant drying, no solvent evaporation |
| Weather Resistance | Excellent, waterproof, sun-proof, suitable for outdoor use | Excellent, waterproof, sun-proof, suitable for outdoor use | Poor, not waterproof or sun-proof, suitable for indoor use | Superior, high hardness, wear-resistant |
| Media Compatibility | Wide, no coating needed, for PVC, light box fabric, etc. | Wide, no coating needed, for PVC, light box fabric, etc. | Narrow, requires special water-based coated media | Wide, can print on almost all materials |
| Drying Method | Slow evaporation, requires heat assistance | Rapid evaporation, usually requires heat | Air-drying or heat-drying | Instant curing with LED or mercury UV lamps |
| Applications | Outdoor advertising, vehicle wraps, light boxes | Large-format outdoor advertising, but with poor environmental performance | Indoor photography, posters, art reproductions | Advertising, packaging, home decor, industrial products, etc. |
In short, eco-solvent ink strikes an excellent balance between environmental friendliness and weather resistance. It offers the outdoor durability of traditional solvent inks while significantly improving their poor environmental characteristics, making it the mainstream choice for the outdoor advertising printing market today.
