Gravure ink technology is a process of mechanical and chemical mixing of fine pigments, synthetic polymer resins, organic solvents, and specific additives. The goal is to create a liquid ink system with low viscosity, optimal ink transfer from the recessed cells of the printing cylinder to the material surface, and rapid drying through solvent evaporation. This technology meets the needs of high-speed printing of plastic film packaging, aluminum foil, and complex labels requiring absolute color fastness.
Function: Completely dissolves the plastic substrate, reduces ink viscosity to extremely low levels to accommodate high cylinder rotation speeds, and acts as a carrier to deliver ink to the printing material.
Mechanism: The solvent must evaporate completely and uniformly in the drying chamber of the printing press without leaving any residual solvent odor on food packaging.
Common solvents include: Ethyl Acetate (EA), Toluene, Methyl Ethyl Ketone (MEK), and Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA). The current trend is towards a shift towards toluene-free solvent systems to protect both health and the environment.
