How does ink storage work? Check out these absolutely do not step on thunder!

How does ink storage work? Check out these absolutely do not step on thunder!

In the printing industry, the quality of ink will directly affect the effect of the final print. In the actual use process, if the ink is not properly stored, it is easy to lead to a series of problems such as ink color deviation, viscosity change, leveling reduction, drying time extension, etc., and even affect the service life of printing equipment. Therefore, whether it's a newly purchased ink or an old ink left over from use, it's crucial to preserve the ink properly. This article takes UV inks and screen printing inks commonly used in label printing as examples to talk about the correct preservation method of ink.

UV ink storage precautions

UV ink is widely used in packaging, labels and other printing fields due to its advantages such as fast drying time, good dot reproduction, full and bright color, and wide range of printing materials.

01

Temperature control

The viscosity of the ink changes with temperature. Normally, UV ink should be stored in an environment with a temperature of 5°C~25°C to avoid too high or too low temperature. Because too high a temperature will cause the ink to polymerize in advance, and too low a temperature (such as in northern winter) will lead to gelling of the ink, both of which will affect the fluidity and curing effect of the ink.

02

Store away from light

UV inks are very sensitive to light, so when storing UV inks, they should be stored in a completely dark environment, and any trace amount of UV or visible light exposure may trigger the pre-curing of the ink, thus affecting its performance.

03

Seal and store

UV ink should be used immediately after opening, and if not used immediately, it should be sealed to prevent moisture and oxygen in the air from reacting with the ink, while unsealed ink may harden or increase viscosity, affecting reuse. When preserving, the ink category should be indicated and labeled and placed in a cool place to maintain the stability of the ink.

04

Prevent contamination

When accessing UV ink, special tools should be used to prevent impurities and other types of ink from mixing in to maintain the purity and performance stability of the ink. If necessary, UV inks can be filtered using a metal mesh of 100 mesh or more to remove impurities that may be mixed in.

05

Regular testing

Unopened UV inks stored for a long time may delaminate or presettle. Therefore, before use, the UV ink bucket should be turned upside down, shaken or stirred to ensure that the various ingredients in the UV ink formula are evenly mixed before use. After opening, UV ink should be stored for a period of time to ensure that its light curing speed, viscosity, color and other parameters have not changed significantly to ensure printing quality.

Precautions for screen printing ink storage

Screen printing has a wide range of applications and is suitable for printing on any substrate such as paper, cardboard, plastic, wood, fabric, glass, ceramic, metal, leather, signage, etc. Screen printing ink is a complex colloid made of pigments, binders, fillers, and additives mixed according to a certain ratio according to the needs, and is repeatedly ground and rolled. Due to the unique formulation and use of screen printing ink, it will have some special requirements during storage.

01

Temperature control

For screen printing inks, the temperature of their storage environment should be controlled at 15°C~25°C. Temperatures that are too high or too low can cause changes in the chemical composition of the ink, which can affect its performance.

02

Humidity management

Screen printing ink is very sensitive to changes in environmental humidity, so the relative humidity of the environment should be controlled between 50%~60% when stored. Excessive humidity can cause the ink to absorb moisture and reduce its drying speed, while too low humidity may cause ink drying problems.

03

Store away from light

Screen inks, like UV inks, should also be stored in a place protected from light, especially against UV rays. Because ultraviolet rays in light will trigger a reaction of the light-sensitive components in the ink, causing it to age or deteriorate prematurely.

04

Seal and store

All types of inks should be sealed and stored immediately after opening and using to prevent solvent volatilization and impurities from entering. If the ink is not sealed in time after opening, the ink viscosity may change and dry knot.

05

Stir regularly

Long-term storage of screen printing inks requires regular stirring to maintain uniform composition, ensuring stability and consistency in color and performance during printing.

Proper storage of ink is not only to extend its lifespan but also to ensure that it maintains optimal performance during use, thereby improving the quality of prints. It is recommended that label printing companies should strictly follow the ink storage method during use, which can not only reduce quality problems and ensure the best use of ink, but also improve production efficiency and economic benefits.