Energy Curable Inks: An Introduction

The printing industry changes dramatically on an almost daily basis. One of the most rapidly advancing technologies is Energy Curing, a general term which refers to inks and coatings that are cured, or hardened, by exposure to radiant energy. That energy can be in the form of Ultraviolet Light (UV), or in the form of accelerated, high energy electrons, concentrated into an Electron Beam (EB).
This information was developed to help printers better understand the growing applications for energy cured inks and coatings.

 

10 Key Benefits of Energy Curable Inks
 

1. Reduced manpower: Sheets can be stacked directly off the line to eliminate costly racking, unracking, oven drying and pinholes.
2. Reduced downtime: Since energy curable inks will not dry on rollers, press downtime is virtually eliminated, and productivity increases.
3. Doubled or tripled available floor space: Converting to UV/EB printing frees valuable plant floor space. Because the inks dry instantaneously when passed through a curing unit, there's no need for rack or oven drying systems.
4. Faster line: UV/EB inks stack well at high line speeds. Production levels are limited only by printing speeds, not drying speeds.
5. Broad choice of substrates: UV/EB inks adhere to virtually any and every material: polyethylene, vinyl, styrene, polycarbonate, glass, metal, paper and with only a few different ink series.
6. Heat sealable and/or die cuttable: UV and EB inks are formulated to be used on those tough, heat-sealed vinyl jobs. No need to change artwork because the ink won't heat seal.
7. Abrasion resistance: UV/EB inks provide a good, tough film that resists abrasion.
8. Improved product quality: Energy curable inks have excellent chemical and physical resistance. This property permits printing on substrates that will be exposed to harsh environments and where high chemical resistance is required. In addition, the high gloss achieved with energy curable coatings far surpasses that of conventional coatings.
9. Reduced energy costs: Energy curable inks are energy efficient. Compared to conventional inks, they actually need less energy to cure, so are less vulnerable to rising energy costs.
10. Compliance with Clean Air standards: There are no traditional solvents in energy curable inks. Since the organic components of the ink are almost entirely bound in the polymerization process, there are no volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions to pollute the air.

 

Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages Instantaneous curing and drying Faster turnaround Advantages Increased productivity Excellent press stability stay open No set-off Eliminates spray powder Better color reproduction no dry-back Suitable for printing on most substrates Faster make-readies Reduction of waste No VOCs Excellent heat and product resistance Allows in-line decorating and die cutting Improved quality Consistent, predictable results

Disadvantages One-time, high equipment cost Inks and coatings are more costly Possible toxicology issues (developed sensitivity) Highly pigmented and opaque systems may be difficult to cure with UV Some non-porous substrates may require experimentation to optimize adhesion Limited shelf life May require specific rollers and washes