VOC reduction in water-based inks Research and Development Department of Company K, a ink manufacturer
Waterborne inks struggle with PP film adhesion
VOC-free binder improves safety and adhesion
Given the current situation, there is a need to contribute to the SDGs by taking measures to reduce VOC emissions and to strengthen environmental measures.
Company K was asked by a commercial printing machine manufacturer to develop a special ink. The customer's request was that the ink be able to print on polypropylene (PP) film and comply with the recent tightening of VOC regulations. Company K's research and development department immediately began looking into ink materials, but found themselves at a standstill.
Challenges
Developing a new ink for PP film. We want to promote a reduced environmental impact with a "VOC-free" design...
Recently, the packaging film market has been expanding due to the increasing need for individual packaging and refillable containers. The use of PP for packaging film is expanding due to its advantages such as strength, flexibility, water resistance, and price. When printing on PP film, solvent-based inks are mainly used due to the drying speed after printing and adhesion to the film substrate. However, tightening regulations on residual solvents and VOCs emitted into the environment from printing facilities have led to a movement to restrict their use.
In response to this customer request, the R&D department decided to develop an ink using a water-based binder, taking into account the need to reduce VOCs as much as possible. However, there were issues with the performance of inks using water-based binders when printing on PP film.
Mr. Y from the Research and Development Department looks back on the project as follows:
"We knew that inks using water-based binders were inferior to solvent-based inks in terms of adhesion to PP film."
Mr. Y and his colleagues obtained several types of water-based binders from multiple resin manufacturers, examined the ink composition, and evaluated the adhesion to PP film, but they were unable to achieve satisfactory performance.
"Furthermore, under these circumstances, there was an additional request to 'make the design VOC-free if possible, and to strongly emphasize the reduction of environmental impact,'" (Mr. Y)
With the development goals becoming ever higher, Mr. Y and his team were at a loss as to what to do next to develop a "VOC-free" ink.
Key Challenges
A customer requested the development of ink that had VOC measures.
Inks using water-based binders are low in VOC, but there was an issue with adhesion to PP film.
In addition, the customer expressed a strong desire to use ink that was "VOC-free" to strongly promote the reduction of environmental impact.