About UV Curing Inks

Ink Mixing

UV curing inks are specially formulated inks that remain liquid until they are cured with exposure to intense ultra-violet light. The UV light cross-links the ink components into a tough polymer. This reaction is very fast—almost instant. They contain no solvents, and don't rely on absorption into substrates for drying.

Advantages

  • VOC Free
    No solvent smell and associated health risks for our employees and the environment.
  • Instant drying
    Prints are cured and ready to be finished immediately after printing.
  • Image quality
    Since the inks can only be reacted with strong UV light, they don't clog heads or screens like solvent-based inks, allowing for more production and less maintenance. In screen printing, finer mesh counts can be used.
  • Colour quality
    UV inks don't have a solvent that is evaporated, so 100% of the ink deposit is colorant. Also, they don't absorb into porous materials, they sit on the surface. This gives UV ink more intense colour, even using less ink.
  • Durablity
    The cross-linking of the ink molecules makes them durable. Our pigmented UV inks are rated for 3 years outdoors without overlaminate.

What are VOCs?

Volatile Organic Compounds are, in simple terms, chemical fumes. The term encompasses many different types of chemicals, but as it relates to printing the most common is solvent fumes. Long term exposure to high concentrations of solvent fumes can cause adverse health effects—in addition to just smelling bad. VOCs released into the environment react with nitrous oxides to form ozone, which is a precursor to smog.