Electron Beam Curing Inks

Electron beam curable ink is formulated with reactive solvents oligomers and additives to provide color gloss and levelling properties.

Electron beam curing inks.

Growth of the electron beam curable ink market is driven by low processing cost as compared to the uv technology. Achieve gravure quality without gravure expense electron beam eb flexo inks produce smaller dots 170 lpi and as a result yield sharper more repeatable images. The technology possesses inherent advantages over solvent and water based materials as well. Eb flexo inks require less upfront capital cost no interstation dryers and no solvent capture destruction or regulatory expenses.

Following uv curing the ink films were further cured with a broadbeam ep series electron beam unit operating at 125 kv. Uv inks fall into a category generally called energy cured inks and there is a related ink technology that can offer the same benefits as uv while eliminating some of the downsides. Like uv curing eb curing is not a new technology. A type of photo reactive vehicle ink that dries or sets with the application of a beam of electrons in a manner similar to that of ultraviolet curing ink.

When exposed to a beam of high energy electrons the fluid oligomers and monomers release free radicals that cause curing of the ink. In fact it s been used in web offset printing for decades. Esi pioneers the low voltage eb market. That technology is called electron beam eb or e beam curing.

Energy curing use in packaging decoration and protection has been in place since the first commercial run of uv ultraviolet light curing inks and coatings in 1969. The eb curing ink vehicle is composed of fluid oligomer s and monomer s that when exposed to a beam of high energy electrons release free radical s that cause the polymerization of the vehicle which hardens to a dry ink film containing the pigment. These inks eliminate the need for large baking ovens for traditional paints and inks. Electron beam curing is a method of curing paints and inks without the need for traditional solvent.

Duplicate samples were eb cured in air and also using nitrogen inerting 200 ppm oxygen. Samples were attached to a moving carrier web and exposed with an eb dose of 30 kgy. Developed by sun chemical allows flexo application of multiple ink colors without interstation drying curing is accomplished with a single eb unit at the end of the press inks contain limited amounts about 20 of water attractive for food packaging water replaces monomer content for viscosity reduction high print quality due to low dot gain. Eb technology is used in flexible packaging and folding carton packaging to cure inks coatings and laminating adhesives.

Recent advances in electron beam curing chemistry and equipment encourage the increased use of this type of material in flexible packaging applications. Electron beam curing ink.