Inks Deformulation for Laser Printers, 3D Printing and Packaging
Inks Deformulation for Laser Printers, 3D Printing and Packaging
Through our global network of testing experts and analytical equipment including chromatography (HPLC, GC, GC/MS) and atomic
absorption spectroscopy (AAS, GFA, FIAS), Our goal is to provide test services as efficiently
as possible to maximize our customers' profits. For more information about our services,
contact one of our experts today.
Note: this service is for Research Use Only and Not intended for clinical use.
Inks for Laser Printers
Laser printing is a printing technology developed since the 1960s. Laser printing technology is an electrostatic digital printing process. It produces high-quality text and graphics by repeatedly passing a laser beam back and forth over a negatively charged cylinder called a "drum" to define a differentially charged image. Toner can be made from carbon powder, resin, pigment, charge agent, magnetic powder which is frequently used in laser photocopiers and printers, normally with a toner cartridge. Various mixed-ingredient toner powder is made from miniscule particles ranging from 5 to 15 microns in size. Toner particles are melted by the heat of the fuser, then collectively bonded to the paper.
Inks for 3D printing
3D printing is a process in which material is joined or solidified under computer control to create a three-dimensional object. The printed objects can be of almost any shape or geometry. There are many different 3D printing technologies, such as stereolithography (STL) and fused deposit modeling (FDM). At present, 3D printing is mainly used for precision industry including spaceflight, medicine, automobile manufacturing and many others.
The printing materials of general printers are ink and paper, while the 3D printers contain different "printing materials" such as metal, ceramics, plastics, sand, etc. The general materials used for 3D printing include nylon glass fiber, durable nylon material, gypsum material, aluminum material, titanium alloy, stainless steel, silver plated, gold plated, and rubber materials and so on. For example, thermoplastic ink can be used to build sturdy, durable and stable components; photosensitive resin ink can print more vivid products with high-precision and detail.
Inks for packaging
The packaging is the appearance of a product. It's the first visual impression the prospective consumers will experience in the shop. Ink for packaging is normally liquid or paste containing pigments that can be used to color a surface and produce an image or text. Ink is a complex mixture composed of solvents, pigments, dyes, resins, lubricants, solubilizers, surfactants, particulate matter, fluorescents, and others. Many inks may contain heavy metals, non-renewable oils and volatile organic compounds which are harmful to people’s health. There is high risk for these toxic substances to migrate to food when taking food packaging into account. So to speak, it is very necessary to study the ink on the market and develop environmental friendly inks.
Deformulation of inks for laser printers, 3D printing and packaging can provide specific information about the chemical composition of the inks and how these components interact. Deformulation can help identify which chemicals, substances or materials are contained in ppb level. We can provide detailed data to understand ink products from formulation to specific concentration by exploring how these components and ingredients interact and perform. We can help you understand what ingredient is producing bright color and which chemical benefits the ink stability. Further, this process is beneficial to your company for making decisions regarding product innovation, quality control as well as exploring patent infringement or investigating instances where patents have expired.
Information provided by deformulation:
Major and minor ingredients in ppm or ppb level
Active and inactive ingredients
Organic and inorganic materials
Identify hazards or safety concerns within the product
Deformulation studies typically involve a lot of advanced analytical instruments, such as gas chromatography/flame ionization detection (GC/FID), mass spectroscopy (MS), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), ion chromatography (IC), fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), ultraviolet/visible spectroscopy (UV/VIS), induced coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and so on, together with optimized extraction and separation methods. No matter what your concern is, our scientists are always ready to help. If you have any problems regarding deformulation (or reverse engineering) for inks, please contact us without hesitation.
References
"Laser Printer – Definition of laser printer by Merriam Webster". Merriam-webster.com.
Andy Mukherji (2016) "Engineering meets the law: How 3D printing could affect the Australian patent system." Australian Anthill.