Printing Ink Chemicals

printing ink chemicals

Acrylic Resin for Waterborne Flexo Ink

CAS: 25035-69-2

Alkali-soluble and emulsion-type acrylic resins designed as the principal binder for waterborne flexographic inks on paper, board, and film substrates. These resins provide fast water evaporation, excellent pigment compatibility, and good rub and water resistance in the dried ink film. Formulations based on these resins meet stringent food-packaging migration regulations.

printing ink chemicals

Alkyd Resin for Offset Ink (Varnish Grade)

CAS: 68440-04-0

Oxidatively drying alkyd resin varnish specifically formulated as the vehicle component of sheetfed offset inks, providing controlled tack, ink-water balance, and oxidative drying with drier systems. Available in short, medium, and long oil lengths to suit different press speeds and paper types. Blends readily with rosin-modified maleic and phenolic resins to optimize print quality.

printing ink chemicals

Amine-Modified Polyether Acrylate (PEA Synergist)

Amine-modified polyether acrylate (PEA) is a reactive amine synergist oligomer that dramatically enhances the surface cure and through-cure of UV printing inks by scavenging oxygen radicals and co-initiating via hydrogen abstraction, dramatically reducing the oxygen-inhibition effect that limits cure at the ink surface. PEA synergists are reactive and non-extractable after cure, making them preferred over small-molecule amine co-initiators in food-adjacent UV ink applications.

printing ink chemicals

Antistatic Agent for Printing Inks (EG-Based)

CAS: 107-21-1

Ethylene glycol (EG) and polyethylene glycol-based antistatic additives used in printing inks and coatings to reduce surface resistivity and prevent electrostatic charge buildup during high-speed printing on plastic films, foils, and synthetic substrates. Antistatic agents migrate to the ink film surface to form a hygroscopic conductive layer, dissipating static charges that would otherwise cause ink misting, sheet misfeeds, and irregular ink transfer.

printing ink chemicals

C5 Aliphatic Hydrocarbon Resin for Ink

CAS: 64742-16-1

Aliphatic C5 hydrocarbon resin produced by cationic polymerization of piperylene-rich C5 fractions, used as a tackifier and flow modifier in heatset offset, flexographic, and gravure inks. Its low color, good compatibility with alkyd and rosin-ester varnishes, and favorable hydrocarbon-solvent solubility make it indispensable in formulating high-tack offset ink vehicles.

printing ink chemicals

C9 Aromatic Hydrocarbon Resin for Ink

CAS: 68955-27-1

Aromatic C9 hydrocarbon resin derived from the thermal polymerization of C9 steam-cracker fractions, serving as a high-softening-point tackifier and hardener in offset, gravure, and industrial inks. Its strong aromatic character provides excellent compatibility with rosin-maleic resins and delivers robust tack, gloss, and set characteristics in oil-based ink varnishes.

printing ink chemicals

Calcium Carbonate (Ink Extender & Filler)

CAS: 471-34-1

Finely precipitated or ground calcium carbonate (PCC/GCC) used as an extender pigment and opacifying filler in offset, gravure, and screen printing inks to reduce cost, improve ink set speed on uncoated papers, and control flow and rheology. Ink-grade CaCO₃ is surface-treated with fatty acids for improved dispersion in oil-based ink vehicles, and its controlled particle size distribution minimizes negative effects on gloss and printability.

printing ink chemicals

Calcium Drier for Offset Ink (Auxiliary Drier)

CAS: 61789-36-4

Calcium octoate auxiliary drier activates and stabilizes primary driers in sheetfed offset ink formulations by coordinating metal-soap interactions and preventing premature over-oxidation that leads to wrinkling. Ca drier improves through-drying balance, extends pot life, and stabilizes the primary drier package over time. It is non-yellowing and non-coloring, making it suitable across the full color gamut in commercial offset ink manufacture.

printing ink chemicals

Carbon Black Pigment (Furnace Black) for Printing Ink

CAS: 1333-86-4

High-structure furnace carbon black designed for maximum jetness, undertone (blue vs. brown), and dispersibility in sheetfed offset, gravure, flexo, and screen black inks. Available in a range of surface area (50–250 m²/g) and structure grades to balance color depth, gloss, flow, and drying performance. Surface-treated and oxidized grades are available for waterborne and UV ink compatibility.

printing ink chemicals

Cellulose Acetate Butyrate for Inks

CAS: 9004-36-8

Cellulose acetate butyrate (CAB) is a thermoplastic cellulosic resin used as a secondary binder and viscosity modifier in solvent-based flexographic, gravure, and screen-printing inks, improving flow, adhesion, and compatibility. CAB's low moisture absorption, good UV stability, and miscibility with a wide range of resins make it particularly valuable in exterior-grade inks and automotive coatings.

printing ink chemicals

Cobalt Drier for Offset Ink (Cobalt Octoate)

CAS: 61789-52-4

Cobalt octoate is the standard primary surface-active siccative for oxidatively drying sheetfed offset and letterpress inks, supplied as a 6% or 12% cobalt-metal solution in aliphatic hydrocarbon. It accelerates the peroxide-initiated crosslinking of linseed, tung, and soy-alkyd vehicles at the ink film surface, dramatically reducing tack-free time. Used at 0.02–0.10% Co on total ink weight, always in a drier package with Mn and Zr co-driers.

printing ink chemicals

Epoxy Acrylate Oligomer for UV Ink

CAS: 55818-57-0

Bisphenol A-based epoxy acrylate (EA) is the most widely used UV-curable oligomer in offset, screen, and flexo printing inks, delivering the highest crosslink density, excellent gloss, hardness, and chemical resistance of any oligomer class. EA-based UV inks cure rapidly under mercury arc and LED UV sources, produce scratch-resistant films with superior adhesion to coated papers and metals, and serve as the oligomeric backbone in virtually all UV offset ink formulations.

printing ink chemicals

Ethyl Acetate (Fast-Evaporation Solvent for Flexo Ink)

CAS: 141-78-6

Technical-grade ethyl acetate (EtOAc) used as the primary fast-evaporating solvent in solvent-based flexographic and gravure printing inks, dissolving nitrocellulose, polyamide, and polyurethane resins for low-viscosity, high-speed printable ink formulations. Its low boiling point (77 °C), good solvency for ink resins, and favorable KB value make EtOAc the most widely used solvent in packaging ink manufacture.

printing ink chemicals

Ethyl Cellulose for Gravure & Screen Inks

CAS: 9004-57-3

Ethyl cellulose (EC) is a non-ionic thermoplastic resin used as a film former and binder in solvent-based gravure and screen-printing inks, ceramic pastes, and pharmaceutical coatings, offering exceptional toughness, flexibility, and solubility in a wide range of organic solvents. EC-based inks are prized for their excellent adhesion to polystyrene, metal foils, and coated papers.

printing ink chemicals

Fumed Silica Thixotropy Agent for Printing Inks

CAS: 112945-52-5

Hydrophilic and hydrophobic fumed silica grades tailored for thixotropy control, anti-settling, and gloss reduction in printing inks across offset, screen, gravure, and UV systems. Fumed silica builds a strong hydrogen-bond-mediated network at rest that collapses under press shear, enabling high printability while preventing sedimentation and improving ink transparency and matting in specialty coatings and inks.

printing ink chemicals

Gelatin (Protein Binder for Screen Printing Inks)

CAS: 9000-70-8

Food-grade and technical gelatin used as a natural protein binder in specialty screen-printing inks for textiles, transfer printing, and stencil emulsions. Gelatin's unique film-forming, adhesion, and film-porosity characteristics make it invaluable in transfer paper inks and photostencil emulsions where controlled dissolution or mechanical release is required.

printing ink chemicals

Hyperdispersant for Carbon Black & Organic Pigment Inks

Polymeric hyperdispersant with anchoring groups and solvated polymer chains, designed to stabilize carbon black and organic pigment dispersions in solvent-based, UV-curable, and waterborne printing inks. Analogous in performance to BYK-163 and Solsperse 32000, this dispersant achieves maximum pigment loading with minimum viscosity, eliminates flocculation, and delivers superior color strength, gloss, and transparency in finished inks.

printing ink chemicals

Isopropanol (IPA, Dilution Solvent for Flexo Ink)

CAS: 67-63-0

High-purity isopropanol (IPA, 2-propanol) used as a co-solvent and dilution solvent in flexographic inks based on nitrocellulose and polyamide resins, replacing ethanol or blending with esters to optimize evaporation rate, viscosity, and substrate wetting. IPA is also widely used in offset printing as a damping solution alcohol replacement and in press cleaning, as well as a surface tension modifier in waterborne digital inks.

printing ink chemicals

Linseed Oil (Alkali-Refined) for Offset Ink

CAS: 8001-26-1

Alkali-refined linseed oil is a classic renewable vehicle base for sheetfed offset and letterpress inks, valued for its fast oxidative drying, high pigment-wetting capacity, and compatibility with rosin-modified resins and alkyd varnishes. The refining process removes free fatty acids and phospholipids, ensuring consistent color, low odor, and reliable drying performance when activated with cobalt or manganese driers.

printing ink chemicals

Litho Varnish (High-Tack Offset Varnish)

High-tack litho varnish is a pre-compounded offset ink vehicle composed of hard resins, drying oils, and hydrocarbon diluents, designed to impart maximum tack and short body to sheetfed offset inks. Supplied as a ready-to-use concentrate, it simplifies ink formulation while ensuring consistent tack, gloss, and oxidative dry response across diverse paper and board substrates.

printing ink chemicals

Manganese Drier for Offset Ink (Manganese Octoate)

CAS: 8030-70-4

Manganese octoate is a primary metallic drier providing both surface and through-drying activity in oxidatively drying sheetfed offset inks, serving as either a supplement to or low-cobalt substitute for cobalt drier. Mn drier exhibits less tendency toward over-oxidation and yellowing than cobalt, making it preferred in white and light-colored offset ink formulations and in formulations developed to comply with cobalt-restriction regulations.

printing ink chemicals

Mineral Oil (Naphthenic, Ink Grade)

CAS: 64741-89-5

Low-aromatic, naphthenic process oil used as a non-drying diluent and tack modifier in coldset newsprint inks, offset lithographic inks, and letterpress formulations. Ink-grade mineral oil provides controlled penetration into newsprint and uncoated papers, enabling rapid ink setting without oxidative drying mechanisms. Available in a range of viscosities (low, medium, high) to optimize ink flow and print quality.

printing ink chemicals

Nitrocellulose (Ink Grade)

CAS: 9004-70-0

Ink-grade nitrocellulose (NC) is the principal film-forming resin for flexographic and gravure packaging inks, delivering fast solvent release, excellent adhesion to film substrates, and outstanding gloss. Available in a range of viscosity grades (1/4 sec to 60 sec) to match press speed and solvent system requirements. Fully compatible with polyamide, polyurethane, and maleic resins for formulation flexibility.

printing ink chemicals

Organoclay (Bentonite) Thixotrope for Printing Inks

CAS: 1302-78-9

Organically modified montmorillonite (organoclay, rheological additive) for imparting controlled thixotropy to offset, gravure, screen, and industrial printing inks, preventing pigment settling, bleeding, and strikethrough while maintaining low viscosity under shear for press transfer. The amine-salt quaternary-modified clay platelets form a three-dimensional network that rebuilds rapidly after shear, ensuring stable ink storage and consistent print quality.

printing ink chemicals

PE Wax Compound for Printing Inks

CAS: 9002-88-4

Micronized or dispersed polyethylene (PE) wax compound for incorporation into solvent-based and waterborne printing inks to improve rub resistance, slip, and anti-blocking properties of printed surfaces. PE wax forms a lubricating layer at the ink film surface after drying, significantly reducing the coefficient of friction and protecting the print from abrasion during handling, stacking, and transport of printed packaging.

printing ink chemicals

PTFE Wax for Print Rub & Scratch Resistance

CAS: 9002-84-0

Micronized polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) wax delivers the lowest coefficient of friction of any wax additive in printing inks, providing exceptional scratch, rub, and mar resistance for high-quality packaging, label, and commercial printing applications. PTFE is chemically inert, thermally stable, and compatible with UV-curable, solvent-based, and waterborne ink systems, making it the premium choice for inks that must survive demanding downstream converting processes.

printing ink chemicals

Phenolic-Modified Rosin Resin

CAS: 68153-90-2

Phenolic-modified rosin resin is a premium hard resin for heatset web offset and high-quality sheetfed inks, combining the fast-setting characteristics of rosin with the improved water resistance and oil-solubility imparted by phenol modification. It delivers outstanding gloss, rub resistance, and printability on LWC and coated art papers. Widely used in premium publication and commercial printing inks.

printing ink chemicals

Photoinitiator 369 (Irgacure 369) for UV Ink

CAS: 119313-12-1

2-Benzyl-2-(dimethylamino)-1-(4-morpholinophenyl)butan-1-one (PI-369, Irgacure 369) is a highly efficient alpha-aminoketone Type I photoinitiator widely used in UV offset, screen, and digital inks due to its excellent surface cure, strong absorption at 320–380 nm, and low tendency to migrate or extract into food substrates when fully cured. It is particularly effective in dark and pigmented UV inks where it outperforms alpha-hydroxyketone initiators.

printing ink chemicals

Photoinitiator 819 (BAPO) for UV Ink

CAS: 162881-26-7

Phenylbis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide (BAPO, PI-819) is the leading bisacylphosphine oxide photoinitiator for UV offset, flexo, and digital inks, generating two radical pairs per molecule upon UV excitation for outstanding photoinitiation efficiency. Its wide absorption extending to 470 nm enables deep cure even in heavily pigmented magenta and cyan inks, and its compatibility with LED sources makes it essential in modern UV LED printing systems.

printing ink chemicals

Photoinitiator TPO for UV Offset Ink

CAS: 75980-60-8

Diphenyl(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide (TPO) is a highly efficient Type I acylphosphine oxide photoinitiator for UV-curable offset, flexo, and screen-printing inks, absorbing strongly in the 380–420 nm range where LED and medium-pressure mercury lamps emit. Its excellent through-cure capability, low yellowing, and compatibility with pigmented ink systems make TPO the backbone photoinitiator in modern UV printing inks.

printing ink chemicals

Pigment Blue 15:3 (Phthalocyanine Blue, Beta-form)

CAS: 147-14-8

Beta-crystalline copper phthalocyanine (PB 15:3) is the universal process cyan pigment for CMYK printing across offset, flexo, gravure, screen, and digital inks, delivering outstanding lightfastness (8 on blue-wool scale), excellent transparency for process color work, and broad chemical resistance. Its stable beta-crystal form resists phase transition to the alpha form during milling and ink manufacture, ensuring consistent color and rheology in the finished ink.

printing ink chemicals

Pigment Green 7 (Polychlorinated Phthalocyanine Green)

CAS: 1328-53-6

Polychlorinated copper phthalocyanine (Pigment Green 7, PG 7) delivers the highest lightfastness and heat stability of any green pigment, making it the standard green for packaging, industrial, and decorative printing inks. PG 7 provides a clean, brilliant green hue with outstanding resistance to acids, alkalis, solvents, and high-temperature baking processes used in metal decorating inks.

printing ink chemicals

Pigment Red 57:1 (Rubine Red, Naphthol Red 2B)

CAS: 5281-04-9

Pigment Red 57:1 (PR 57:1, Rubine or Lithol Rubine) is the most widely used magenta/red pigment in offset lithographic and gravure printing inks, especially for process magenta in CMYK. A barium salt laked azo pigment, PR 57:1 delivers brilliant magenta hue, very high transparency, and outstanding gloss in oil-based offset inks, making it the standard for magazine and catalog printing as well as decorative packaging.

printing ink chemicals

Pigment Yellow 12 (Diarylide Yellow AAA, Benzidine Yellow G)

CAS: 6358-85-6

Pigment Yellow 12 (PY 12) is a classic diarylide (disazo) yellow pigment used extensively in gravure, flexo, and offset publication and packaging inks where a bright, reddish-yellow hue with moderate cost is required. PY 12 provides good lightfastness for indoor applications, excellent gloss, and high transparency, making it the workhorse yellow for process four-color printing in newspaper supplements, magazines, and packaging cartons.

printing ink chemicals

Pigment Yellow 83 (Diarylide Yellow HR, Permanent Yellow HR)

CAS: 5567-15-7

Pigment Yellow 83 (PY 83) is a high-performance diarylide yellow with superior lightfastness, heat stability, and bleed resistance compared to PY 12 and PY 13, making it the preferred yellow for demanding packaging applications, outdoor printing, and automotive coatings that require extended durability. PY 83's warmer, more reddish-yellow hue and excellent opacity in full-shade inks serve metal decorating, industrial, and specialty printing applications.

printing ink chemicals

Polyamide Resin for Flexo Ink

CAS: 63428-84-2

Dimer-acid-based polyamide resin designed as the primary binder for alcohol/ester-solvent flexographic inks on flexible packaging substrates. It delivers superior adhesion to BOPP, PE, and PET films together with excellent blocking resistance and lamination bond strength. Used in combination with nitrocellulose to balance gloss, flexibility, and solvent release.

printing ink chemicals

Polyurethane Resin for Gravure Ink

CAS: 9009-54-5

Two-component and single-component polyurethane resins engineered as binders for solvent-based gravure and flexographic packaging inks, offering outstanding interlayer adhesion, boiling resistance, and chemical resistance. These PU binders are compatible with nitrocellulose and chlorinated carriers, making them ideal for high-performance retort and sterilizable packaging applications.

printing ink chemicals

Polyvinyl Butyral for Ceramic & Specialty Inks

CAS: 63148-65-2

Polyvinyl butyral (PVB) resin used as a film-forming binder in ceramic screen-printing inks, electronic pastes, and high-performance specialty inks requiring excellent adhesion to glass, metal, and ceramics after firing. PVB's unique combination of flexibility, solubility in alcohol/ester solvents, and burnout characteristics make it the preferred binder for ceramic decal inks and glass decoration inks.

printing ink chemicals

Rosin-Modified Maleic Resin

CAS: 68909-75-1

Rosin-modified maleic (RMM) resin is a hard, high-melting thermoplastic resin used as the primary binder in heatset and sheetfed offset inks, providing exceptional tack, gloss, and rub resistance on coated paper stocks. Its high acid value ensures rapid setting in the ink train and excellent pigment wetting for both organic and inorganic pigments. Compatible with hydrocarbon resins and alkyd varnishes for balanced rheology.

printing ink chemicals

Silicone Defoamer / Antifoam for Printing Inks

CAS: 8050-81-5

Polydimethylsiloxane-based defoamer and antifoam compounds formulated for the rapid elimination of foam and micro-foam in water-based flexographic, gravure, and digital printing inks, preventing foam-induced print defects such as pinholes, craters, and density variations. Available as neat silicone oil, emulsion, or silica-filled compound to suit solvent, waterborne, and UV ink systems.

printing ink chemicals

Silicone Slip & Scratch-Resist Additive for Ink

CAS: 67254-79-9

Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and silicone-polyether copolymer additives designed to improve the slip, anti-scratch, and blocking resistance of printing inks while minimizing adverse effects on gloss and re-coatability. These surface-active silicone additives orient at the ink-air interface during drying or UV cure, creating a low-energy surface layer that resists fingerprints, scratches, and abrasion in flexible packaging and label inks.

printing ink chemicals

Soy-Based Alkyd for Offset Ink Vehicle

CAS: 9016-88-0

Soy-oil-modified alkyd resin serves as a renewable, low-aromatic vehicle for sheetfed and heatset offset inks, imparting excellent pigment compatibility, controlled tack, and oxidative drying. Soy alkyd vehicles meet increasingly stringent VOC and bio-content requirements in commercial printing and packaging, and are preferred for food-packaging adjacent applications where mineral oil limits apply.

printing ink chemicals

Styrene-Acrylic Emulsion for Waterborne Ink

CAS: 9010-94-0

Styrene-acrylic (S/A) core-shell emulsion tailored as a binder for high-performance waterborne flexographic and digital pre-coating inks, offering excellent hardness, water whitening resistance, and pigment compatibility. Its controlled Tg enables formulation of inks with outstanding blocking resistance after printing on lightweight coated papers and corrugated liners.

printing ink chemicals

Titanate Coupling Agent (Adhesion Promoter for Inks)

Isopropyl titanate and organotitanate coupling agents used as adhesion promoters in printing inks to improve adhesion to difficult substrates including glass, metals, ceramics, and treated or untreated polyolefins. Titanate coupling agents react with surface hydroxyl groups and inorganic fillers to form covalent bridges between the substrate and the ink binder, dramatically improving adhesion tape-test performance without compromising gloss or transparency.

printing ink chemicals

Titanium Dioxide (Rutile) for Opaque Printing Inks

CAS: 13463-67-7

Surface-treated rutile titanium dioxide with optimized scattering efficiency and dispersibility for white offset, gravure, flexo, and screen printing inks requiring maximum opacity and whiteness. Ink-grade TiO2 features surface treatments (Al₂O₃, SiO₂, organic) that reduce photocatalytic degradation of surrounding binders and improve wetting in both oil-based and waterborne ink systems.

printing ink chemicals

Trimethylolpropane Triacrylate (TMPTA) for UV Ink

CAS: 15625-89-5

Trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA) is a trifunctional reactive crosslinker monomer for UV offset, screen, and flexo inks, providing the highest crosslink density of common reactive diluents and resulting in maximum hardness, scratch resistance, and chemical resistance in cured ink films. Used at 5–30% in UV ink formulations, TMPTA balances the flexibility of difunctional diluents and controls ink tack and flow while accelerating cure speed.

printing ink chemicals

Tripropylene Glycol Diacrylate (TPGDA) for UV Ink

CAS: 42978-66-5

Tripropylene glycol diacrylate (TPGDA) is a low-viscosity bifunctional reactive diluent for UV offset, flexo, and screen inks, widely used to reduce oligomer viscosity to press-applicable levels while contributing crosslinking density and adhesion. Its low skin-sensitization profile relative to monofunctional acrylates and its fast cure speed under both mercury and LED UV sources make it the most popular difunctional diluent in UV printing ink formulations.

printing ink chemicals

Tung Oil (Heat-Bodied) for Offset Ink

CAS: 8001-20-5

Heat-bodied tung oil is produced by thermal polymerization of raw tung oil to elevated viscosity grades (Z3–Z6), providing a fast-drying, high-gloss vehicle component for premium sheetfed offset and letterpress inks. Its exceptionally high alpha-eleostearic acid content delivers the fastest oxidative drying of any natural oil, producing hard, scratch-resistant ink films with outstanding gloss on coated papers.

printing ink chemicals

Zirconium Drier for Offset Ink (Through-Drier)

CAS: 22464-99-9

Zirconium octoate is a through-drying (body) drier for oxidatively drying offset inks and varnishes, promoting uniform cure from the surface to the substrate interface and preventing ink set-off and blocking. As a non-colored, non-yellowing auxiliary drier, Zr is particularly valuable in white and light-colored inks where cobalt would cause discoloration, and is increasingly used as the backbone of low-cobalt drier packages.

printing ink chemicals

n-Propyl Acetate (Medium-Evap Solvent for Gravure Ink)

CAS: 109-60-4

Technical-grade n-propyl acetate (n-PrOAc) serves as a medium-evaporation-rate solvent in gravure and high-speed flexographic printing inks, balancing fast press evaporation with sufficient open time to prevent dot gain and plate drying, especially at elevated press speeds. Its high solvency for nitrocellulose, polyurethane, and polyamide resins and low aromatic odor make n-PrOAc the preferred solvent upgrade from ethyl acetate in premium packaging ink formulations.