Requirements for titanium dioxide in solvent inks

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I. Future development trends of solvent inks The development of any product follows a pattern that moves from simpler to more advanced forms, and inks are no exception. China’s inks have seen a significant improvement in performance and quality over the years: starting from ordinary surface-printing inks in the early stages of development, moving on to internal printing and lamination inks, and now to the multi-functional general-purpose inks developed by Eagle Company. Especially in recent years, alongside continuous improvements in quality, there is an increasing emphasis on environmental considerations regarding inks. Developing high-quality, low-cost inks that do not leave harmful residues has become an urgent task for ink manufacturers today. 　　Overall, the development of inks in China has progressed from benzene-based inks to benzene-free inks, then to alkyd-soluble inks and alcohol-soluble inks; the ultimate goal is to achieve truly environmentally friendly water-based inks. 　　II. The Development of Titanium Dioxide The development of titanium dioxide is a crucial foundation for the advancement of inks. Every improvement in ink quality is closely related to the raw materials used. As ink formulations change over time, the pigments, solvents, and additives that are used must also be adjusted accordingly. Taking Eagle Ink as an example, in its early stages of development, polyamide resins were used to produce surface printing inks. At that time, titanium dioxide available in China was mainly in the anatase form; although the quality of anatase titanium dioxide was not very stable, it was sufficient to meet the requirements of those inks at that time. Later, Eagle Ink developed for the first time a solvent-based composite ink based primarily on chlorinated polypropylene resin. This type of ink demanded higher standards in terms of color, leveling properties, and weather resistance. At that time, there were no suitable materials available in China other than solvents; therefore, Eagle Ink’s ink ingredients had to be imported, including rutile-type titanium dioxide. It was not until recent years that the sulfuric acid process for producing rutile titanium dioxide in China became more mature, allowing this product to be widely used in inks. However, some high-end inks still rely heavily on imported titanium dioxide produced by the chlorination process, such as those from DuPont, Ishihara, and Merck, in order to improve their covering power and printing performance. Therefore, domestic titanium dioxide manufacturers should accelerate their development pace in order to catch up with or even surpass imported products as soon as possible, with the aim of capturing a larger market share. 　　III. Requirements for titanium dioxide in ink production 1. It is necessary to adhere to the principle of using inks with low viscosity and high concentration: As printing equipment in China continues to improve, the printing speed is increasing. The higher the printing speed, the lower the viscosity of the ink required; and inks with low viscosity and high concentration are well-suited to meet these evolving requirements. In addition to adjustments made to the main resin and additives, the oil absorption capacity of titanium dioxide is also a crucial factor in determining the viscosity of white ink. Minimizing the oil absorption while keeping the color density constant is beneficial for formulating inks with high concentration and low viscosity. 　　2. Grinding of titanium dioxide: The fineness of ink is achieved through the grinding of pigments by a medium; different grinding methods have varying effects on the color development of titanium dioxide. Some titanium dioxide grades in China are suitable for high-intensity grinding, while others are better suited for low-speed grinding. This poses challenges to ink production processes, and it is also why different ink manufacturers give different evaluations of titanium dioxide. Therefore, it is best to give titanium dioxide universal grindability for the best results. And these performance aspects require titanium dioxide manufacturers to research and consider. 　　3. Precipitation in white ink: Precipitation is a common phenomenon in white ink; over time, titanium dioxide can settle at the bottom of the packaging container. However, these precipitates are not just titanium dioxide – they also include various substances adsorbed by titanium dioxide, and these adsorbed substances are often functional additives. Therefore, white precipitates not only reduce the color intensity of the ink but also affect the balance of the components in the system, leading to a decline in quality. Therefore, striving to create a suspension effect of titanium dioxide particles in different systems, that is, improving the encapsulation strength of these particles within the resins of various systems, plays a significant role in achieving equilibrium in the system. 　　4. Color-developing property of titanium dioxide: The color-developing property of titanium dioxide is closely related to the resin system used; some types of titanium dioxide exhibit excellent whiteness and coverage in one resin system, but their performance may not be as good in another system. Therefore, from a certain perspective, the performance of titanium dioxide cannot be judged simply as good or bad; rather, it should be determined whether it is suitable or not for that ink system. Of course, it would be ideal to have a titanium dioxide that can be used in all systems, but until our products meet universal standards, targeted applications of these products are particularly important! (As stated by Zhang Jianping, the agent for titanium dioxide in Shijiazhuang.) 　　5. The weather resistance of titanium dioxide is very important. Otherwise, it will cause yellowing of the ink layer. 　　IV. Recommendations As domestic ink technology advances rapidly, the development of high-quality, multi-functional, and environmentally friendly inks has become an urgent necessity. The speed at which such products are developed and introduced is closely related to the targeted application of new ink materials; in other words, every product launched by an ink material manufacturer must come with a comprehensive and scientific plan for its application and promotion. For titanium dioxide manufacturers, only by having an accurate understanding of the applications for their products can they recommend them to suitable customers in a timely manner. Therefore, it is particularly necessary to establish a complete application laboratory or find a targeted application collaboration partner. And Eagle Ink is willing to provide broader application support for the titanium dioxide manufacturers present here. (Example of a negative case: Unreliable formulas were recommended for use in resin promotion in Beijing, resulting in negative consequences.) V. Expectations The development model for this industry should be one based on mutual benefit, which requires titanium dioxide manufacturers not to deliberately imitate others – after all, the only one one needs to surpass is oneself. It is important to develop one’s own unique strengths and to promote one’s high-quality products effectively. For more information on the applications of titanium dioxide, please visit http://www.czfengshuo.com