LED ink development

In 1969, for the first time in the United States, UV curing inks were used for cardboard (carton) printing, and the practical first step was achieved. Japan began applying it to metal printing and label printing two years later in 1971. Since then, UV curable inks have been quickly cured, solvent-free, and dust-free. The advantages of UV inks at the printing site (improvement of the operating environment, short delivery time, inventory reduction, space saving, etc.) have been recognized and they are used rapidly. expand.

However, in the past, ultraviolet light sources used in the printing industry generally used light sources such as high-pressure mercury lamps and metal halide lamps. Due to the enlargement of lamps and power supply devices, users were worried that the power consumption and heat generation caused damage to the printing presses and substrates. Problems such as ozone generation during use. However, in recent years, a light emitting diode (LED) capable of emitting ultraviolet light has been developed, and a special offset ink (FDLED series) that is instantaneously cured under LED ultraviolet light is used by Toyo Ink Manufacturing Co., Ltd. of Japan.

This article compares the difference between the traditional lamp-type light source and the LED light source from the environment of the UV-curable ink, and introduces the principle and characteristics of the LED-curable ink.