UV ink has become a core consumable in digital printing (advertising, packaging, building materials) due to its “no VOCs, fast curing, multi-substrate compatibility”. This simplified guide explains its key components and SUPERINKS’s strengths to help practitioners make informed choices.
5 Core Components of UV Ink
1. Photocurable Resin (30%-50%): Film “Backbone” A low-molecular polymer (1,000-5,000 Da) with acrylate double bonds, forming solid films under 200-400nm UV light. It determines hardness, flexibility, and adhesion: PUA: Flexible, impact-resistant (for PVC, leather). EA: Hard, chemical-resistant (for metal cans, glass). PEA: Cost-effective (for paper/cardboard packaging). SUPERINKS Advantage: PUA + toughening monomer (6:4 ratio) resists 100x 180° folds, solving flexible substrate cracking.
2. Photoinitiator (5%-15%): “Curing Switch” Triggers resin-monomer cross-linking via UV light: Free Radical Type (184, 1173): Fast curing (1-3s), fits LED-UV/mercury lamps (mainstream choice). Cationic Type: Low shrinkage but slow (5-10s, high-cost, for precision printing). SUPERINKS Advantage: “1173+TPO” composite system (5:3 ratio) boosts absorption by 35%, curing in 3s (80W LED) with 25% energy savings.
Choosing the right UV ink cuts costs and disputes. SUPERINKS focuses on “customer value” via optimized components, custom inks, and 24h support. Contact us for substrate adaptation or custom ink queries to advance digital printing together!
In digital printers, waveform, temperature, and voltage form an interconnected closed-loop system that collectively determines printhead performance—including droplet precision, stability, and ejection efficiency. Their core relationship: waveform is the control logic backbone, voltage executes the waveform, and temperature indirectly affects their alignment by altering ink and printhead properties. Here’s a concise breakdown:
I. Waveform and Voltage: Direct Instruction-Execution Link
Voltage physically expresses the waveform, with the waveform defining voltage parameters (peak, duration, pulse shape) and voltage output validating the waveform’s effectiveness:
A waveform is a voltage-time curve. For example, its “main ejection pulse” uses high voltage (30–50V) to drive piezoelectric crystals, expelling droplets of set volume; a subsequent “damping pulse” (5–10V) suppresses residual vibrations, preventing “satellite droplets.” Voltage peak, timing, and slope are precisely set via waveform parameters (e.g., V1/V2, t1/t2).
Voltage must match waveform energy needs
Waveforms rely on voltage to deliver actuation energy (≈ voltage²×time/resistance). Insufficient voltage causes undersized droplets or clogs; excessive voltage risks overheating, printhead damage, or messy droplet spread.
II. Temperature: Indirectly Shaping Compatibility
Temperature disrupts waveform-voltage balance by changing ink and printhead properties, requiring adjustments:
Ink effects:
High temps (>35°C) thin ink, risking blurred edges or residual buildup. Fixes: shorter pulses, lower voltage, or stronger damping.
Low temps (<25°C) thicken ink, causing clogs or faint prints. Fixes: longer pulses, higher voltage, or pre-ejection bursts.
Printhead effects:
High temps make crystals more deformable (amplifying voltage force); low temps stiffen them (weakening force). Thus, voltage/waveform intensity must drop in heat and rise in cold to stabilize droplets.
III. Dynamic Balance: Closed-Loop Control
Printers use sensors and algorithms to sync the three:
Temperature triggers: Sensors (±1°C accuracy) adjust waveform/voltage if temps leave 25–35°C, keeping droplets stable.
Voltage fluctuations: Algorithms tweak pulse length to maintain energy (longer for low voltage, shorter for high).
Safety limits: Waveforms cap voltage at high temps (e.g., ≤30V at 50°C) and shorten pulses at high voltage (e.g., 60V) to prevent damage.
Choose SUPERINKS for Seamless Synergy
Ink stability is key—and SUPERINKS excel here:
Temperature resistance: Proprietary formula limits viscosity swings to ≤8% (35–50°C) and ≤12% (0–25°C), far better than standard inks (20–30%/25%), reducing waveform/voltage tweaks.
Printhead compatibility: 500+ tests with Epson I3200, Ricoh G5, Konica 1024 ensure perfect surface tension matching, achieving <2% droplet deviation across ±20°C. Crisper details, smoother color transitions.
Cost/efficiency gains: Stable viscosity cuts voltage adjustments, reducing crystal fatigue by 30% (extending printhead life by 4,000 hours) and lowering waste/operational costs by 15–20%.
Summary
Waveform = “blueprint,” voltage = “force,” temperature = “environment”—SUPERINKS harmonize them all. Choose us for precise, efficient, cost-effective printing.
In the operation of digital printers, there exists a close dynamic correlation between ink viscosity, temperature, and nozzle voltage. Their coordinated state directly impacts printing quality (such as droplet size, landing precision, color uniformity) and equipment stability. The following provides a systematic explanation from three perspectives: core concepts, interaction mechanisms, and practical implications with regulatory logic.
I. Core Concepts and Individual Functions
1. Ink Viscosity
Viscosity is a physical property that measures the internal friction within ink, directly determining how easily the ink flows:
Excessively high viscosity: The ink has poor fluidity and is prone to clogging the nozzle, preventing ink droplets from being ejected smoothly and leading to issues like line breaks and ink shortages.
Excessively low viscosity: The ink is overly thin and tends to spread excessively after ejection, which may result in blurring, color bleeding, or abnormal merging of ink droplets due to insufficient surface tension.
2. Temperature
Temperature is a key factor in regulating ink viscosity, with its effect on viscosity following a clear pattern:
A rise in temperature → Intensified movement of ink molecules → Weakened intermolecular forces → Reduced viscosity (enhanced fluidity).
A drop in temperature → Slowed molecular movement → Strengthened intermolecular forces → Increased viscosity (diminished fluidity).
Different types of inks vary in their sensitivity to temperature. For instance, water-based inks are more significantly affected by temperature than solvent-based and UV-curable inks.
3. Nozzle Voltage
Nozzle voltage (driving voltage) determines the ink ejection state by controlling the operational intensity of core components:
For piezoelectric crystal nozzles: Increased voltage → Greater deformation of the crystal → Faster speed and larger volume of ejected ink droplets; Decreased voltage → Less deformation → Slower speed and smaller volume of ink droplets.
For thermal bubble nozzles: Increased voltage → Stronger pressure generated by thermal bubbles → Higher kinetic energy of ink droplets; Decreased voltage → Weaker pressure → Insufficient kinetic energy of ink droplets, which may cause deviations in landing positions.
II. Interaction Mechanism: Dynamic Balance Between Power and Resistance
1. Direct Correlation Between Temperature and Viscosity
Temperature is the core driving factor behind changes in viscosity, and there is a significant negative correlation between the two:
When the ambient temperature rises (e.g., from 25℃ to 35℃), the viscosity of Epson weak solvent ink may decrease from 4.2cP to 3cP; when solvent-based ink is cooled from 25℃ to 15℃, its viscosity may increase from 8cP to 10cP.
This correlation is universal. The order of sensitivity to temperature among different ink types (UV ink, water-based ink, solvent-based ink) is: UV ink ＞ water-based ink ＞ solvent-based ink, though the trend of change remains consistent.
2. Adaptation Logic Between Viscosity and Nozzle Voltage
Nozzle voltage provides the “power” for ink ejection, while viscosity represents the “resistance” to ink flow. They need to be dynamically matched:
When viscosity increases: The flow resistance of the ink rises, so the nozzle voltage must be increased to enhance the driving force, ensuring that ink droplets can overcome the resistance and be ejected smoothly.
When viscosity decreases: The ink resistance lessens, so the nozzle voltage should be reduced to weaken the driving force, preventing uncontrolled diffusion of ink droplets due to excessive power.
III. Practical Implications and Regulatory Logic
1. Chain Reaction: Temperature → Viscosity → Voltage
The chain effect of these three factors forms a clear regulatory pathway:
High-temperature environment (low viscosity):
Chain reaction: Temperature ↑ → Viscosity ↓ → Excessively high ink fluidity (low resistance).
Voltage requirement: Maintaining the original voltage would easily cause ink droplets to be too large and fast, resulting in “blurring”, “ink splattering”, or nozzle leakage. Thus, the voltage needs to be reduced (e.g., in the standard state of 25℃, 15cP, 30V, when the temperature rises to 35℃ and the viscosity drops to 10cP, the voltage should be adjusted to 24-26V).
Voltage requirement: Keeping the original voltage would lead to insufficient driving force, causing ink droplets to be ejected weakly and resulting in line breaks or clogging. Therefore, the voltage needs to be increased (e.g., in the standard state of 25℃, 15cP, 30V, when the temperature drops to 15℃ and the viscosity rises to 20cP, the voltage should be adjusted to 34-36V).
2. Dual Regulation Strategy Under Extreme Temperatures
When the temperature exceeds the conventional range (ultra-high temperature ＞ 40℃, ultra-low temperature ＜ 5℃), simply adjusting the voltage is insufficient, and temperature control equipment must be used in conjunction:
Ultra-high temperature environment: The viscosity may drop below 8cP. Even with reduced voltage, “stringing” (inability to form complete ink droplets) may occur. It is necessary to activate the cooling device to stabilize the ink temperature, followed by appropriate voltage adjustment.
Ultra-low temperature environment: The viscosity may rise above 30cP. Even with increased voltage, nozzle components (such as piezoelectric crystals) may have insufficient driving force due to slow response at low temperatures. It is necessary to reduce the viscosity using the ink circuit heating device and then make appropriate voltage adjustments.
Summary
The relationship between ink viscosity, temperature, and nozzle voltage can be summarized as: Temperature determines the viscosity baseline, viscosity determines the voltage requirement, and voltage ultimately regulates the state of ink droplets. The core logic is:
A rise in temperature → A decrease in viscosity → Voltage needs to be turned down (to avoid excessive driving force);
A drop in temperature → An increase in viscosity → Voltage needs to be turned up (to compensate for increased resistance).
In practical operation, the focus should be on the core goal of “maintaining the stability of ink droplet morphology”. The voltage should be dynamically adjusted based on real-time changes in temperature and viscosity, and temperature control equipment should be used when necessary to ensure printing quality and equipment stability.
