Thermal Imaging Ink Basics

Thermal transfer imaging technology is widely used in digital printing, and it is mainly sublimation technology. Thermal imaging inks can be either water-based inks or solvent-based inks. The main difference between the two types of inks is the colorant. Here is a description of the composition of a dye-sublimation ink whose main components include dye-sublimation dyes and pigments, solvents (transfer agents, water-based or alcohol-based emulsions), surfactants, aqueous adhesives, lubricants, dispersants, defoamers. Agent. Percentage by weight, dye-sublimation dyes and pigments disperse blue (or magenta, yellow, cyan, black) in amounts of 10% to 35%, waterborne preservatives 1.0% to 6.0%, surfactants 1.5% to 6.0%, water-based adhesives 1.0% to 7.0%, lubricants 1.0% to 4.5%, dispersants 0.5% to 4.0%, defoamers 1.0% to 6.5%, and the balance being water or a mixture of water and alcohol. The specific formula is as follows:

Disperse Blue AC-E10% Trichloromethane 2.5%

Ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid 3.0% Sodium carboxymethylcellulose 3.3%

Polyol 2.0% Potassium pyrophosphate 1.0%

Emulsified silicone oil 2.2% distilled water

It is also possible to change the proportion of the formulation components according to the characteristics of the specific printed material.