Inks
Natural bitumen in inks
- The exceptional properties of Natural Bitumen are an essential addition to high-performance inks, used for Newspapers, Magazines, and other publications.
- Jet-black in many heat set printing would not be achievable without the brilliant black elements of Natural Bitumen.
- The distinctive properties of Natural Bitumen make it a must have the dispersing agent for carbon black Ink.
- Rub-resistant Ink is possible with Natural Bitumen.
- Natural Bitumen is the financially smarter choice, as it is more cost effective than hydrocarbon and phenolic resins.
Gilsonite is used in ink manufacture principally as a carbon black dispersing agent or wetting agent. It performs this function at concentrations of 2% to 5% of the finished ink recipe. Gilsonite resin contends favorably with petroleum-based hydrocarbon resins, phenolic resins, and metal resonates, all of which it can supplement or substitute to some extent. Several concentrations of Gilsonite Resin are utilized fabricate low-rub-off news Inks with greater gloss and tack properties. On the other hand, distinctive grades of “Selected Gilsonite” are typical elements in black ink formulations and are used as additives in asphaltic paints and varnishes.
Natural Bitumen is used in inks and Paint grade due to its fast drying, highly polished finish and rust resistant bitumen components. It is fully resistant to water, acids, alkalis, electrolysis and natural elements. It is also soluble without heating in aliphatic and low aromatic solvents, like, varnish makers and painters naphtha, other inflammable liquid hydrocarbon mixtures, ink oil and mineral spirits, however, this will increase the mixing time. Without heating, the powdered grade Natural Bitumen is recommended.
In inks industry, natural bitumen is used for carbon black wetting, as well as improving the bonding in black inks and headset gravure inks used in newspapers and magazines. Applying Gilsonite in ink makes a better binding with paper which decreases the rubbing effect of the final print. Also, it provides a more economical approach, as 2-5% of the additive is substituted for other additives such as hydrocarbon and phenolic resins.
Gilsonite itself is a hard, high softening point resin, and it could be used in the finished ink formula for its resinous abilities to offset the hydrocarbon and other resins. However, this requires a concentration on 10% to 15% Gilsonite in the finished ink recipe before it performs this function. This is possible, but difficult, because of dealing with Gilsonite’s ash and aromatic contents at such high concentrations. At such high concentrations, there is too much as to filter, the viscosities start too high and increase even higher, etc. Therefore, most ink makers use Gilsonite at low concentrations for carbon black dispersing only and use other resins such as “C5/C9” hydrocarbons or modified rosin phenolics for the ink’s resinous ingredients.
Gilsonite blending with fatty acid and carbon black to increase the stability of printing ink and provides an ink having the enhanced viscosity, flow and penetration characteristics, while being exceptionally economical to manufacture. A newspaper letterpress printing ink comprising a blend of Gilsonite powder and tall oil fatty acid together with carbon black pigment. The proportions of the Gilsonite and the tall oil fatty acid may be varied, as viscosity requirements change due to differences in press speeds, newsprint characteristics, and the like.
Gilsonite is readily soluble without heating in solvent especially in Xylene, Toluene, and Benzene and in the most chlorinated solvent. A non-petroleum base newspaper printing ink comprising a blend of Gilsonite flakes and tall oil fatty acids, together with carbon black pigment. the proportion of the ink gilsonite and tall oil fatty acids may be varied as viscosity requirements change due to differences in press speeds, newsprint characteristics and the like.The ink Gilsonite thus has readily adjustable viscosity together with an enhanced flow and penetration characteristics, while being extremely economical to manufacture.
