Requirements for the Physical Performance Indicators of UV Inks


As an efficient and environmentally friendly printing material, UV ink occupies a crucial position in modern printing processes. Its physical performance indicators not only determine the visual appeal and durability of printed materials but also directly affect the stability and efficiency of the printing process. This article will comprehensively analyze the requirements for UV ink’s physical performance indicators from multiple perspectives.

I. Color and Hue

The colors of UV inks should be vibrant, rich, and exhibit minimal color variation. Color accuracy and consistency are crucial to the visual quality of printed materials; they are typically measured using color difference values—lower color difference values indicate better color consistency. Hue refers to the basic color or tone that an ink displays and should remain stable, without significant changes due to variations in environmental conditions or time.

II. Fineness and Uniformity

Fineness refers to the size of pigment particles in ink, and it directly affects the fullness and fineness of halftone dots in printed materials. The smaller the fineness of UV ink, the fuller and finer the halftone dots in the printed output will be. Uniformity, on the other hand, refers to whether the ink can be evenly distributed across the substrate during the printing process, thereby preventing uneven color density in localized areas of the print.

3. Viscosity and Fluidity

Viscosity is an important indicator for measuring the flow properties of ink. The viscosity of UV ink should be moderate to ensure that the ink can transfer smoothly during printing and evenly cover the substrate. If the viscosity is too low, the ink may flow too quickly, resulting in blurred printed images; if the viscosity is too high, the ink may be difficult to transfer, thereby affecting the print quality. Flowability is closely related to viscosity—better flowability corresponds to lower viscosity. UV ink should have excellent flowability to ensure that it spreads uniformly on both the ink rollers and the substrate during the printing process.

IV. Dryness and Glossiness

Drying refers to the ink's ability to quickly form a thin film and solidify after printing. The drying speed of UV inks should be moderate, ensuring that printed materials dry rapidly during the printing process. Glossiness is an indicator used to measure the luster of a printed surface. UV inks exhibit high glossiness, resulting in a smooth and even printed surface with vivid and sharp colors.

V. Adhesion and Lightfastness

Adhesion is a key indicator for measuring how firmly UV ink bonds to the surface of the substrate. UV ink should exhibit excellent adhesion to ensure that the printed materials do not peel off or crack during use. Lightfastness refers to the ability of UV ink to maintain its color, gloss, and other properties without significant changes when exposed to sunlight or strong light sources. UV inks typically contain special UV-resistant ingredients that protect them from light-induced damage.

6. Heat Resistance and Steam-Boiling Resistance

Thermal resistance refers to the stability of ink under high-temperature conditions. UV inks should exhibit good thermal resistance to ensure that printed materials do not deform or discolor when exposed to high-temperature environments. Steam resistance, on the other hand, refers to the ability of UV inks to maintain stable performance when subjected to high-temperature steaming treatments. This property is particularly important for printed materials used in applications such as food packaging.

7. Impact resistance, tinting strength, and curing speed

Impact resistance refers to the stability of ink when subjected to external impact forces. UV inks should exhibit excellent impact resistance to ensure that printed materials are not damaged by external impacts during transportation and use. Color strength refers to the ability of UV ink to impart vivid colors to the substrate during the printing process. UV inks with high color strength can achieve ideal color effects using a smaller amount of ink, thereby improving printing efficiency and reducing costs. Curing speed refers to the rate at which UV ink transitions from a liquid state to a solid state under ultraviolet light exposure. UV inks with fast curing speeds can rapidly solidify within a short period, forming a stable ink film and thus enhancing production efficiency.

VIII. Wear Resistance and Weather Resistance

Abrasion resistance refers to the ability of UV ink to maintain the integrity of its ink film and prevent color fading when subjected to friction or scratching. UV inks with good abrasion resistance ensure that printed materials are less likely to be damaged during use, thereby extending their service life. Weather resistance refers to the stability of ink under natural environmental conditions. UV inks should exhibit excellent weather resistance to ensure that printed materials do not fade or deteriorate when exposed to outdoor environments for extended periods.

9. Summary

In summary, the physical performance indicators of UV inks play a crucial role in determining both the quality of printed materials and the stability of the printing process. By strictly controlling these indicators, we can ensure that printed products exhibit vivid, rich, and consistent colors while also guaranteeing a smooth printing operation. As printing technologies continue to advance and the applications for printed materials expand, the performance requirements for UV inks will only become more stringent, and UV inks will continually adapt to meet new demands and challenges.

Bossin Related Product Recommendations

UV ink

Product Model

Product Features

Application areas

B-371 (Aliphatic Polyurethane Acrylate)

Fast curing, good surface drying, excellent flexibility, and good gloss retention.

Snowflake UV Ink, Wrinkle UV Ink

B-609 (Aliphatic Polyurethane Acrylate)

Fast curing speed, solvent resistance, scratch resistance, high hardness, and cost-effectiveness.

Plastic UV coatings, vacuum-plated UV topcoats, metallic UV coatings, PVC surface gloss coatings, UV coatings for polishing and hardening wood flooring and cabinet panels, UV inks

B-619W (Aliphatic Polyurethane Acrylate)

Fast curing, high hardness, good toughness, wear resistance, and chemical resistance.

Vacuum-plated UV topcoat, metal/plastic/wood UV coatings

B-912 (Aliphatic Polyurethane Acrylate)

Fast curing, high hardness, good toughness, chemical resistance, and wear resistance.

Vacuum-plated UV topcoat, metal/plastic/wood UV coatings

B-509B (Polyester Acrylate)

Good adhesion to a variety of substrates, excellent flexibility, and excellent pigment wetting properties.

Flexographic UV Ink

B-546 (Polyester Acrylate)

Good adhesion to metal/PET/PC, fast curing, and excellent flexibility.

UV transfer adhesive, UV disc adhesive

B-530 (Polyester Acrylate)

Fast curing rate, excellent pigment wetting, low viscosity, good hydrophobicity, excellent thixotropy, and improved ink misting.

UV offset ink

B-560 (Polyester Acrylate)

Fast curing, good pigment wetting.

UV offset ink

B-590 (Polyester Acrylate)

Good adhesion, fast curing, and excellent pigment wetting.

Screen-printing UV ink

B-590H (Polyester Acrylate)

Good adhesion, fast curing, and excellent pigment wetting.

Offset UV ink, screen-printing UV ink

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