Pigment Inks And Their Impact On Printer Cartridges

2010-06-29

In the fast-paced world of inkjet printing, there are two standard types of ink which are used to fill almost any printer ink cartridge - dye-based inks and pigment inks. Each has its own unique properties and is far better suited for some jobs than others. The methods used to make the two are also different, and result in both different color blending abilities as well as fade and water resistance. For a company wondering which type of ink is better for their latest project, or considering a full switch to one type or the other, here are a few things to bear in mind.

First is the construction of the ink itself. In a dye-based ink, colored dye is dissolved in a solvent present in the printer ink cartridge, typically water or some variant of water. If the solvent is not the proper type or mixture, or too much dye or too little dye is added, the result can be thick, clumping ink or thin, runny ink that will not stick to the page. Pigments inks, by contrast, are more like a flour and water combination, and intended to be thicker. They do not need to dissolve entirely in water or any other solvent, and are therefore less likely to be of an improper consistency. Pigment inks are also more resistant to fading than dye-based inks. The nature of dye-based inks is that they lay down a stream of very fine particles which can be easily affected by sunlight or temperatures. The particles from pigment inks are far larger, and much more resistant to sun or heat damage. Similarly, pigments are more resistant to water damage and blurring as a result of moisture, as they have far less water in their makeup.

It is possible for a dye-based printer ink cartridge to contain more ink than a pigment-based one, and therefore produce more vibrant colors, although the colors will not be as long lasting or blend as well. It is also more likely that a pigment ink will clump or stick in an inkjet printer, and as a result dye inks have become the standard for text-based printing. However, for image printing or for copies that need to stay sharp for periods of a year or more, a pigment based ink solution may be ideal.

It is also worth noting that pigment inks are currently more expensive than their dye-based counterparts, as the process to create them is both more intensive and requires more costly materials. For this reason, it is worth considering carefully what exactly a company's printing needs are before making the switch from a dye-based system to a pigment one.