Printing Inks

FF's portfolio for printing inks includes binders and rheology modifying additives that thicken and control ink viscosity to tight ranges and help increase the long-term stability of formulations. From flexographic and gravure to inkjet to screen printing inks, various ingredients are available for water-based and solvent-based formulations. Control over ink viscosity is crucial in enabling high-quality prints by regulating flow, droplet formation, and transfer onto substrates and preventing issues such as clogging in inkjet applications. Ingredients such as METHOCEL™ and ETHOCEL™ impart shear-thinning rheology, decreasing the viscosity of formulations while being applied and rebuilding viscosity after application. For inks that require ingredient stabilization and a lower degree of viscosity, such as inkjet, flexographic, and gravure inks, lower–molecular weight polymers are available that provide minimal viscosity modification. Medium– to high–molecular weight polymers can be used for inks that require higher viscosity build, such as screen inks. The ingredients in this portfolio also help form ink films with fewer defects and can improve adhesion to certain substrates.