Atramenty

Atramenty, or inks, are liquids, gels, or pastes containing colorants used for writing, drawing, and printing. They typically comprise a colorant (pigment or dye), a solvent or binder, and additives such as surfactants, stabilizers, or preservatives. The word atrament derives from Latin atramentum, meaning a dye or staining liquid, and historically signified a writing fluid.

Historically, inks were produced from carbonaceous materials and plant-based tannins. Carbon inks (lampblack or soot with binder) were common in ancient and medieval times. Iron gall ink, made from tannin-rich gall nuts and iron salts with gum Arabic, dominated European manuscripts from the 5th to 19th centuries but can corrode paper. In the modern era, synthetic dyes and pigments expanded the palette and stability, enabling fountain pens, printers, and markers.

Main types include carbon-based inks, iron gall inks, dye-based inks, and pigment-based inks. Carbon inks rely on dispersed solid particles; iron gall inks rely on a chemical reaction with paper; dye inks use soluble colorants vulnerable to fading; pigment inks use dispersed pigments with resin or polymer binders and often offer better lightfastness. Each type differs in durability, colorfastness, water resistance, and archival suitability.

Atramenty are formulated for specific applications: calligraphy and art inks, fountain-pen inks, ballpoint or gel inks, and printing inks for offset, digital, or packaging. Safety, allergenicity, pH, and storage affect performance. Proper handling includes sealing containers and protecting light-sensitive formulations.