Trykkblekk

Trykkblekk is a liquid or paste material used in printing to transfer an image from a printing plate or screen onto a substrate, typically paper, but also other materials like textiles, plastics, or metal. It consists of pigments or dyes for color, a binder or vehicle that carries the pigment and adheres it to the substrate, and additives to control properties like viscosity, drying time, and printability.

The specific composition of trykkblekk varies widely depending on the printing method and application. For instance, offset printing inks often use oil-based vehicles, while flexographic and gravure inks can be water-based or solvent-based. Screen printing inks are typically viscous pastes, while digital printing inks like inkjet inks are very low viscosity liquids. The binder is crucial as it determines how the ink adheres to the surface and its durability. Common binders include resins, polymers, and oils.

Additives play a significant role in fine-tuning the performance of trykkblekk. These can include waxes to improve rub resistance, driers to accelerate drying, plasticizers to enhance flexibility, and surfactants to control surface tension. The choice of pigments is critical for color reproduction, opacity, and lightfastness. Dyes are also used, offering transparency and vibrancy but sometimes lacking the durability of pigments. The development of trykkblekk has been driven by the demand for higher quality, faster printing speeds, and a wider range of printable materials.