Graphic Arts & Inks

Graphic Arts stands for applications related to the printing ink industry, from inks to overprint varnishes, as well as laminating adhesives, materials designed to improve screen emulsions and specific resins used in the plate industry.

Radiation curing inks are widely applied to paper/board, plastics and metal using various printing techniques such as offset, letterpress, flexography, digital and screen printing; overprint varnishes can also be applied by roller coater and gravure techniques.

Radiation curing inks are found in a diversified range of applications such as luxury packaging (e.g. cosmetics), detergents, household products, labels, business forms, plastic printing (e.g. plastic cards, CD and DVD’s, etc.), metal and cans, as well as in the aseptic food packaging industry.

Energy curing graphic arts applications offer better print quality, superior mechanical properties (scratch, abrasion, etc.) and lower running cost systems for the printers, allowing further in-line processing. Furthermore, energy curing graphic arts applications are environmental friendly (no VOC’s and low energy consumption) compared to solvent based and/or water based systems.

With Radcure systems printers are able to answer one large end-user demand using less floor space and decreasing their production costs for smaller jobs with better productivity, lower waste and lower stock of substrates and inks.

End-users on the other hand get cheaper packaging for smaller jobs, just in time for smaller quantities and much higher flexibility in changing designs with lower risk of supply interruption at higher quality than obtained using conventional systems.

Recently Cytec has developed a range of EBECRYL LEO^® UV/EB curing resins specially developed for indirect food contact applications for low migration and low odor.

Cytec also produces TMXDI, a specialty isocyanate that, when incorporated into radiation cure inks can improve adhesion and clarity when printing on paper/board, plastic or metal surfaces.