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For other uses, see Ink (disambiguation).

An ink is a liquid containing various pigments and/or dyes used for coloring a surface to produce an image, text, or design. Liquid is one of the principal States of matter. A liquid is a Fluid that has the particles loose and can freely form a distinct surface at the boundaries of For the drug referred to as "pigment" see Black tar heroin. A dye can generally be described as a Colored substance that has an affinity to the substrate to which it is being applied An image (from Latin imago) or picture is an artifact usually two-dimensional that has a similar appearance to some subject &mdashusually Design is used both as a Noun and a Verb. The term is often tied to the various Applied arts and Engineering (See design disciplines Ink is used for drawing and/or writing with a pen, brush or quill. A pen (Latin pinna, feather is a Writing instrument used to apply Ink to a surface usually Paper. "Paintbrush" redirects here For other uses see Paintbrush (disambiguation. Quill is a high level object oriented Programming language created by the Dutch software company Quintiq. Thicker inks, in paste form, are used extensively in letterpress and lithographic printing. Letterpress printing is a term for Printing text with Movable type, in which the raised surface of the type is Inked and then pressed against a smooth Lithography is a method for Printing using a plate or stone with a completely smooth surface Printing is a process for reproducing text and image typically with ink on Paper using a printing press

Ink is a complex medium, comprising solvents, pigments, dyes, resins, lubricants, solubilizers, surfactants, particulate matter, fluorescers, and other materials. Surfactants are wetting agents that lower the Surface tension of a liquid allowing easier spreading and lower the Interfacial tension between two liquids The components of inks serve many purposes; the ink’s carrier, colorants, and other additives are used to control flow, thickness, and appearance of the ink when dry.

Contents

Types of ink

Line of a Fountain pen, 50-times magnified
Line of a Fountain pen, 50-times magnified

Early varieties include Egyptian ink, various natural dyes made from metals, the husk or outer covering of beans or seeds, and sea creatures like the cuttlefish (known as sepia). Cuttlefish are marine animals of the order Sepiida belonging to the Cephalopoda class (which also includes Squid, Octopuses India ink is black and originated in Asia. "Indian ink" redirects here For the play by Tom Stoppard see Indian Ink (play. Iron gall ink was used by many of the old masters for drawing. Iron gall ink (sometimes iron gall nut ink) is a purple-black ink made from Iron salts and Tannin from vegetable sources " Old Master " (or " old master " is a term for a European painter of skill who worked before about 1800, or a painting by such Walnut ink is erroneously thought to have also been used by old masters, however, there is no proof of this. Walnut ink is an Ink made from the green husk surrounding the nut of Walnuts It may be liquid or made of crystals that are mixed with water before use " Old Master " (or " old master " is a term for a European painter of skill who worked before about 1800, or a painting by such Walnut Inks, if they were used, would have faded fairly quickly and would therefore be unsuitable.

Pigmented inks

Pigmented inks contain other agents that ensure adhesion of the pigment to the surface and prevent it from being removed by mechanical abrasion. Adhesion is the tendency of certain dissimilar molecules to cling together due to Attractive forces. These materials are typically referred to as resins (in solvent-based inks) or binding agents (in water-based inks). Resin, not to be confused with Rosin, is a Hydrocarbon Secretion of many Plants particularly coniferous trees.

Because pigmented inks stay on the surface of paper, less ink is needed to create the same intensity of color as with dye-based inks. Pigmented inks also tend to be more resistant to washing out. For this reason these inks are frequently recommended for applications where erasure is undesirable. Gel inks are particularly resistant to erasure and frequently bear recommendations from forgery experts. A gel pen uses ink in which Pigment is suspended in a Water -based Gel. Forgery is the process of making adapting or imitating objects statistics or documents (see False document) with the intent to deceive.

The particle size of the pigment is very important for the ability to diffuse in the solution inks. Qualities such as hue, saturation, and brightness or lightness are inherent in the ink, and vary dependent on the source and type of pigment. Hue is one of the main properties of a Color described with names such as " Red " " Yellow " etc In Colorimetry and Color theory, colorfulness, chroma, and saturation are related but distinct concepts referring to the perceived intensity Lightness is a property of a Color, or a dimension of a Color space, that is defined in a way to reflect the subjective brightness perception of a color for humans For the drug referred to as "pigment" see Black tar heroin.

Dyes in inks

Dye-based inks are generally much stronger than pigment-based inks and can produce much more color of a given density per unit of mass. However, because dyes are dissolved in the liquid phase, they have a tendency to soak into paper, thus making the ink less efficient and also potentially allowing the ink to bleed at the edges of an image, producing poor quality printing.

To circumvent this problem, dye-based inks are made with solvents that dry rapidly or are used with quick-drying methods of printing, such as blowing hot air on the fresh print. Other methods include harder paper sizing and more specialized paper coatings. Sizing or size is a Substance that is applied to Porous materials as a Glaze or Filler. The latter is particularly suited to inks used in non-industrial settings (which must conform to tighter toxicity and emission controls), such as inkjet printer inks. Inkjet printers operate by propelling variably-sized droplets of liquid or molten material ( Ink) onto almost any sized page Another technique involves coating the paper with a charged coating. If the dye has the opposite charge, it is attracted to and retained by this coating, while the solvent soaks into the paper. Cellulose, the material that paper is made of, is naturally charged, and so a compound that complexes with both the dye and the paper's surface will aid retention at the surface. Cellulose is an Organic compound with the formula, a Polysaccharide consisting of a linear chain of several hundred to over ten thousand β(1→4 Such a compound in common use in ink-jet printing inks is polyvinyl pyrrolidone.

An additional advantage of dye-based ink systems is that the dye molecules interact chemically with other ink ingredients. In Chemistry, a molecule is defined as a sufficiently stable electrically neutral group of at least two Atoms in a definite arrangement held together by This means that they can benefit more than pigmented ink from optical brighteners and color-enhancing agents designed to increase the intensity and appearance of dyes. Optical brighteners, optical brightening agents (OBAs, fluorescent brightening agents (FBAs or fluorescent whitening agents (FWAs are Dyes Because dyes get their color from the interaction of electrons in their molecules, the way in which the electrons can move is determined by the charge and extent of electron delocalization in the other ink ingredients. The electron is a fundamental Subatomic particle that was identified and assigned the negative charge in 1897 by J In chemistry delocalized electrons are Electrons in a Molecule that are not associated with a single Atom or to a Covalent bond. The color emerges as a function of the light energy that falls on the dye. Thus, if an optical brightener or color enhancer absorbs light energy and emits it through or with the dye, the appearance changes, as the spectrum of light re-emitted to the observer changes.

A disadvantage of dye-based inks is that they can be more susceptible to fading, especially when exposed to ultraviolet radiation as in sunlight. Ultraviolet ( UV) light is Electromagnetic radiation with a Wavelength shorter than that of Visible light, but longer than X-rays

A more recent development in dye-based inks are dyes that react with cellulose to permanently color the paper. Such inks are not affected by water, alcohol, and other solvents. As such, their use is recommended to prevent frauds that involve removing signatures, such as check washing. Check washing is the process of erasing details from checks to allow them to be rewritten usually for criminal purposes such as fraudulent withdrawal from the victim's Currently this kind of ink is most often offered for use in fountain pens. A fountain pen is a Pen that contains a reservoir of water-based liquid ink. The most popular manufacturer of this ink is Noodler. Fountain pen inks are water-based Inks intended for use with Fountain pens These inks are commonly available in bottles

History of ink

Approximately 5000 years ago, an ink for blacking the raised surfaces of pictures and texts carved in stone was developed in China. China ( Wade-Giles ( Mandarin) Chung¹kuo² is a cultural region, an ancient Civilization, and depending on perspective a National This early ink was a mixture of soot from pine smoke, lamp oil, and gelatin from animal skins and musk. Gelatin (also gelatine, from French gélatine) is a translucent colourless brittle nearly tasteless solid substance, extracted from the Other early cultures also developed many colors of ink from available berries, plants and minerals.

The India ink used in ancient India since at least the 4th century BC was called masi, which was an admixture of several chemical components. "Indian ink" redirects here For the play by Tom Stoppard see Indian Ink (play. This article is about the history of South Asia prior to the Partition of British India in 1947 [1] Indian documents written in Kharosthi with ink have been unearthed in Chinese Turkestan. The Kharoṣṭhī script, also known as the Gāndhārī script, is an ancient Abugida (an alphasyllabary based on consonants with graphical variations to express Xinjiang ( Uyghur: شىنجاڭ Shinjang;; Postal map spelling: Sinkiang; Turkish: Sincan, Sincan Uygur Özerk [2] The practice of writing with ink and a sharp pointed needle was common in early South India. South India is the area encompassing India 's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union [3] Several Jain sutras in India were compiled in ink. Jainism, traditionally known as Jain Dharma / Shraman Dharma (जैन धर्म is an ancient religion of India. [4] In India, the carbon black from which India ink is produced is obtained by burning bones, tar, pitch, and other substances. [5]

In ancient Rome, atramentum was used. Atramentum or atrament, generally means a very black usually liquid substance In an article for the Christian Science Monitor, Sharon J. The Christian Science Monitor (CSM is an international Newspaper published daily Monday through Friday Huntington describes these other historical inks:

About 1,600 years ago, a popular ink recipe was created. The recipe was used for centuries. Iron "salts," such as ferrous sulfate (made by treating iron with sulfuric acid), was mixed with tannin from gallnuts (they grow on trees) and a thickener. Galls or plant galls are abnormal outgrowths of Plant tissues and can be caused by various Parasites from Fungi and bacteria, to Insects When first put to paper, this ink is bluish-black. Over time it fades to a dull brown.

Scribes in medieval Europe (about AD 800 to 1500) wrote on sheepskin parchment. Sheepskin is the hide of a sheep, sometimes also called lambskin or lambswool. One 12th century ink recipe called for hawthorn branches to be cut in the spring and left to dry. Then the bark was pounded from the branches and soaked in water for eight days. The water was boiled until it thickened and turned black. Wine was added during boiling. The ink was poured into special bags and hung in the sun. Once dried, the mixture was mixed with wine and iron salt over a fire to make the final ink.

The reservoir fountain pen dates back to 953, when Ma'ād al-Mu'izz, the caliph of Egypt, demanded a pen which would not stain his hands or clothes, and was provided with a pen which held ink in a reservoir and delivered it to the nib via gravity and capillary action. A fountain pen is a Pen that contains a reservoir of water-based liquid ink. Maˤād al-Muˤizz li Dīn Allāh (932&ndash975 (معاذ المعز لدين الله also known as al'Moezz, was the fourth Fatimid Caliph and The Caliph is the Head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the leader of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. [6][7]

In the 15th century, a new type of ink had to be developed in Europe for the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg. A printing press is a mechanical device for applying pressure to an inked surface resting upon a medium (such as paper or cloth thereby transferring an image Johannes Gensfleisch zur Laden zum Gutenberg ( 1398 &ndash February 3, 1468) was a German Goldsmith and printer who is credited Two types of ink were prevalent at the time: the Greek and Roman writing ink (soot, glue, and water) and the 12th century variety composed of ferrous sulfate, gall, gum, and water. [8] Neither of these handwriting inks could adhere to printing surfaces without creating blurs. Eventually an oily, varnish-like ink made of soot, turpentine, and walnut oil was created specifically for the printing press. Turpentine (also called spirit of turpentine oil of turpentine wood turpentine gum turpentine is a fluid obtained by the Distillation of Resin obtained from trees

Modern ink applications

Up until a few years ago, consumers had very little interest in ink other than refills for their pens. Fountain pens became a novelty as the disposable ball point pen took over the market. A ballpoint pen ( Hungarian: golyóstoll also Eponymously known in British English and Australian English as a biro and ˈbaɪroʊ The introduction of home computing led to home printing. A home computer was a class of Personal computer entering the market in 1977 and becoming common during the 1980s Today, in developed nations, it is rare to find a residence or a business that does not have a printing capability. As a result, buying ink in the form of a cartridge has once again become a part of the day-to-day shopping experience, similar to buying a bottle of ink fifty years ago. An ink cartridge is a replaceable component of an Ink jet printer that contains the Ink (and sometimes the print-head itself that is spread on paper during printing

Ink refilling services for printer cartridges are offered by large, official printing companies as well as smaller, "unofficial" refill companies. Customers can often cut printing costs by using refill services from a refill company, or buying the new non-OEM brands instead of refilling.

Health aspect

There is a misconception that ink isn't harmful even if swallowed. Once ingested, ink can be hazardous to one's health. Certain inks, such as those used in printers, and even those found in a common pen can be harmful. Though ink will not cause death, inappropriate contact can cause effects such as severe headaches, skin irritation, or nervous system damage. These effects can be caused by solvents or by pigment constituents such as p-Anisidine, which is used in the process of creating the ink's color and shine. The anisidines encompass the three possible isomers of aminoanisole a benzene ring substituted with a methoxy group and an amino group The poison control center has stated that any consumption of ink should be reported to a local hospital or poison control center.

Writing inks and preservation

The two most used black writing inks in history are carbon inks and iron gall inks. Both types create problems for preservationists.

Carbon inks

Carbon inks were commonly made from lampblack or soot and gum arabic. Gum arabic keeps the carbon particles in suspension and adhered to paper. The carbon particles do not fade over time even when in sunlight or bleached. One benefit of carbon ink is that it is not harmful to the paper. Over time, the ink is chemically stable and therefore does not threaten the strength of the paper. Despite these benefits, carbon ink is not the ideal ink for permanence and ease of preservation. The ink has a tendency to smudge in humid environments and can be washed off an item. The best method of preserving documents written in carbon ink is to ensure it is stored in a dry environment (Barrow 1972). Recently, carbon inks made from carbon nanotubes have been successfully created. They are similar in composition to the traditional inks in that they use a polymer to suspend the carbon nanotubes. These inks can be used in inkjet printers and produce electrically conductive patterns. [9]

Iron gall inks

Iron gall inks became prominent in the early 1100's and were used for centuries and thought to be the best type of ink. Iron gall ink (sometimes iron gall nut ink) is a purple-black ink made from Iron salts and Tannin from vegetable sources However, iron gall ink is corrosive and damages the paper it is on (Waters 1940). Items containing this ink can become brittle and the writing fades to brown. The original scores of Johann Sebastian Bach are threatened by the destructive properties of iron gall ink. WikipediaWikiProject Composers#Lead section.2 This article is written in British English including maximised use of "-ise" The majority of his works are held by the German State Library, and about 25% of those are in advanced stages of decay (American Libraries 2000). The rate at which the writing fades is based on several factors, such as "the proportions of the ink ingredients, the amount deposited on the paper, and the composition of the paper" (Barrow 1972:16). The corrosion is caused by "two major degradation processes: acid catalysed hydrolysis and iron(II)-catalysed oxidation of cellulose" (Rouchon-Quillet 2004:389).

Treatment is a controversial subject. There is no treatment that will undo the damage already caused by the acidic ink. Deterioration can only be stopped or slowed for a period of time. There are some people who think it best not to treat the item at all for fear of the consequences. Others believe that non-aqueous procedures are the best solution. And then, there are some that believe an aqueous procedure may provide the answer for preserving items written with iron gall ink. Aqueous treatments include distilled water at different temperatures, calcium hydroxide, calcium bicarbonate, magnesium carbonate, magnesium bicarbonate, and calcium phytate. There are many possible side effects from these treatments. There can be mechanical damage, which would further weaken the paper. The color of the paper or ink may change and ink may bleed. Other consequences that might arise from aqueous treatment are a change of ink texture or the formation of on the surface of the ink (Reibland & de Groot 1999).

Iron gall inks are generally stored in a stable environment, because fluctuating relative humidity increases the rate at which formic acid, acetic acid and furan derivatives form in the material on which the ink was used. Relative humidity is a measurement of the amount of Water vapor that exists in a gaseous mixture of air and water Sulfuric acid acts as a catalyst to cellulose hydrolysis, and iron (II) sulfate acts as a catalyst to cellulose oxidation. These chemical reactions physically weaken the paper, causing brittleness. The Brittle Books Program is an initiative carried out by the National Endowment for the Humanities at the request of the United States Congress [10]

Indelible ink

The word indelible means cannot be removed or erased. Some types of indelible ink have a very short shelf life because of the solvents used, which evaporate rapidly.

India, Philippines, Indonesia and other developing countries have used indelible in the form of electoral stain to prevent electoral fraud. Election ink or electoral stain is a semi-permanent Ink or Dye that is applied to the Forefinger (usually of voting during Electoral fraud is illegal interference with the process of an Election. The Election Commission in India has used indelible ink for many elections. Indonesia used it in their last election in Aceh. In Mali, the ink is applied to the fingernail.

Sources

Footnotes

  1. ^ Banerji, page 673
  2. ^ Sircar, page 206
  3. ^ Sircar, page 62
  4. ^ Sircar, page 67
  5. ^ "India ink. " in Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008 Encyclopædia Britannica Inc.
  6. ^ Paul Vallely, How Islamic Inventors Changed the World, The Independent, 11 March 2006. The Independent is a British compact Newspaper published by Tony O'Reilly 's Independent News & Media.
  7. ^ Origins of the Fountain Pen, Foundation for Science Technology and Civilisation.
  8. ^ Many recipes for iron gall inks are featured in A booke of secrets: shewing diuers waies to make and prepare all sorts of inke. Iron gall ink (sometimes iron gall nut ink) is a purple-black ink made from Iron salts and Tannin from vegetable sources . . tr. out of Dutch into Englishe by W. P. [i. e. William Philip], London, 1596.
  9. ^ Simmons, Trevor (2007). "Large Area-Aligned Arrays from Direct Deposition of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes". J. Am. Chem. Soc. 129 (33): 10088-10089.  
  10. ^ Henk J. Porck and René Teygeler, Preservation Science Survey (Washington, D. C. : Council on Library and Information Resources, 2000).

References

Further reading

See also

External links

The Blue Wool Scale measures and calibrates the permanence of colouring Dyes Traditionally this test was developed for the Textiles industry but it has now been adopted De-inked pulp is recycled paper which has been processed by chemicals thus removing Ink and other unwanted elements Dokumental (full name Dokumental GmbH & Co Schreibfarben is an Ink Manufacturer based in Germany which creates ink and ink cartridges for use in many Election ink or electoral stain is a semi-permanent Ink or Dye that is applied to the Forefinger (usually of voting during The Ink Eradicator is a German-designed correction pen produced by Pelikan Invisible ink is a substance used for writing which is either invisible on application or soon thereafter and which later on can be made visible by some means Fountain pen inks are water-based Inks intended for use with Fountain pens These inks are commonly available in bottles A gel pen uses ink in which Pigment is suspended in a Water -based Gel. Preserving Parchment becomes more difficult when Pigments, Inks, and illumination are added into the equation Preservation is a branch of Library and information science concerned with maintaining or restoring access to artifacts documents and records through the study diagnosis treatment Soy ink is a kind of Ink made from Soybeans As opposed to traditional Petroleum -based ink soy-based ink is more Environmentally Stark's ink is one of a number of types of homemade Inks whose recipes were widely available in the 19th century Tattoo inks are Pigments used in Tattooing Tattoo inks consist of a pigment and a carrier (see below

Dictionary

ink

-noun

  1. a pigment (or dye) based fluid used for writing, printing etc.
  2. black or dark coloured fluid ejected by squid, octopus etc, as a protective strategy

-verb

  1. to apply ink
  2. to sign a document
  3. to tattoo someone
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