Different Facts About Eco-Solvent Ink Safety

You are likely to find a wide variety of options as you explore the range of inks to produce high-quality graphics. One of these is eco-solvent ink, which may be more cost-effective to use for large format printing and many other applications. When you choose the right product, such as Roland Eco-Sol Max ink, concerns about the safety of eco-solvent inks will be the least of your worries. Just make sure that you are buying authentic products from a credible eco-solvent ink supplier like Bink Inks.

Why eco-solvent inks?

Solvent-based inks are known by different names—particularly eco-solvent, mild-solvent, bio-solvent, and soft-solvents. They all refer to more environmentally friendly options than standard solvent inks, which are known for having VCOs (volatile organic compounds) that can cause environmental and human health issues along with broader concerns addressed in the HAPS (hazardous air pollutants) list.

An eco-solvent ink has less aggressive solvents than what is found in their regular counterparts. Lactates, alcohols, and glycol ethers make up for the absence of ketones and other aggressive substances.

What are they made of?

High-quality eco-solvent inks such as the Roland Eco-Sol Max ink are derived from extracts such as refined mineral oil, which has relatively low levels of VOC, so they can be used in adequately ventilated office and studio environments. They are also suitable for printing indoor signage and graphics because the odor is minimal. The colors in eco-solvent inks are suspended in a biodegradable solvent.

Chemicals in the ink won’t harm the inkjet nozzles and other inner components of the printer unlike when you use stronger, conventional solvents—which means that you won’t have to keep cleaning the printhead. Keep in mind, however, that some printhead brands tend to have problems with most, if not all types of ink.

Precautions

You can print with eco-solvent inks inside enclosed spaces without worrying about inhaling dangerous fumes similar to those found in full-strength, conventional solvent inks. However, that doesn’t mean that they’re entirely safe, so you still need to keep your print shop well-ventilated.

Moreover, just because it has ‘eco’ on its name doesn’t mean that it is eco-friendly. Printing with this ink may require more heat to dry, and the results may not be as durable as what regular solvent inks can deliver. You may want to consider using it only for applications that will need to last for at least one to two years.

As you explore the range of eco-solvent inks from an eco-solvent ink supplier, you might find some products labeled ‘light-solvent’ or ‘low-solvent,’ which also refer to them.

When in doubt, check the MSDS

A reputable eco-solvent ink supplier should be able to provide a Material Safety Data Sheet on the solvent inks that they carry. MSDS should contain information on exposure limits along with requirements for ventilation extraction. They should also provide a list of the ink’s components and their respective Chemical Abstracts Service number.

You can look up the CAS numbers online to learn more about their corresponding health and safety information. You can also consult the EPA and OSHA’s websites for additional details.

Buy only from trusted sources

Don’t settle for cheap ink refills, especially when it comes to eco-solvents. For your safety and compliance to regulations, buy authentic Roland Eco-Sol Max ink only from reputable suppliers like Bink Inks.