Should inkjet printers use dye inks or pigment inks?

Different from laser printers, inkjet printers can not only print documents, but also color pictures. Because of its convenience and versatility, it has become one of the indispensable helpers in our daily lives. Although most people use inkjet printers, people don't know much about its consumable-ink. It has two kinds of inks, namely "dye ink" and "pigment ink". So what are dye inks and pigment inks? What is the difference between the two inks? How should we choose in daily use? Let us uncover the mystery of the two inks together.

1. The ink composition is different, resulting in different performance

The dye ink is composed of a single molecule with a specific chemical structure, the smallest unit is only 1-2 nanometers. The colorant of the dye ink is a dye soluble in water or organic solvents, and the dye molecules are completely dissolved in the solution. The ink is a transparent liquid. It can maintain a wide color gamut to achieve rich, bright colors and excellent and outstanding image quality. The pigment ink is a collection of molecules, and the smallest pigment unit is 50-200 nanometers. The colorant of the pigment ink is a water-insoluble pigment, suspended in water with the aid of a dispersant, and is an opaque liquid. It can provide bright and bright colors, clear and sharp blacks, and outstanding durability, including waterproof, fade-resistant, long-term storage, preventing print clogging, and extending print head life.

2. Comparison of various performances

1. Waterproof performance: The colorant in the dye ink is completely dissolved in the ink in a single molecule. The colorant has small particles and is easily soluble in water and other chemical solvents, making the dye ink less likely to block the nozzle and printing smoothly. However, when the printed document encounters water, the colorant fixed on the medium will dissolve again, which may cause ink bleeding. The pigment ink uses a multi-functional special polymer binder, which allows the pigment to have strong adhesion and allows the print head to stably eject ink without clogging. After the ink dries, the adhesive will form a durable protective film on the surface of the paint, which can effectively waterproof.

2. Anti-fading performance: The coloring agent of dye ink is directly exposed to the air. Under the action of light and ozone, the chemical chain of the dye coloring agent may break, causing the coloring agent to change color and other phenomena, which will fade the print and affect its preservation. performance. The colorant of pigment ink is generally highly pulverized minerals with high stability, and the outer layer of the colorant is wrapped with a resin layer, which is not easy to fade.

From the above comparison, we can draw the following conclusions: In terms of waterproof and fade resistance, pigment ink has more advantages. But in terms of bright colors and smooth printing, dye inks perform better and are cheaper. If you need to save documents and pictures for many years, choose pigment ink. If the materials used are only temporary, dye inks can be used, and low cost colors are fine.