In the technological evolution of the printing industry, UV ink and solvent-based ink have always dominated. With different technological approaches, they show distinct contrasts in terms of environmental friendliness, printing performance, and cost control. We will conduct an in – depth analysis from dimensions such as technical principles, environmental compliance, and application scenarios to provide scientific selection basis for printing enterprises.

I. Composition and Drying Mechanism: The Fundamental Differences in Technological Approaches

1. Comparison of Core Components

Comparison Dimension	UV Ink	Solvent-based Ink
Main Components	Photosensitive resin, reactive monomers, photoinitiators	Resin, pigments, volatile organic solvents (e.g., toluene, ethyl acetate)
Curing Principle	Ultraviolet rays trigger a polymerization reaction to form a film instantly	After the solvent evaporates, the resin wraps the pigments to dry naturally
Drying Time	0.1 – 3 seconds (LED – UV technology)	Minutes to hours (depending on heating or ventilation)

2. Scientific Principle Analysis

• UV Ink: Ultraviolet rays (200 – 400nm) activate photoinitiators, causing the resin and monomers to cross – link and form a three – dimensional network structure. This chemical cross – linking endows the ink film with high strength and chemical resistance.
• Solvent-based Ink: Physical drying is achieved through solvent penetration or evaporation. The resin film formation depends on external conditions (such as temperature and humidity), and the strength of the ink film is affected by solvent residues.

II. Environmental Friendliness and Safety: Key Considerations for Green Transformation

1. Comparison of Environmental Impacts

Indicator	UV Ink	Solvent-based Ink
VOC Emission	Zero emission	High emission (carcinogens such as toluene and xylene)
Toxicity Risk	No heavy metals, compliant with RoHS/REACH standards	Solvent residues may be carcinogenic, requiring PPE protection
Waste Disposal	Direct recycling, no waste liquid	Requires professional hazardous waste treatment, high cost

2. Policy – Driven Case

The EU’s “Industrial Emissions Directive” requires the packaging and printing industry to have a VOC emission below 20mg/m³, which has led to the market share of solvent – based ink dropping from 65% in 2015 to 42% in 2023 (Smithers data).

III. Printing Performance: A Double – edged Battle between Quality and Efficiency

1. Comparison of Key Performance Indicators

Performance Indicator	UV Ink	Solvent-based Ink
Drying Speed	Supports high – speed printing of up to 200 meters per minute	Usually ≤100 meters per minute
Adhesion	Requires corona/coating pretreatment, but extremely strong after curing	Good adhesion to non – absorbent substrates
Color Performance	ΔE ≤ 1.5, high gloss	ΔE ≤ 3.0, easily affected by solvent evaporation
Weather Resistance	Resistant to ultraviolet rays and alcohol wiping (≥500 hours)	Fades easily outdoors (service life ≤ 2 years)

2. Realization of Special Effects

• UV Ink: Can achieve complex effects such as 3D relief, fluorescence, and matte, and can be formed in one step without post – treatment.
• Solvent-based Ink: Can only complete basic color block printing, and special effects depend on composite processes.

IV. Application Scenario Compatibility: Precise Matching of Industry Needs

1. Comparison of Typical Applications

Field	Recommended Scenarios for UV Ink	Recommended Scenarios for Solvent-based Ink
Packaging Printing	High – end cosmetic boxes, pharmaceutical labels (high gloss, scratch – resistant)	Food flexible packaging (requires composite processes)
Industrial Printing	Electronic product casings, medical device packaging	Building materials, ordinary outdoor advertisements
Special Effects	Anti – counterfeiting labels, art decorations	Low – cost printing without special effects requirements

2. Substrate Compatibility

• UV Ink: Non – absorbent materials such as plastics (PE/PP/PET), metals, and glass that require pretreatment.
• Solvent-based Ink: Traditional substrates such as paper, BOPP films, and metal foils.

V. Cost and Long – term Economic Efficiency: TCO Lifecycle Analysis

Cost Item	UV Ink	Solvent-based Ink
Initial Investment	High (requires UV equipment and special printing plates)	Low (compatible with traditional printing machines)
Operating Cost	Low (no solvent consumption, 30% reduction in energy consumption)	High (solvent procurement + waste gas treatment)
Maintenance Cost	UV lamps need to be replaced regularly (service life of 1000 – 2000 hours)	Frequent cleaning of equipment due to solvent residues

Economic Conclusion: The 3 – year total cost of ownership (TCO) of UV ink is 15% – 25% lower than that of solvent – based ink (based on an annual production capacity of 50,000 square meters).

VI. Future Trends: Technological Innovation and Industry Transformation

1. Driven by Environmental Regulations

China’s “Limit of Volatile Organic Compound (VOCs) Content in Inks” (GB 38507 – 2020) requires the VOC content in packaging inks to be ≤5%, accelerating the elimination of solvent – based inks. The UV ink market has an annual growth rate of over 8%, and its scale is expected to exceed 12 billion yuan in 2025 (predicted by Grand View Research).

2. Directions of Technological Breakthroughs

• LED – UV Technology: Reduces energy consumption by 70% and supports the printing of heat – sensitive materials (such as PET films).
• Water – based UV Ink: Combines the environmental friendliness of water – based inks with the high – efficiency curing of UV inks, solving the problem of slow drying of traditional water – based inks.

VII. Selection Decision Tree: The Golden Rule for Scientific Selection

• When the following conditions are met, UV ink is preferred:
  • Printing speed requirement ≥150 meters per minute.
  • High – gloss and scratch – resistant surface effects are needed.
  • Involved in food/medicine packaging (no solvent residues required).
  • Applied for long – term outdoor display (requirement for ultraviolet resistance).
• Scenarios where solvent – based ink is still applicable:
  • Short – term printing projects with limited budgets.
  • Paper printing with low requirements for weather resistance.
  • Flexible packaging production requiring complex composite processes.

VIII. Recommended Product: Zhongzhixing UV Flexographic Ink Solution

To meet the needs of flexographic printing, Huizhou Zhongzhixing Color Technology has launched a high – performance UV flexographic ink series. With its innovative formula and process advantages, it provides efficient and environmentally friendly solutions for the packaging, labeling, and other fields.

Core Advantages of Zhongzhixing Flexographic UV Ink

Substrate Compatibility

• Specifically designed for non – absorbent films such as PE/PP/PET, it can achieve a 5B – grade adhesion (ASTM D3359) without complex pretreatment.
• Compatible with special substrates such as aluminum foil and composite films to meet the high – end needs of food packaging, cosmetic labels, etc.

Curing Performance

• Adopts LED – UV curing technology, with a curing speed of ≤1 second, supporting high – speed printing of up to 200 meters per minute.
• Consumes only 30% of the energy of traditional mercury lamps and generates low heat, avoiding deformation of heat – sensitive materials.

Environmental Friendliness and Safety

• Passes the FDA food contact certification (21 CFR 175.300), with no risk of solvent residues.
• Does not contain APEO, heavy metals, and other harmful substances.

Printing Performance

• With a viscosity range of 12 – 25 cps (25°C), it is suitable for medium – to high – line – count flexographic plates (150 – 300 LPI).
• The color density is ≥1.8 (solid color blocks), the color difference ΔE ≤ 1.5, and the color gamut covers over 95% of Pantone colors.

Technical Parameters

Item	Indicator
Curing Energy	150 – 300 mJ/cm² (LED – 395nm)
Adhesion (PE Film)	5B
Rubbing Resistance (Dry Rubbing)	No color loss after 1000 times (ASTM D5264)
Alcohol Wiping Resistance	No color fading after 50 times (75% ethanol)
Storage Stability	Store at 25°C in the dark for 12 months

Typical Application Scenarios

• Food Packaging: Biscuit bags, liquid beverage labels (pass FDA certification).
• Cosmetic Packaging: Perfume boxes, skin – care product labels (high – gloss and scratch – resistant).
• Industrial Identification: Chemical drum labels, electronic component labels (chemical – resistant).

In the field of flexographic printing, Zhongzhixing UV ink provides an environmentally friendly, efficient, and cost – effective solution for enterprises through technological innovation and industry compatibility. Its advantages of fast curing, high adhesion, and compliance are especially suitable for packaging printing scenarios with strict requirements for quality and efficiency.