Gilsonite In Ink Industry

Updated: August 18, 2023
Gilsonite is a natural hydrocarbon resin found in Utah that has been used in ink production for over a century. Its unique properties make it suitable for improving flow properties, viscosity, and color intensity of black ink. While it is still used in ink formulations today, its usage has declined due to the emergence of alternative resins in the ink industry.
Gilsonite in ink like a printing press that uses ink made with gilsonite

Gilsonite in Ink Industry: A Century of Use and Applications

Ink for many types of printing presses and uses may be made by combining Gilsonite with other oils, resins, and additives, both natural and manufactured. Ink formulas often incorporate 2% to 5% Gilsonite. Offset printing inks with a concentration of 15% or higher employ refined Gilsonite resin as an alternative to more expensive resins. An important function of Gilsonite in ink is as a resin, which is used to adhere pigments to paper. Using this Gilsonite specification, carbon black will not spread on paper or high glass papers.

The benefits of Gilsonite are apparent while reading newspapers and magazines. Many magazines and other high-quality publications couldn’t be produced in jet black without Gilsonite’s outstanding carbon black dispersion properties. Gilsonite’s efficiency is also useful in the business world. The price is much less than that of phenolic and hydrocarbon resins. Black news ink, heat set ink, and gravure ink all employ Gilsonite as a carbon black wetting ingredient. Gilsonite, often known as Gilsonite glue, is used to moisten and distribute carbon black pigment on paper. having the desired effect of a glossy print that resists wear and tear.

Gilsonite, an Improver for Ink:

Create a non-petroleum ink for printing newspapers by mixing carbon black pigment with Gilsonite flakes and tall oil fatty acids. When the necessity for a certain ink viscosity change, as it does due to differences in press speeds, newspaper qualities, and other variables, the ratio of Gilsonite and long oil fatty acids in the ink may be adjusted. Gilsonite in ink can have its viscosity adjusted on the fly, has better flow and penetrating capabilities than standard ink.

Gilsonite in ink like a few packs in image

Ink stability is improved by using Gilsonite:

Improves how well printing inks can function while they are running low. Helps offset printing inks retain less moisture. Enhances the printability of metal effect inks by boosting their emulsification properties and protecting against scrumming. Gilsonite inhibits ink from coagulating because it binds to molecules and helps them slide past one another. Stabilizers that are large in size and made up of chains of basic units are particularly useful. Gilsonite is a white, odorless powder with a melting point of 145 degrees Celsius and a particle size of 200 meshes; it is CS2-soluble. In its raw form, Gilsonite has little economic value. The severe flammability of Gilsonite necessitates the care of storing powdered or dusty Gilsonite in bags. The ink industry makes extensive use of Gilsonite for ink, which is produced from the surface-active component of petroleum. It is used to improve the dye receptivity of printing ink as well as to solidify and varnish the color.

Permeability of Gilsonite Powder:

Without the need for heating, Gilsonite powder dissolves readily in aromatic solvents including benzene, toluene, and xylene, as well as in the vast majority of chlorinated solvents. It may also be mixed with more difficulty but is soluble in cold, non-heated aliphatic and low aromatic solvents such as VM&P and other Naphtha, Oils, and Mineral Spirits. The pulverized variety should be used if preheating is not an option. Gilsonite is insoluble in both water and alcohols, as well as acetone.

With very little bronzing, films made with Gilsonite ink powder are a deep, rich black. Age has no effect on the density of solutions. Gilsonite ink powder may be used with drying oils, vegetable oils, rosins, hydrocarbon resins, elastomers, asphalts, and paraffin wax without any issues. Most alcohols and ketones have very low solubility.

Purchasing This Product from Petro Naft

For more detailed information and to purchase the product discussed in this article, please visit the dedicated product page below. Alternatively, use the various communication channels provided on our site to register your purchase inquiry or take advantage of our expert guidance.

gilsonite for ink

Prepared by the PetroNaft Co. research team.

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