Due to the very high printing speeds involved in the processing of magazine gravure inks, a low viscosity is essential. Low-structure pigment blacks with medium-sized particles are used to produce printing inks, which can fulfill these conditions and, at the same time, display excellent hiding power, jetness and gloss.
Decoration and packaging printing inks
In decorative and packaging printing (flexographic and gravure printing), the most varied printing substrates are encountered. Printing substrate and binder are chosen to suit one another. For this reason, a selection of binder systems is available for use in these printing inks. Pigment blacks manufactured according to the gas and furnace methods are applied here, both in an oxidized and non-oxidized form.
Aqueous or water-based printing inks play an important role in the field ofpackag — ing inks. High levels of jetness are generally achieved with high-structured pigment blacks. For the most part, this involves the printing of uncoated papers. However, the high-structure impairs the flow properties of the printing ink. If coated paper or cardboard and non-absorbent surfaces are to be printed upon, preference should
be given to oxidized pigment blacks with a low-structure. Low-structured pigment blacks provide better flow properties and can be used in higher concentrations [4.29].
4.7.2.3