Editorial Feature

What is UV Printing?

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UV printing is a unique method of digital printing utilising ultraviolet (UV) light to dry or cure ink, adhesives or coatings almost as soon as it’s hit the paper, or aluminium, foam board or acrylic - in fact, as long as it fits in the printer, the technique can be used to print on almost anything.

The technique of UV curing – the photochemical process of drying - was originally introduced as a means of quickly drying gel nail polishes used in manicures, but it has recently been adopted by the printing industry where it is used to print on anything from signage and brochures to beer bottles. The process is the same as traditional printing, the only difference is the inks used and the drying process – and the superior products produced.

In traditional printing, solvent inks are used; these can evaporate and release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are harmful to the environment. The method also produces – and uses - heat and an accompanying odor. Furthermore, it requires additional spray powders to help with the ink offsetting process and drying, which can take several days. The inks are absorbed into the printing medium, so colours can seem washed out and faded. The printing process is limited mostly to paper and card mediums, so it can’t be used on materials such as plastic, glass, metal, foil or acrylic like UV printing.

In UV printing, mercury/quartz or LED lights are used for curing instead of heat; the specially designed high-intensity UV light closely follows as the special ink is distributed on the printing medium, drying it as soon as it is applied. Because the ink transforms from a solid or paste to a liquid almost immediately, there is no chance for it to evaporate and so no VOCs, toxic fumes or ozone are released, making the technology environmentally friendly with almost a zero carbon footprint.

The ink, adhesive or coating contains a mixture of liquid monomers, oligomers – polymers consisting of few repeating units - and photoinitiators. During the curing process, high-intensity light in the ultraviolet part of the spectrum, with a wavelength between 200 and 400 nm, is absorbed by the photoinitiator which undergoes a chemical reaction – chemical cross linking - and causes the ink, coating or adhesive to harden instantly.

Image Credits: Lunatictm/shutterstock.com

Its easy to see why UV printing has overtaken traditional water and solvent-based thermal drying techniques and why it is expected to continue growing in popularity. Not only does the method speed up production – meaning more is done in less time – rejection rates are reduced as the quality is higher. Wet droplets of ink are eliminated, so there is no rubbing off or smudging, and as the drying is almost immediate, there is no evaporation and therefore no loss of coating thickness or volume. Finer details are as possible, and colours are sharper and more vivid as there is no absorption on to the printing medium: choosing UV printing over traditional printing methods could be the difference between producing a luxury product, and something that feels much less superior.

The inks also have improved physical properties, improved gloss finish, better scratch, chemical, solvent and hardness resistance, better elasticity and the finish product also benefits from improved strength. They are also more durable and weather resistant, and offer an increased resistance to fading making them ideal for outdoor signage. The process is also more cost-effective – more products can be printed in less time, at a better quality and with fewer rejections. The lack of VOCs emitted almost means there is less damage to the environment and the practice is more sustainable.

References and Further Reading

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the author expressed in their private capacity and do not necessarily represent the views of AZoM.com Limited T/A AZoNetwork the owner and operator of this website. This disclaimer forms part of the Terms and conditions of use of this website.

Kerry Taylor-Smith

Written by

Kerry Taylor-Smith

Kerry has been a freelance writer, editor, and proofreader since 2016, specializing in science and health-related subjects. She has a degree in Natural Sciences at the University of Bath and is based in the UK.

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Comments

  1. Ryan Johnson Ryan Johnson Russia says:

    Thanks for sharing!

    • Darjat Mulyawan Darjat Mulyawan Indonesia says:

      Thanks for sharing.
      There may be detailed information regarding the difference in printing technology between roto - flexo - litho in terms of print quality and food safety. Infromation please

  2. Tran Ngoc Thuy Tran Ngoc Thuy Vietnam says:

    Thank you so much

  3. TheTrade Group TheTrade Group India says:

    Nice Article!

  4. Acryl Design Acryl Design Greece says:

    Very interesting article , thank you!

  5. Darjat Mulyawan Darjat Mulyawan Indonesia says:

    Is there any article describe the difference between Printing Technology such as ROTO - FLEXO - LITHO in term of Quality Printing and Food Safety issue?

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