A Brief History of Printing Ink Research

In 2002, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to analyze a type of non-contact inkjet printing ink employed in coding machines; the analysis determined that the ink was primarily composed of solvents (methyl ethyl ketone and isopropanol), a pigment (C.I. Solvent Black 27), a plasticizer (butyl phthalate), and a film-forming agent (nitrocellulose).
By the end of 2006, there were dozens of domestic ink manufacturers with a combined annual production capacity exceeding 13,000 tons; imports included nearly 5,000 tons of OEM ink and 3,000 tons of compatible ink, while domestic compatible ink production stood at 6,000 tons. In 2007, the global inkjet ink market continued to grow steadily: inkjet cartridge shipments reached 1.56 billion units, sales revenue hit approximately US$290 million, and annual production volume reached 34.3 million liters. The domestic inkjet ink market expanded rapidly at a rate of 15%, with sales volume reaching approximately 13,000 tons in 2006-a 30% increase compared to 2005.