The Story of Ink and Its Many Components

Mention the work "ink" in a conversation at the officeor faded by direct sunlight. There are many color
today and most people immediately think of computervariants for these india inks but they use artificial dyes
printers and fax machines. Ink is a popular terminstead of the lampblack or carbon substances.
considering how many pictures and documents areThe most permanent of permanent inks however is a
printed around the world every day using a computerversion called iron gall ink. It is made using iron salts and
printer, both at home and in a business environment. Itgallic acid, a complex phenolic substance called tannin,
almost seems we're always running low on ink. Printingand of course, some water. This type of ink actually
of this nature has become a daily occurrence sincedoes not show up well when applied to paper until it
personal computers have become part of our dailydries. At this time, the ink actually oxidizes and changes
lives. There is obviously no sign of computer printersstate with the black color as a result. This type of ink
going away any time soon. Aside from printer inkmay even include some blue dye if it is used for writing
though, there are other interesting types of ink inor printing because is it difficult to see until it has
existence today, with some forms of ink dating backoxidized. This type of ink could be found in some early
centuries.fountain pens. Colors were introduced to the
Ink is defined as a liquid or semi-viscous substanceink-making process in the early eighteenth century and
pigmented to various colors and used for writing,the process of manufacturing ink has only gotten more
drawing, marking, and printing. Composition andelaborate since then.
consistency of inks are varied according to theirThe twentieth century brought about many more
specific use. Every ink however, must have two basiccomplexities regarding ink production. A wide variety of
components, the pigment, or coloring, and the vehicle,synthetically produced colored dyes and a laundry-list
the liquid with which allows the ink to be dispersed.of chemicals are used today in ink manufacturing. Ink is
Some of the most commonly used inks are writing ink,flexible, it can be used in countless fashions and in a
printing ink, drawing ink, and even invisible ink. Inkwide assortment of printers and printing presses.
happens to be remarkably similar to paint with its onlyThere are permanent inks and there are even inks
difference being its actual use.which are erasable using a standard pencil eraser.
Some of the earliest inks were composed of aAside from the common ink pen, there are inks sold in
substance called lampblack which is a form of soot orjars and inks sold in plastic cartriges. Where will we
carbon material typically black in color. This was mixedsee ink next? It's obvious, the technology involved in ink
with a glue or gum along with water to form a sort ofmanufacturing as well as the way we market it will
ink-paste. These inks were labeled as india inks andcontinue to evolve based on the needs of the human
could be a form of the first permanent ink becauserace.
the carbon like material is inert and cannot be bleached