Water-Based UV Inkjet - Novel Chemistry Approach for Food Packaging Applications

UV inkjet made tremendous progress in productivity and print quality in recent years. Market penetration in graphic arts picks up speed making traditional UV offset and UV flexo face increased competition from UV inkjet, particularly in label and packaging printing. Difficulties realising food contact compliance are a major concern limiting the growth of UV inkjet in these markets. Conventional UV inkjet inks rely heavily on mono- and difunctional monomers to achieve the low ink viscosities required for proper jetting. These monomers are not only critical migration hazards, but may also adversely affect the organoleptic properties of food. Water-based UV technology, already well-established in other radiation curing markets, delivers benefits like low formulation viscosity, no use of monomers, excellent adhesion to plastics and low odour. An UV inkjet concept study will be presented demonstrating the potential of water-based UV chemistry comprising new resins and new photoinitiators in combination with UV LED curing.