Glossary · Ink

UV printing

UV ink

The ink of a UV printer. It stays liquid until it is exposed to UV light and then solidifies within seconds.

Explained in more detail

UV inks consist of monomers, oligomers, pigments and photoinitiators. Under UV light of the right wavelength, the photoinitiators start a polymerisation, and the liquid ink cross-links into a solid film. There are hard inks with high scratch resistance for rigid materials and flexible (soft) inks for leather, films or bendable plastics. UV ink is light-sensitive, so store it away from light and observe the expiry date. Uncured ink can irritate the skin, so wear gloves and ensure ventilation.

Where does the term come from?

The name comes from the ultraviolet light under which the ink cures. In English it is called "UV-curable ink" or "UV curing ink", literally ink that cures under UV; "to cure" here means to harden, not to heal.

In practice

• Many manufacturers state a shelf life of about 12 months from production, so buy only quantities you will use within that time.
• Let cold ink come up to room temperature before inserting it; cold UV ink is thicker and can make nozzles fire unevenly.
• Never mix two types of ink in the same system; if you change brand, you have to flush the whole system.
• Desktop cartridges often cost several times as much per litre as bottled ink, about €250 to €350 instead of €100 to €300.
• Note the ink batch for jobs so that you can trace what was printed in the event of complaints.

Not to be confused

UV ink does not dry in the air, it cures only through light. It therefore does not clog by drying out like office ink, but stray light and settled pigments can still block the nozzles.

Frequently asked questions

Can third-party ink be used in a UV printer?

Technically often yes, but many manufacturers then exclude damage from the warranty. In addition, the manufacturer profiles no longer fit, and incompatible ink can permanently damage the print head.

How do you store UV ink correctly?

Dark, tightly closed and upright in the original packaging, cool but not frozen. eufyMake, for example, gives 15 to 35 °C for its cartridges; other manufacturers give different ranges, which are in the data sheet.