
Printing inks finds applications in print media, packaging, textiles and catalogs and brochures among others. Depending upon the requirement of the applications, special additives are added to printing inks in order enhance its performance and add new features to it. Printing ink additives help to maintain various characteristics such as pH, viscosity, softening point and cloud point among others. Printing ink additives include dispersants, defoamers, emulsifiers, stabilizers, rheology modifier and wetting agent among others. Based on the processes, printing inks are classified as rotogravure, flexographic, digital printing and lithography among others. Depending upon the technology, printing inks additives are classified as water based, solvent based, oil based and radiation cured systems among others. In 2012, solvent based rheology modifier and dispersants were the largest used printing ink additives in the industry.