The Science of Ink

THE SCIENCE OF INK We may take ink for granted, but it's necessary in our daily lives. Even as the art of handwriting has phased out of the lives of some, the printer has replaced it. Learn about the development of ink through the ages, down to the ingredients used, the way some are made, and just how prevalent the ink industry is. INK STATISTICS Over 300 million ink cartridges are thrown away annually The weight of these cartridges is aproximately equal to the weight of = 1,000 suv's 67,600 SUV's Over 90% of all inks are for printing rather than writing NEWS NEW NEW NEWS NEWS NEWS NEV The Newspaper Association of America tested about 2,000 vegetable-based inks when looking for a petroleum alternative: soy was the winner. By 2004, 95% of newspapers were using soy ink. An empty ink cartridge can take 500 years to decompose A single ballpoint pen could draw a line 4,000-7,500 feet long $4,800,000,000 The pen, pencil and marker trade is a $4.8 billion industry About 15% of Americans have at least one tattoo PRINT VS WRITING INKS Ink Through the Ages • use pigment • need an adhesive • use dye • typically stronger in color density • are easily absorbed PREHISTORY added The original use of ink was for cave drawing • stay resting on the surface of the paper may fade over time 33RD CENTURY BC "Iceman," a frozen mummy found in 1991, was tattooed COMMON INK INGREDIENTS 21ST CENTURY BC Egyptians wear tattoos- the ink was made of soot Sepia: originally made of squid 18TH CENTURY BC Plant dyes, animals and mineral inks (such as graphite) 4TH CENTURY BC India ink masi, made from burnt bones, tar, pitch and more 256 BC Red writing ink: Chinese inksticks made often made of from soot and animal glue eosin, a red dye 953 AD Reservoir pen created due to Egyptian caliph Ma'ad al-Mu'izz's Blue writing ink: often made of substituted triphenylmethane dyes demand for ink container that wouldn't stain clothes and hands F12TH CENTURY AD Dried hawthorn branches pounded an soaked in water, then boiled and wine added. Pigments can be organic or inorganic. The use of inorganic materials, like heavy metals, has come under Hung in bags to dry, more win and iron salt added while cooking over fire to reach suspicion recently: red tattoo ink sometimes contains final ink mercury, cadmium or iron oxide 15TH CENTURY AD + These can trigger allergic reactions, eczema, scarring Johannes Gutenberg develops the printing press, requiring new types of ink: a mix of soot, and sensitivity to mercury in fish and dental fillings turpentine and walnut oil made just for printing Safest tattoo ink? Black-made with carbon black, rarely contains heavy metals · 1938 The modern ballpoint pen is + There are non-metallic alternatives available for many patented by László Bíró tattoo ink shades The Xerox machine is invented by Chester Carlson Soy inks for printers have recently PRINTED WITH become common. The Gazette of SOY INK 1953 First high-speed computer printer lowa is credited with being the first publication to use soy ink, in 1987 1971 EARS, the first laser printer, Black ink is more than just black- it's a rainbow! is completed 1976 First inkjet printer invented Draw a line in black marker (non-permanent) on a white coffee filter. Place it in the bottom of a mug and add just enough water to cover the base...you'll see a rainbow crawl up the filter! This is an example of chromatography-"color writing" 1988 First inkjet commercially - available for $1,000 SOURCES http://www.chemistrydaily.com/chemistry/Ink http://www.chemistrydaily.com/chemistry/Ink http://www.seientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=tattoo-ink-mercury-and-other-toxins http://www.exploratorium.edu/science_explorer/black_magic.html http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/04/20/national/main20055578.shtml http://www.livestrong.com/article/237191-ink-recycling-facts/ http://miamiinktattos.blogspot.com/2011/04/tattoo-statistics.html http://wima.org http://www.rse.org/chemistryworld/Issues/2003/March/inkchemistry.asp http://www.stinkyinkshop.co.uk/blog/a-short-history-of-ink/ http://www.myofficeportal.org/soy-inks-facts-about-soy-ink-and-toner.htm http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history-archaeology/tattoo,html http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blcomputer_printers.htm Banerji, Sures Chandra (1989). A Companion to Sanskrit Literature. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 812080063X. CE Bosworth, A Mediaeval Islamie Prototype of the Fountain Pen? Journal of Semitic Studies, 26(2):229-234, 1981 R, ,E , National Chang-Hua Hall of Social Education A booke of secrets: shewing diuers waies to make and prepare all sorts of inke... tr. out of Dutch into Englishe by W.P. [i.e. William Philip], London, 1596. "Ink Reservoir Writing Instruments 1905-20" Transactions of the Newcomen Society 77(1): pp. 69–100, page 80 http://blog.ecycler.com/2011/01/20/ink-and-toner-cartridge-recycling-guide/