Gilsonite/Natural Bitumen in Ink Industry

Ink/ Gilsonite usage in ink

Gilsonite Usage in Ink

Gilsonite has been used as the first wet carbon agent in black and brown inks for newspapers and magazines.High concentrations of Gilsonite have been used in newspaper printing inks. Gilsonite competes with oil-based hydrocarbon resins, phenolic resins and metal resins.The main usage of this material is for dispersing black carbon particles which comprise the black color of the printing inks. This material is used in black ink as a cost-effective replacement for other resins.

When you read a newspaper or magazine, you touch the benefits of Gilsonite. The jet black in many heatset printed magazines and high-quality publications simply would not be possible without the excellent carbon black dispersion properties of Gilsonite. Gilsonite delivers economic performance too. It is more cost effective than hydrocarbon and phenolic resins. Gilsonite and Gilsonite resin, derived by solvent extraction of raw Gilsonite, are used as carbon black wetting agents for black news ink and heat set and gravure ink. In addition to wetting and dispers­ing the carbon black pigment, Gilsonite or Gilsonite resin binds the pigment to the paper. yielding the high-gloss print that resists rubbing off.

Gilsonite can be mixed with other natural and synthetic oils. resins, and other additives to yield ink suitable for different types of printing presses and printing applications. Gilsonite typically comprises 2% to 5% of ink formulations. Refined Gilsonite resin is used in offset printing inks in concentrations of 15% or more to replace more expensive resins.
Gilsonite resin will bind the pigments to the paper and one of the most important reason of using gilosnite in ink industry productions is its resin application.
this specification of Gilsonite will avoid from dispersing carbon black on paper and high glass papers.

Gilsonite Powder Solubility

Gilsonite powder is readily soluble without heating in aromatic solvents (Benzene,Toluene, Xylene) and in most chlorinated solvents. It is also soluble without heating in aliphatic and low aromatic solvents (VM&P and other Naphtha, Oils and Mineral Spirits), but mixing time is longer. Without heating, the pulverized grade is recommended. Gilsonite is not soluble in water, alcohols, or acetone.

Films developed from Gilsonite ink powder have a dark colour with little bronzing effect. Solutions do not thicken upon ageing. Gilsonite ink powder is compatible with drying oils, vegetable oils, rosins, hydrocarbon resins, elastomers, asphalts, and waxes for speciality applications. It has limited solubility in most alcohols and ketones.

Gilsoite Ink Additive

A non-petroleum base newspaper printing ink comprising a blend of Gilsonite flakes and tall oil fatty acids, together with carbon black pigment. the proportion of the ink Gilsonite and tall oil fatty acids may be varied as viscosity requirements change due to differences in press speeds, newsprint characteristics and the like.The ink Gilsonite thus has readily adjustable viscosity together with an enhanced flow and penetration characteristics, while being extremely economical to manufacture.

Gilsonite is Using as Ink Stabilizer

Advantage of Gilsonite in ink

Improves run ability of printing inks, in case of low ink supply Reduces water absorption of offset printing inks, Improves emulsification properties, Avoids scrumming ,Improves printing properties of metal effect inks Gilsonite, prevents clotting by adhering to molecules and moving them past each other, Gilsonite giving ink a smoother flow. Gilsonite, large molecules made from chains of basic repeating units, are excellent stabilizers. Gilsonite, with a particle size of 200 meshes, is an odorless and soluble powder in CS2 with softening point of 145C. Crude Gilsonite is not commercially marketable. Pulverized Gilsonite, or Gilsonite dust, is highly volatile and putting it in sacks is done as a safety measure. Gilsonite derived from surface active fraction of petroleum wildly distribute in ink field. It is used to improve dye receptivity and also stabilize and varnish the color of printing ink.

Packing of Gilsonite Powder for Ink

• Gilsonite in lump form like rock packed in 500~1000 kg jumbo bag
• Gilsonite powder 200 mesh packed in 500~1000 kg jumbo bag
• Gilsonite powder 300 mesh packed in 500~1000 kg jumbo bag
• Gilsonite powder 30-40 mesh packed in 500~1000 kg jumbo bag
• Gilsonite powder 100 mesh packed in 500~1000 kg jumbo bag
• Gilsonite powder 300 mesh packed in 25 kg pp bag
• Gilsonite powder 200 mesh packed 25 kg multi-paper bag
• Gilsonite powder 200 mesh packed 50 lbs multi-paper bag
• Gilsonite powder 30-40 mesh packed pp bag on pallet
• Bulk on vessel

Analysis of Gilsonite Powder for Ink Application

ELEMENT ANALYSIS