Why Ultramarine Blue is Used in Printing Inks
Ultramarine Blue for Ink provides a distinctive reddish-blue (violet-leaning) hue that cannot be replicated by phthalocyanine blue — the other major industrial blue ink pigment. While phthalocyanine blue produces greenish-blue tones, Ultramarine Blue for Ink creates warm, violet-blue shades used in high-end packaging, fashion printing, and specialty promotional print applications. The two pigments are often blended to hit specific blue targets in ink color systems.
Key advantages of Ultramarine Blue for Ink: excellent alkali resistance (important for ink systems with alkaline components), non-toxicity and compliance with EuPIA ink safety guidelines, lightfastness Blue Wool 7, and good rub resistance when properly formulated.
Formulation of Ultramarine Blue for Ink Systems
Formulating Ultramarine Blue for Ink requires attention to particle size and dispersion quality. For offset lithographic inks, use fine-grade Ultramarine Blue (1–2 micron average particle size) dispersed by three-roll mill or bead mill to achieve fineness below 5 microns. Loading levels: 8–15% pigment in the ink vehicle for standard strength; up to 25% for concentrated base inks.
For flexographic and gravure inks, Ultramarine Blue for Ink is dispersed in the resin-solvent vehicle using a horizontal bead mill. The low oil absorption of ultramarine makes it easier to disperse at high concentrations than many organic pigments. Typical viscosity target: 30–60 seconds (Zahn Cup #3) for flexo inks. Contact SKU Pigments for fine-grade Ultramarine Blue for Ink with technical application data.
Products: UB for Ink | Full UB Range | Get Sample
Industry: EuPIA Ink Safety | Printing Industries of America
Related Reading: Ultramarine Blue for Paint | Ultramarine Blue for Plastics | Pigment Blue 29 Guide
About SKU Pigments: Shree Krishna Ultramarine Pigments P. Limited is India’s leading manufacturer of Ultramarine Blue (Pigment Blue 29), Ultramarine Violet (Pigment Violet 15), and Ultramarine Pink pigments. ISO 9001:2015 certified. Exporting to 40+ countries. Contact us for free samples and export pricing.