Problem solving by FT‐IR in the formulation and application of printing inks

Coates have been manufacturing inks for more than 100 years. In addition to supplying inks for traditional applications such as newspapers and magazines the business involves products for textile printing, flexible packaging, cartons and metal cans. In spite of this wide area of application, there are still relatively few good scientific explanations for the behaviour of printing inks. Quality control tests have traditionally been comparative, non‐quantified procedures, both for raw materials and for finished products. We are introducing IR testing as a guide to the quality of raw materials delivered, but the differences between acceptable and unacceptable materials are not necessarily obvious by IR spectroscopy and this is an area which we have under review.