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Ink

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For other uses, seeInk (disambiguation).
Bottles of ink fromGermany
Writing ink and a quill

Inkis agel,sol,orsolutionthat contains at least onecolorant,such as adyeorpigment,and is used to color a surface to produce animage,text,ordesign.Ink is used fordrawingorwritingwith apen,brush,reed pen,orquill.Thicker inks, in paste form, are used extensively inletterpressandlithographicprinting.

Ink can be a complex medium, composed ofsolvents,pigments,dyes,resins,lubricants,solubilizers,surfactants,particulate matter,fluorescents,and other materials. The components of inks serve many purposes; the ink's carrier, colorants, and other additives affect the flow and thickness of the ink and its dry appearance.

History

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Ink drawing ofGaneshaunder an umbrella (early 19th century). Ink, calledmasi,an admixture of several chemical components, has been used in India since at least the 4th century BC.[1]The practice of writing with ink and a sharp pointed needle was common in earlySouth India.[2]SeveralJainsutras in India were compiled in ink.[3]

Many ancient cultures around the world have independently discovered and formulated inks due to the need to write and draw. The recipes and techniques for the production of ink are derived from archaeological analyses or from written texts itself. The earliest inks from all civilizations are believed to have been made withlampblack,a kind ofsoot,easily collected as a by-product of fire.[4]

Ink was used inAncient Egyptfor writing and drawing onpapyrusfrom at least the 26th century BC.[5]Egyptian red and black inks includedironandocheras pigments, in addition tophosphate,sulfate,chloride,andcarboxylateions, withleadalso used as a drier.[6]

The earliest Chinese inks may date to[7]four millennia ago,[8]to theChinese Neolithic Period.These included plant, animal, and mineral inks, based on such materials asgraphite;these were ground with water and applied withink brushes.Direct evidence for the earliest Chinese inks, similar to moderninksticks,is found around 256 BC, in the end of theWarring States period;being produced from soot andanimal glue.[9]The preferred inks for drawing or painting on paper or silk are produced from the resin of the pine trees between 50 and 100 years old. The Chinese inkstick is produced with a fish glue, whereas Japanese glue ( keonikawa) is from cow or stag.[10]

India inkwas invented in China,[11][12]though materials were often traded from India, hence the name.[11][12]The traditional Chinese method of making the ink was to grind a mixture of hide glue,carbon black,lampblack, andbone blackpigment with apestle and mortar,then pour it into a ceramic dish to dry.[11]To use the dry mixture, a wet brush would be applied until it reliquified.[11]The manufacture of India ink was well-established by theCao Weidynasty (220–265 AD).[13]Indian documents written inKharosthiwith ink have been unearthed inXin gian g.[14]The practice of writing with ink and a sharp pointed needle was common in early South India.[2]SeveralBuddhistand Jain sutras in India were compiled in ink.[3]

Cephalopod ink,known assepia,turns from dark blue-black to brown on drying, and was used as an ink in the Graeco-Roman period and subsequently. Blackatramentumwas also used inancient Rome;in an article forThe Christian Science Monitor,Sharon J. Huntington describes these other historical inks:

Oak galls and iron(II) sulfate

About 1,600 years ago, a popular ink recipe was created. The recipe was used for centuries. Iron salts, such as ferrous sulfate (made by treating iron with sulfuric acid), were mixed with tannin fromgallnuts(they grow on trees) and a thickener. When first put to paper, this ink is bluish-black. Over time it fades to a dull brown.

Scribes inmedievalEurope (about AD 800 to 1500) wrote principally onparchmentorvellum.One 12th century ink recipe called for hawthorn branches to be cut in the spring and left to dry. Then the bark was pounded from the branches and soaked in water for eight days. The water was boiled until it thickened and turned black. Wine was added during boiling. The ink was poured into special bags and hung in the sun. Once dried, the mixture was mixed with wine and iron salt over a fire to make the final ink.[15]

The reservoir pen, which may have been the firstfountain pen,dates back to 953, whenMa'ād al-Mu'izz,thecaliphof Egypt, demanded a pen that would not stain his hands or clothes, and was provided with a pen that held ink in a reservoir.[16]

In the 15th century, a new type of ink had to be developed in Europe for theprinting pressbyJohannes Gutenberg.[17]According to Martyn Lyons in his bookBooks: A Living History,Gutenberg's dye was indelible, oil-based, and made from the soot of lamps (lamp-black) mixed withvarnishand egg white.[18]Two types of ink were prevalent at the time: the Greek and Roman writing ink (soot, glue, and water) and the 12th century variety composed of ferrous sulfate, gall, gum, and water.[19]Neither of these handwriting inks could adhere to printing surfaces without creating blurs. Eventually an oily,varnish-like ink made of soot,turpentine,and walnut oil was created specifically for the printing press.

Types

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Magnified line drawn by afountain pen.

Ink formulas vary, but commonly involve two components:

  • Colorants
  • Vehicles (binders)

Inks generally fall into four classes:[20]

  • Aqueous
  • Liquid
  • Paste
  • Powder

Colorants

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Pigments

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Main article:Pigment

Pigment inks are used more frequently than dyes because they are more color-fast, but they are also more expensive, less consistent in color, and have less of acolor rangethan dyes.[20] Pigments are solid, opaque particles suspended in ink to provide color.[20]Pigment molecules typically link together incrystallinestructures that are 0.1–2μmin size and comprise 5–30 percent of the ink volume.[20]Qualities such ashue,saturation,andlightnessvary depending on the source and type of pigment.

Dyes

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Main article:Dye

Dye-based inks are generally much stronger than pigment-based inks and can produce much more color of a given density per unit of mass. However, because dyes are dissolved in the liquid phase, they have a tendency to soak into paper, potentially allowing the ink to bleed at the edges of an image.

To circumvent this problem, dye-based inks are made with solvents that dry rapidly or are used with quick-drying methods of printing, such as blowing hot air on the fresh print. Other methods include harder papersizingand more specialized paper coatings. The latter is particularly suited to inks used in non-industrial settings (which must conform to tighter toxicity and emission controls), such asinkjet printerinks. Another technique involves coating the paper with a charged coating. If the dye has the opposite charge, it is attracted to and retained by this coating, while the solvent soaks into the paper.Cellulose,the wood-derived material most paper is made of, is naturally charged, and so a compound that complexes with both the dye and the paper's surface aids retention at the surface. Such a compound is commonly used in ink-jet printing inks.

An additional advantage of dye-based ink systems is that the dyemoleculescan interact with other ink ingredients, potentially allowing greater benefit as compared to pigmented inks fromoptical brightenersand color-enhancing agents designed to increase the intensity and appearance of dyes.

Dye-based inks can be used for anti-counterfeit purposes and can be found in some gel inks, fountain pen inks, and inks used for paper currency.[21]These inks react with cellulose to bring about a permanent color change.[21]Dye based inks are used to color hair.

Health and environmental aspects

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See also:Environmental issues with paper

There is a misconception that ink is non-toxic even if swallowed. Once ingested, ink can be hazardous to one's health. Certain inks, such as those used in digital printers, and even those found in a common pen can be harmful. Though ink does not easily cause death, repeated skin contact or ingestion can cause effects such as severe headaches, skin irritation, or nervous system damage.[22]These effects can be caused by solvents, or by pigment ingredients such asp-Anisidine,which helps create some inks' color and shine.

Three main environmental issues with ink are:

Some regulatory bodies[specify]have set standards for the amount of heavy metals in ink.[23]There is a trend towardvegetable oilsrather thanpetroleum oilsin recent years in response to a demand for betterenvironmental sustainabilityperformance.

Ink uses up non-renewable oils and metals, which has a negative impact on the environment.[24]

Carbon

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Chineseinkstick;carbon-based and made fromsootandanimal glue

Carbon inks were commonly made from lampblack or soot and a binding agent such asgum arabicoranimal glue.The binding agent keeps carbon particles in suspension and adhered to paper. Carbon particles do not fade over time even when bleached or when in sunlight. One benefit is that carbon ink does not harm paper. Over time, the ink is chemically stable and therefore does not threaten the paper's strength. Despite these benefits, carbon ink is not ideal for permanence and ease of preservation. Carbon ink tends to smudge in humid environments and can be washed off surfaces. The best method of preserving a document written in carbon ink is to store it in a dry environment (Barrow 1972).

Recently, carbon inks made from carbon nanotubes have been successfully created. They are similar in composition to traditional inks in that they use a polymer to suspend the carbon nanotubes. These inks can be used in inkjet printers and produce electrically conductive patterns.[25]

Iron gall (common ink)

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Main article:Iron gall ink

Iron gall inks became prominent in the early 12th century; they were used for centuries and were widely thought to be the best type of ink. However, iron gall ink is corrosive and damages paper over time (Waters 1940). Items containing this ink can become brittle and the writing fades to brown. The original scores ofJohann Sebastian Bachare threatened by the destructive properties of iron gall ink. The majority of his works are held by the German State Library, and about 25% of those are in advanced stages of decay (American Libraries 2000). The rate at which the writing fades is based on several factors, such as proportions of ink ingredients, amount deposited on the paper, and paper composition (Barrow 1972:16). Corrosion is caused by acid catalyzed hydrolysis and iron(II)-catalysed oxidation of cellulose (Rouchon-Quillet 2004:389).

Treatment is a controversial subject. No treatment undoes damage already caused by acidic ink. Deterioration can only be stopped or slowed. Some[who?]think it best not to treat the item at all for fear of the consequences. Others believe that non-aqueous procedures are the best solution. Yet others think an aqueous procedure may preserve items written with iron gall ink. Aqueous treatments include distilled water at different temperatures, calcium hydroxide, calcium bicarbonate, magnesium carbonate, magnesium bicarbonate, and calcium hyphenate. There are many possible side effects from these treatments. There can be mechanical damage, which further weakens the paper. Paper color or ink color may change, and ink may bleed. Other consequences of aqueous treatment are a change of ink texture or formation of plaque on the surface of the ink (Reibland & de Groot 1999).

Iron gall inks require storage in a stable environment, because fluctuatingrelative humidityincreases the rate that formic acid, acetic acid, and furan derivatives form in the material the ink was used on. Sulfuric acid acts as a catalyst to cellulose hydrolysis, and iron (II) sulfate acts as a catalyst to cellulose oxidation. These chemical reactions physically weaken the paper, causingbrittleness.[26]

Indelible ink

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A voter's thumb stained with indelible ink
Main article:Election ink

Indeliblemeans "un-removable". Some types of indelible ink have a very short shelf life because of the quickly evaporating solvents used. India, Mexico, Indonesia, Malaysia and other developing countries have used indelible ink in the form ofelectoral stainto preventelectoral fraud.Election ink based onsilver nitratewas first applied in the1962 Indian general election,after being developed at theNational Physical Laboratory of India.

The election commission in India has used indelible ink for many elections. Indonesia used it in its last election inAceh.[when?]In Mali, the ink is applied to the fingernail. Indelible ink itself is not infallible as it can be used to commit electoralfraudby marking opponent party members before they have chances to cast their votes. There are also reports of "indelible" ink washing off voters' fingers in Afghanistan.[27]

See also

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References

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  1. ^Banerji, page 673
  2. ^abSircar, page 62
  3. ^abSircar, page 67
  4. ^Joseph Needham; Tsien Tsuen-Hsuin (11 July 1985).Science and Civilization in China: Volume 5, Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Part 1, Paper and Printing.Cambridge University Press. p. 5.ISBN978-0-521-08690-5.
  5. ^Tallet, Pierre (2012)."Ayn Sukhna and Wadi el-Jarf: Two newly discovered pharaonic harbours on the Suez Gulf"(PDF).British Museum Studies in Ancient Egypt and Sudan.18:147–68.ISSN2049-5021.Retrieved21 April2013.
  6. ^Christiansen, Thomas; Cotte, Marine; de Nolf, Wout; Mouro, Elouan; Reyes-Herrera, Juan; de Meyer, Steven; Vanmeert, Frederik; Salvadó, Nati; Gonzalez, Victor; Lindelof, Poul Erik; Mortensen, Kell; Ryholt, Kim; Janssens, Koen; Larsen, Sine (2020)."Insights into the composition of ancient Egyptian red and black inks on papyri achieved by synchrotron-based microanalyses".PNAS.117(45): 27825–27835.Bibcode:2020PNAS..11727825C.doi:10.1073/pnas.2004534117.PMC7668004.PMID33106396.
  7. ^Joseph Needham; Tsien Tsuen-Hsuin (11 July 1985).Science and Civilisation in China: Volume 5, Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Part 1, Paper and Printing.Cambridge University Press. p. 234.ISBN978-0-521-08690-5.
  8. ^* Woods, Michael; Woods, Mary (2000).Ancient Communication: Form Grunts to Graffiti.pp 51–52. Minneapolis: Runestone Press; an imprint of Lerner Publishing Group.....
  9. ^Thái, mân phân,Nhị, mặc phát triển sử,National Chang-Hua Hall of Social Education, archived fromthe originalon 2004-11-26
  10. ^Yuuko Suzuki, Introduction to Japanese calligraphy, Search Press 2005, Calligraphie japonaise, 2003, éd. Fleurus, Paris
  11. ^abcdGottsegen, Mark D. (2006).The Painter's Handbook: A Complete Reference.Page 30, New York: Watson-Guptill Publications.ISBN0-8230-3496-8.
  12. ^abSmith, Joseph A. (1992).The Pen and Ink Book: Materials and Techniques for Today's Artist.p. 23. New York: Watson-Guptill Publications.ISBN0-8230-3986-2.
  13. ^Sung, Sun & Sun, page 286-288.
  14. ^Sircar, page 206
  15. ^"Think Ink!"by Sharon J. Huntington,The Christian Science Monitor,September 21, 2004, retrieved January 17, 2006.
  16. ^CE Bosworth,A Mediaeval Islamic Prototype of the Fountain Pen?Journal of Semitic Studies, 26(2):229–234, 1981
  17. ^St. Clair, Kassia (2016).The Secret Lives of Colour.London: John Murray. pp. 271–273.ISBN9781473630819.OCLC936144129.
  18. ^Lyons, M. (2011).Books: A living history.Los Angeles: J. Paul Getty Museum.
  19. ^Many recipes foriron gall inksare featured in 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.
  20. ^abcdKipphan, Helmut (2001),Handbook of print media: technologies and production methods(Illustrated ed.), Springer, pp. 130–144,ISBN978-3-540-67326-2
  21. ^ab"Dyes, Pigments and Inks".American Chemical Society.Retrieved2020-05-15.
  22. ^"First Aid for Ink Poisoning".dovemed.2018.Retrieved2019-01-18.
  23. ^Canadian Printing Ink Manufacturers' Association
  24. ^"Ink – Ten Random Facts".Ten Random Facts.2013-07-15.Retrieved2016-11-29.
  25. ^Simmons, Trevor; Hashim, D; Vajtai, R; Ajayan, PM (2007),"Large Area-Aligned Arrays from Direct Deposition of Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes",J. Am. Chem. Soc.,129(33): 10088–10089,doi:10.1021/ja073745e,PMID17663555.
  26. ^Henk J. Porck and René Teygeler, Preservation Science Survey (Washington, D.C.: Council on Library and Information Resources, 2000).
  27. ^Afghanistan election: 'indelible' ink washes off voters' fingers

Sources

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  • Ainsworth, Mitchell, C., "Inks and Their Composition and Manufacture", Charles Griffin and Company Ltd, 1904.
  • N.a. (March 2000), "Bach Scores Turning to Dust in German Library",American Libraries:24–25
  • Banerji, Sures Chandra (1989).A Companion to Sanskrit Literature.Motilal Banarsidass.ISBN81-208-0063-X.
  • Barrow, W.J. (1972),Manuscripts and Documents: Their Deterioration and Restoration,Charlottesville:University of Virginia Press,ISBN978-0813904085
  • Martín-Gil J., Ramos-Sánchez MC, Martín-Gil FJ and José-Yacamán M. "Chemical composition of a fountain pen ink".Journal of Chemical Education,2006, 83, 1476–78.
  • Reißland, Birgit; de Groot, Suzan (August 15–21, 1999), "Ink Corrosion: Comparison of the Currently Used Aqueous Treatments for Paper Objects",Preprint from the 9th International Congress of IADA,pp. 121–129
  • Rouchon-Quillet, V.; Remazeilles, C.; Bernard, J.; Wattiaux, A.; Fournes, L.; et al. (2004), "The Impact of Gallic Acid on Iron Gall Ink Corrosion",Applied Physics A,79(2): 389–392,Bibcode:2004ApPhA..79..389R,doi:10.1007/s00339-004-2541-1,S2CID95990608
  • Sircar, D. C. (1996).Indian epigraphy.Motilal Banarsidass.ISBN81-208-1166-6.
  • Waters, C.E. (1940),Inks,U.S. Department of Commerce, National Bureau of Standards,United States Government Printing Office

Further reading

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  • Cueppers, Christoph (1989). "On the Manufacture of Ink."Ancient Nepal – Journal of the Department of Archaeology,Number 113, August–September 1989, pp. 1–7. [The Tibetan text and translation of a section of the work called,Bzo gnas nyer mkho'i za ma togby 'Jam-mgon 'Ju Mi-pham-rgya-mtsho (1846–1912) describing various traditional Tibetan techniques of making inks from different sources of soot, and from earth,puffballs,dung,ser-sha– a yellow fungus, and the fruit oftsi dra ka(Ricinus communis).]
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