Eco-friendly ink formulations with acrylated epoxidized linseed oil binders: Balancing performance and sustainability

Abstract

The demand for acrylic-based resins as binders in printing inks has grown enormously due to their superior adhesion, gloss, and film-forming properties. This study presents the synthesis of acrylated epoxidized linseed oil (AELO) and its polymer, poly (AELO/MMA) to be employed as sustainable binders in ink formulations for paper printing applications. The formulated inks exhibited desirable particle sizes below 1 μm and surface tensions of 24.65 and 26.62 mN/m, meeting the industry standards for optimal printing performance. The contact angle and viscosity measurements confirmed enhanced wettability and transferability on paper substrates, with storage stability for at least one month. Surface morphological analysis revealed a uniform pigment particle distribution, facilitating rapid drying times (4–7 s), with the poly (AELO/MMA)-based ink displaying superior gloss, indicative of excellent print quality. Rub resistance analysis demonstrated that poly (AELO/MMA)-based ink experienced minimal changes in porosity due to abrasion, highlighting its robustness for printing applications. The ΔE values for color strength were desirably below 1 for AELO (0.83) and poly (AELO/MMA)-based inks (0.85), indicating color shifts imperceptible to the human eye and exhibiting high rub resistance. Additionally, optical retention was maintained above 90 %, preserving both visual and functional properties. This study paves the way to demonstrate and utilize the unexpected potential of linseed oil-based green binders, which can effectively replace petrochemical-derived resins, offering a sustainable and performance alternative for eco-friendly paper printing ink formulations.