Black ink for pharmaceutical thermal ink-jet applications

The ink has been awarded a grade A through to Blue Wool 4 during independent testing and evaluations on printed samples of the ink to establish its performance and light-fastness, undertaken by international packaging, paper, and print industry specialists PIRA International.

Samples of 2D data-matrix codes printed by Domino’s BK651 ink were tested against samples produced using other market leading inks to assess fading characteristics.  These samples were incrementally exposed to a filtered Xenon arc light source to Blue Wool 5 in compliance with ISO 105-B02. After each exposure, the legibility of the data matrix code was assessed and a measurement of the colour difference was taken relative to unexposed print samples. The results concluded that of the samples provided to PIRA, BK651 maintained a grade A through to Blue Wool 4 and softened to a grade B at Blue Wool 5.

Typically, packaged medicines and healthcare products within the pharmaceutical industry have to withstand significant wear, from being stored in distribution hubs for periods of anything between five and 24 months, or being subject to the stresses of global transportation. At the end of these processes, it’s vital that the product codes are still readable and confirm to the top quality Grade A for light fastness.