Sunday 11 November 2012

Always Make Use Of Digital Printing That Is Eco Friendly

By Madeline Finch


As global warming becomes more of a problem for the earth, it has become necessary to find alternative methods of producing and manufacturing goods for consumers. One method which lately has become less of a problem to the environment is digital printing that is eco friendly. This technology uses methods to make ink and paper which is both, recyclable and harmless to the environment.

As petroleum prices increased in the mid to late 1970s, it was decided to invent alternative methods to prints. It was at this time that researchers were using naturally soluble liquids to make ink which does not need petroleum. It didn't take long for researchers to find the uses of soy bean oil. It was decided by the Newspaper Association of America to use naturally based inks on newspapers rather than the normal inks.

Soy ink is made when pigments, wax, resins and soybean oil is mixed together. It was found this kind of ink was brighter and less pigment was necessary to make up the same quality of ink. Automatically this created an ink which was dramatically less costly than ink its petroleum based counterpart.

Recyclable paper is used in the print industry. When paper is recycled, the process involves the use of chlorine-free chemicals. Virgin tree pulp is mixed up with the degraded pulp and made into newspaper. When petroleum ink was used the paper fibers degrade much more easily than naturally made ink. The result is that more pulp is needed to make the same amount of paper.

When paper is recycled, it is broken down using water and other chemicals. The chemicals like soap are used to remove glue or plastic to get to the core of their paper. The ink is removed from this paper, cleaned and bleached in order to be white. The wet pulp is then strained many times through screens to leach out the water and to make thin sheets of paper.

When ink is removed from paper which, is one of the first processes is done, this material is washed with special soaps which will soften the ink. Sometimes not all the ink is removed from these papers and mixes easily with the pulp. This makes discolored paper. When water is applied to the paper, the soaps will create foam and it will separate the ink and allow it to be removed by means of skimming. Once this has been done, this paper is bleached with hydrogen peroxide until it is completely white.

Here comes the kicker, the used ink is skimmed off this paper and is burned to make energy to run that paper mill so less coal based energy is used. This will bring down the costs of running the mill. It can also be a source of income when sold to people who make gravel and asphalt for road works.

Digital printing that is eco friendly makes use of these processes every day. They will use ink made from soybean oil. They will ensure the constant and conscious use of recycled paper and ensure that waste paper is sent for recycling. It is the responsible thing to do to have an impact on the environment in a good way.




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