After receiving his doctorate in organic chemistry from Pennsylvania State University, Dr. Nelson R. Eldred set
up a research project at the Union Carbide Corp. on chemicals and resins for manufacture of paper and ink. He later
served as assistant manager of development for Buckman Laboratories, Inc., before joining the Graphic Arts Technical
Foundation as supervisor of the Chemistry Division. Later, Dr. Eldred became manager of GATF's Techno-Economic
Forecasting Division. He is now an independent graphic arts consultant headquartered in Tampa, Florida. Dr. Eldred,
the author of Chemistry for the Graphic Arts published by GATFPress, has written extensively for both technical
and trade journals, holds several patents, and presented numerous seminars and workshops on paper and ink. He holds
degrees from Oberlin College, Wayne State University, and the Pennsylvania State University.
Summary
What the Printer Should Know about Ink, Third Edition, covers everything from the components of printing inks
to testing and specification and includes troubleshooting charts for litho, gravure, flexo, letterpress, and screen
inks. Presented in a basic, easy-to-understand format, this book is a valuable reference tool for both printers
and students alike.
This new edition includes chapters on energy-curing inks and coatings; inkjet inks; and health, safety, and the
environment. Among its twenty chapters, the book covers a wide range of topics, including: an overview of the printing
processes; buying printing ink; measuring and controlling color; pigments, the most important ingredient of printing
inks; flow, viscosity, thixotropy, tack, and trapping; vehicles and varnishes; driers and ink drying; ink manufacture,
testing, and specifications; inks for lithography, flexography, screen ,gravure, and letterpress; toners and specialty
inks.
Table of Contents
The Printing Process
Lithographic Inks
Gravure Inks
Flexographic Inks
Letterpress Inks
Screen Inks
Inkjet Inks
Toners and Specialty Inks
Pigments
Color Measurement and Control
Flow
Vehicles and Varnishes
Driers
How Printing Inks Set and Dry
Energy-Curing Inks and Coatings
Ink Manufacture
Testing of Printing Ink
Buying Printing Ink
Specification of Printing Inks
Health, Safety, and the Environment