Moreover, many companies keep their ink formula in secret! Ink Physical Properties - posted in Inky Thoughts: Hello! It refers to an inherent quality of all fountain pen inks, a quality that depends upon the choices made with regard to the ink’s basic components. The chemical composition of the ink-vinegar stain is not stated by [11,13], although a key component is vinegar or acetic acid (CH 3 COOH). Changes in ink chemistry over the years closely reflect developments in the instruments for ink coating: the pen and the printing machine. I have a couple questions about the ink though. Even in today’s increasingly digital society, writing and print publications remain ubiquitous parts of our daily lives. I'm glad I found this website; the amount of information here is amazing, and everyone seems very friendly and supportive. Most fountain pen inks use pretty standard dyes mixed with water, some fungicides, and some surfactants for flow, and the occasional chemical to help resist evaporation. One can separate ink components into groups. Please feel free to let me know if anything is wrong (I dont think theres anything wrong but I know theres chemists lurking on this forum) and enjoy! A fountain pen is a nib pen that feeds ink the to nib via gravity and a capillary action that allows for smooth writing. Pens, lettering sets, inks 103 Non-waterproof black ink suitable for fountain pen and dip pens. Wiki User January 09, 2009 12:33AM. There are a lot of articles regarding pen ink in the Journal of Chemical Education. During the years that Dr. Souder served with the Bureau of Standards, he appeared If you drink the ink you will/ may have some problems with your body or have an infection. Related Questions. From completing chemistry homework to reading the newest Spoke, we are constantly in contact with words on paper. Fountain pen ink is almost exclusively dye-based because fountain pens operate on the principle of capillary action. Exact chemical composition are hard to find and each manufacturer uses different 'recipes'. Pigment-based inks (which contain solid pigment particles in a liquid suspension) tend to clog the narrow passages of the pen. The ballpoint pen, the felt-tip marker, and the fibre-tip pen have led to inks containing solutions of dyes in water or organic solvents such as propylene glycol, propyl alcohol, toluene or glyco-ethers. ... Dye, pigment, and ink chemists require a solid background in chemistry or a related scientific field. No. An ink in its supply form is a liquid but after application it is required to change to a solid. I read that the ink is water based and is generally supplosed to … Our data on the chemical composition of the black ink and the different ability of inks to act as a growth substratum for bacteria and fungi may be useful for individuals interested in studying the preservation of writings. Lubrication, as used here, does not refer to the addition of special substances for the ostensible purpose of lubricating the pen’s piston or other filler parts. I did a little essay on the chemistry of fountain pen inks for extra credit in my AP Chemistry class. I have to do a large chemistry project for school (IB IA for those who are familiar), and would like to look into ink chemistry. From completing chemistry homework to reading the newest Spoke, we are constantly in contact with words on paper. Innovations in chemistry since have added variety to ink's chemical composition. In addition to chemists, collectors and historians may be interested in this type of study because the alteration of the "permanent" nature of this and other inks can threaten the survival of documents. I thought you might enjoy reading it as well. Generally, ink contains a solution of several components in an appropriate solvent. The simplistic approach of categorizing pigment containing inks for fountain pens as universally undesirable because their brownian suspension will supposedly lead to large aggregation chunks and blockage of feeds is a theoretical assertion.