03.31.15
New Orion Engineered Carbons XPB 446 powder for food packaging printing inks combines a technical profile similar to industry-standard SPECIAL BLACK 250 and compliance with European regulations governing carbon black pigments in food packaging inks. XPB 446 is specifically designed for UV curing and solvent-based packaging inks.
XPB 446 is compliant with EU Commission Regulation No. 10/2011 on plastic materials that come in contact with food; French Avis Séance du 07.11.95 on carbon black pigments for food packaging inks; and Swiss Ordinance on food contact materials and articles SR 817.023.21. These regulations limit toluene extractables, polyaromatic hydrocarbon and benzo(a)pyrene content in carbon black pigments for food packaging inks. Ink producers in the Americas expect similar regulations to be adopted eventually in some or all of their other markets.
“XPB 446 has very good optical density, slightly better than SPECIAL BLACK 250,” said Thomas Powell, technical market manager, Orion Engineered Carbons. “In addition, it has very good flow, similar to SPECIAL BLACK 250, and good gloss, which is an important property for flexographic UV inks. XPB 446 also offers fast curing in UV inks and the bluish undertone of SPECIAL BLACK 250.”
A post-treated, low-structured carbon black, XPB 446 is easy to disperse in powder form. The structure and surface area provide low viscosity at high pigment loadings. The after treatment increases oxygen-bearing surface groups which promote excellent pigment wetting for both UV curing and solvent-based binder systems.
XPB 446 is compliant with EU Commission Regulation No. 10/2011 on plastic materials that come in contact with food; French Avis Séance du 07.11.95 on carbon black pigments for food packaging inks; and Swiss Ordinance on food contact materials and articles SR 817.023.21. These regulations limit toluene extractables, polyaromatic hydrocarbon and benzo(a)pyrene content in carbon black pigments for food packaging inks. Ink producers in the Americas expect similar regulations to be adopted eventually in some or all of their other markets.
“XPB 446 has very good optical density, slightly better than SPECIAL BLACK 250,” said Thomas Powell, technical market manager, Orion Engineered Carbons. “In addition, it has very good flow, similar to SPECIAL BLACK 250, and good gloss, which is an important property for flexographic UV inks. XPB 446 also offers fast curing in UV inks and the bluish undertone of SPECIAL BLACK 250.”
A post-treated, low-structured carbon black, XPB 446 is easy to disperse in powder form. The structure and surface area provide low viscosity at high pigment loadings. The after treatment increases oxygen-bearing surface groups which promote excellent pigment wetting for both UV curing and solvent-based binder systems.