Gilsonite in Specialty Inks and Toners
Beyond printing inks, gilsonite finds use in several specialty marking products.
Examples
- Carbon paper and typewriter ribbons (historically)
- Industrial marking inks
- Stencil inks
- Some black toners and coatings
Why gilsonite
Deep black colour, good adhesion and solubility in many vehicles.
Examples
| Product | Role of gilsonite |
|---|---|
| Industrial marking inks | Black colour, adhesion |
| Stencil and duplicating inks | Body and colour |
| Shoe and leather finishes | Black colour, water resistance |
| Wood and furniture marking | Penetration and colour |
Why micronized grades
Fine particles dissolve faster and leave no grit in thin films.
Testing
Check colour, drying, adhesion to the substrate and storage stability.
Use micronized gilsonite for fast dissolution.
Recommended product
Micronized Gilsonite
| Property | Typical value | Test method |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Dark brown fine powder | Visual |
| Particle size | 300 – 600 mesh | Laser / sieve |
| Softening point (R&B) | 150 – 180 °C | ASTM D36 |
| Ash content, max | 3 % | ASTM D3174 |
| Moisture, max | 1 % | ASTM D95 |
| Solubility in toluene, min | 99 % | ASTM D2042 |
| Specific gravity @ 25°C | 1.04 – 1.06 | ASTM D70 |
| Typical dosage | Ink varnish: 20–40 % in oil. | |
| Packing | 25 kg multi-wall paper bags with PE liner, palletized. | |
Typical values. The final specification is confirmed in the COA of each shipment.
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