Applications · Printing Inks · European B2B Sourcing
Ethyl acetate, MEK, IPA and SBP grades for flexographic, gravure and screen ink systems, sourced across Europe. One enquiry can cover the full solvent list for a press room or formulation, with pricing and availability discussed per product.
Specification, pricing and availability are indicative and subject to confirmation at the time of enquiry. Industrial and B2B enquiries only.
Send an ink solvent enquiryApplication overview
A printing ink is a resin system carried by a solvent blend. The blend sets press speed, drying, retention and odour, so ink producers buy several solvents together and specify them as a set, not as isolated products.
Flexographic and gravure inks for flexible packaging are dominated by fast-evaporating oxygenated solvents. Ethyl acetate is the workhorse ester, valued for strong nitrocellulose solvency, fast release and no residual odour after evaporation. Alcohols such as IPA act as co-solvents and viscosity regulators, while MEK appears where stronger resin solvency is needed, at the cost of a slight residual odour.
The second lever is evaporation balance. A blend typically combines a fast component (~6 to ~8 on the butyl acetate scale) with slower components (~1 to ~2) to control open time, re-solubility on press and print quality. Hydrocarbon diluents, SBP cuts and, in specific resin systems, aromatic naphtha, adjust cost and solvency where the formulation allows.
For food-contact packaging inks, residual solvent and odour are commercial and regulatory requirements at the same time. Retention limits, documentation and low-odour profiles are specified per grade and confirmed against the supplier's current SDS, TDS and declarations at quotation.
Solvent families
All values are indicative and based on typical commercial specification data. Actual specification is subject to production batch, origin and supply route, and is confirmed only at the time of quotation. All numeric values are prefixed with ~ to reflect their indicative nature. For orientation only, does not constitute a guarantee or warranty. TDS, SDS and CoA available on request prior to supply.
| Family | Example product | Evap. (BuAc = 1) | Typical role in ink systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ester | Ethyl acetate (ETAC) | ~6.2 | Primary flexo and gravure solvent, nitrocellulose systems, food-contact packaging inks |
| Ketone | MEK | ~7.7 | Strong resin solvency where the system tolerates a slight residual odour |
| Alcohol | IPA | ~1.8 | Co-solvent and viscosity regulator, press-side dilution, slower balance component |
| SBP hydrocarbon | SBP 80/110-type cuts | ~fast | Low-aromatic diluent in specific ink and cleaning duties, see the SBP cuts guide |
| Aromatic naphtha | A100-type | ~slow | Selected resin systems and specialty inks where aromatic solvency is required |
Blend ratios are set by the formulation and press conditions. Share the resin system or an existing blend recipe with your enquiry for a response per component.
Ink processes
Each printing process imposes its own evaporation window, solvency demand and residual limits. The solvent set follows the process and the substrate, not the other way around.
Flexographic packaging inks
Fast ester-alcohol blends for film and flexible packaging. Ethyl acetate carries the system; IPA regulates viscosity and wetting. Residual odour and retention are controlled for sensitive and food-contact substrates.
Key: evaporation balance · residual odour · purity
Gravure packaging & publication
High-speed gravure demands sharp release and stable viscosity at press speed. Ester-led blends dominate packaging gravure; toluene-free systems are standard in European food-contact work.
Key: evaporation rate · solvency · consistency
Screen & specialty inks
Slower, higher-solvency blends with ketones and slower esters for open time and levelling. Solvent choice follows the resin, PVC, acrylic or polyester, and the cure route.
Key: open time · resin solvency · odour
Food-contact packaging inks
Low-retention, no-residual-odour systems for printed food packaging. Grades are specified with documentation relevant to EU Regulation 10/2011 assessments; compliance evaluation remains with the buyer.
Key: retention · documentation · low odour
Press-side thinning & wash-up
Press rooms consume solvents beyond the ink itself, for dilution to press viscosity and for cleaning between jobs. The same enquiry can cover ink solvents and wash-up grades together.
Key: consistency · logistics · pack format
Lamination adhesives in ink lines
Converters running lamination alongside printing often buy ester solvent for both duties. Water content and purity matter in adhesive bond lines; the same grade does not always fit both uses.
Key: water content · purity · dual use
Application suitability is the buyer's responsibility. Industrial and B2B applications only. Products on this page are not intended for food, pharmaceutical or consumer use.
Choosing the blend
Most ink systems use these three together, so the practical question is the ratio, not a single winner. The ester carries solvency and speed, the alcohol tunes viscosity and cost, the ketone is added where the resin demands more aggressive solvency.
Ethyl acetate's no-residual-odour profile makes it the reference for food-contact packaging inks. MEK evaporates slightly faster and dissolves a wider resin range, but leaves a slight residual odour that limits it in odour-critical packaging. IPA is the slow, fully water-miscible component that keeps blends printable and economical.
Product-level detail sits on the MEK page and the IPA page; hydrocarbon diluents are covered in the SBP cuts guide.
Indicative comparison
| Parameter | ETAC | MEK | IPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| CAS | 141-78-6 | 78-93-3 | 67-63-0 |
| Chemistry | Ester | Ketone | Alcohol |
| Evap. rate (BuAc=1) | ~6.2 | ~7.7 (faster) | ~1.8 (slower) |
| Flash point | ~-4°C | ~<0°C | ~12°C |
| NC solvency | Excellent | Good | Limited |
| Residual odour | None | Slight | Slight |
| Role in ink blends | Primary carrier | Solvency booster | Regulator, co-solvent |
| Food-contact inks | Reference choice | Limited by odour | Common co-solvent |
All values indicative. NC = nitrocellulose. Actual properties subject to grade, batch and supply route confirmation.
Regulatory context
Ink solvents sit at the intersection of flammable liquids handling, solvent emissions rules for print installations and food-contact documentation for packaging work.
CLP / GHS, Flammability
Fast-evaporating ink solvents, ethyl acetate, MEK and comparable grades, are typically classified Flam. Liq. 2 (H225, Highly flammable liquid and vapour) under CLP. Flash points around or below 0°C mean ATEX zoning, ventilation and grounding all require assessment. Full classification per product in the current SDS.
Typically Flam. Liq. 2, H225ADR Transport
The core ink solvents ship as Class 3 flammable liquids under ADR, with UN number and packing group per product, for example UN1173 for ethyl acetate and UN1193 for MEK. Transport compliance is confirmed per product, route and mode with the current SDS and the logistics provider.
Class 3 · PG per productSolvent emissions at print installations
Printing installations using solvent-based inks fall within the scope of EU solvent emission provisions under the Industrial Emissions Directive, with obligations depending on installation size, activity and jurisdiction. Solvent consumption reporting and abatement are site-level responsibilities of the operator.
IED / VOC provisions, site-dependentFood-contact documentation
For printed food packaging, EU Regulation 10/2011 and applicable sector standards frame the compliance assessment. Supplier declarations, retention data and low-odour specifications support that assessment; the evaluation itself remains the responsibility of the buyer and their compliance function.
Documentation on requestPackaging & delivery
Formats depend on the product, destination and supply route, and are confirmed case by case at the time of enquiry. Flammable liquid classification applies to most products on this page.
Steel drums
200 L
UN-approved packaging for flammable liquids. Suitable for trials, qualification batches and smaller press rooms.
IBC (tote)
1,000 L
Rated for flammable liquid service. The common format for mid-volume ink producers buying several solvents together.
Road tanker (bulk)
~20–24 MT
ADR-compliant tank vehicle required. Most cost-effective per tonne for high-volume single products, subject to receiving infrastructure.
ISO tank
~20 MT
For export or longer-distance supply. Flammable liquid rating required. Subject to origin, destination and current supply route.
Enquiry process
One enquiry can cover the full solvent list for a press room or formulation. Each product is reviewed on its own supply route, and the response comes back coordinated.
Requirement submitted
Products, indicative volumes per product, delivery country and packaging preference, submitted via the enquiry form. A blend recipe or component list is the ideal starting point.
Per-product review
Each solvent is reviewed against current market position and supply route options. Ester, ketone, alcohol and hydrocarbon components often run on different routes; the review keeps them aligned.
Coordinated response
Pricing, availability, lead time and packaging per product, in one commercial response from the relevant suppliers in the network. Reviewed personally, no automated reply.
Documentation on request
TDS, SDS, CoA and, for food-contact packaging inks, supplier declarations and retention data, discussed as part of the enquiry. Flag documentation requirements early.
Frequently asked
Commercial enquiries
One enquiry can cover ethyl acetate, MEK, IPA, SBP cuts and other components together. Pricing, availability and packaging are discussed per product, in the context of your delivery country and volumes.
Enquiries are reviewed and responded to personally. No automated reply system. If your requirement falls outside our current sourcing capability, we will say so directly.
ETAC enquiry received.
Your requirement has been received and will be reviewed directly. You can expect a personal commercial response from the relevant supplier in the network.
Submission could not be completed.
Please try again, or contact us directly at enquiries@alcoris.eu.
Important note, all specifications indicative
All product information, specification data and regulatory summaries on this page are provided for general orientation purposes only. They are based on indicative information and do not constitute a guarantee, warranty or representation of any kind.