ASTM D6989-03(2020)

Standard Practices for Preparation of Solvent and Water Based Ink Resin Solutions

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
4.1 This practice provides a means of preparing resin solutions by the “cold cut” method, modeling high-shear production dispersion techniques.
SCOPE
1.1 These practices describe laboratory procedures for preparing a solvent or water based ink resin solution in low boiling solvent or alkaline water using two types of lab equipment; (1) an industrial blender (Sections 3 – 7), and (2) a laboratory roller mill (Sections 8 – 12).
Note 1: ASTM Subcommittee D01.37 recommends using the industrial blender where possible.  
1.2 These practices use laboratory equipment generally available in a normal, well-equipped laboratory.  
1.3 These procedures are for use with ink resins intended mainly for liquid (for example, flexographic and rotogravure) inks. The type of resins is typically, but not limited to, acrylic and styrene/acrylic copolymers, polyamides, polyesters, polyvinylbutyral, and maleated/fumarated rosin esters.  
1.4 The typical low boiling solvents to be used include ethanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, ethyl acetate, isopropyl acetate, and n-propyl acetate. For water based ink resin solutions, water is used in combination with ammonium hydroxide or amines such as dimethylethanolamine, monoethanolamine, and triethylamine.  
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.  
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 31-May-2020
• ICS: 87.080 - Inks. Printing inks
• Technical Committee: D01 - Paint and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications
• Drafting Committee: D01.37 - Ink Vehicles

Relations

• Replaces: ASTM D6989-03(2013) - Standard Practices for Preparation of Solvent and Water Based Ink Resin Solutions
• Effective Date: 01-Jun-2020

Overview

ASTM D6989-03(2020), Standard Practices for Preparation of Solvent and Water Based Ink Resin Solutions, provides standardized laboratory procedures for preparing solutions of ink resins used primarily in liquid printing inks such as flexographic and rotogravure inks. Developed by ASTM International, this standard ensures consistent and effective preparation methods that align with high-shear production dispersion techniques, supporting both quality control and research environments.

ASTM D6989 outlines two primary laboratory methods for preparing ink resin solutions:

• The “cold cut” method using an industrial blender, which models high-shear mixing
• A laboratory roller mill method, suitable for slower, lower-shear dissolution

The standard is designed to help ink manufacturers and laboratories achieve reproducible and reliable results when preparing both solvent-based and water-based ink resin solutions using widely available equipment.

Key Topics

• Cold Cut Dispersion: Guidance on preparing ink resin solutions without external heating, utilizing high-shear forces generated by industrial blenders to efficiently dissolve resin into solution.
• Roller Mill Mixing: Procedures for preparing resin solutions using a laboratory roller mill, enabling gentle, slower mixing typically used for overnight dissolutions, especially suitable for resins that dissolve readily.
• Applicable Resins: Includes detailed coverage of commonly used ink resins such as acrylics, styrene/acrylic copolymers, polyamides, polyesters, polyvinyl butyral, and maleated/fumarated rosin esters.
• Solvent Selection: Recommendations for low-boiling solvents like ethanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, ethyl acetate, isopropyl acetate, n-propyl acetate, as well as water-based solutions using ammonium hydroxide or amines.
• Preparation and Sampling: Step-by-step instructions for weighing, mixing, filtration, and labeling, ensuring best laboratory practices.
• Quality Assessment: Directions for evaluating solution parameters such as viscosity, solubility, and compatibility, ensuring that the prepared resin solutions meet specific performance requirements.

Applications

The practical value of ASTM D6989-03(2020) extends to a range of industries and laboratory settings, including:

• Ink Manufacturing: Supports consistent resin solution preparation practices critical for quality control and product development of flexographic and rotogravure inks.
• Laboratory Analysis: Enables labs to prepare standard solutions for testing ink resin viscosity, solubility, and compatibility, which is essential for performance evaluation and troubleshooting.
• Research and Development: Provides a reproducible basis for experimentation with new resin formulations, solvent blends, and ink systems in both water-based and solvent-based forms.
• Regulatory Compliance: Assists manufacturers in meeting international standards requirements for ink resins, supporting conformity with trade and safety regulations.

By following this standard, laboratories can ensure the validity of their ink resin solution preparations, leading to more reliable testing data and product performance evaluations.

Related Standards

• ASTM D01.37: Subcommittee responsible for ink vehicles, providing oversight of related procedures and materials.
• ASTM D01: Committee on Paint and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications, addressing broader coatings and ink solutions.
• International Standards Principles: Developed in line with guidelines from the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
• Other ASTM Ink Testing Standards: Includes standards for viscosity, color, and film formation, essential for comprehensive ink formulation and testing workflows.

Keywords: ASTM D6989, ink resin solutions, ink resins, cold cut method, laboratory roller mill, solvent-based ink, water-based ink, flexographic inks, rotogravure inks, resin solution preparation, viscosity testing, compatibility testing, ink manufacturing standards.

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D6989 − 03 (Reapproved 2020)
Standard Practices for
Preparation of Solvent and Water Based Ink Resin
Solutions
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6989; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 2. Terminology
1.1 These practices describe laboratory procedures for pre- 2.1 Definitions:
paringasolventorwaterbasedinkresinsolutioninlowboiling 2.1.1 cold cut, n—dispersion of resin into solvent using high
solvent or alkaline water using two types of lab equipment; (1) shear dispersion without external heating.
an industrial blender (Sections3–7), and (2) a laboratory
2.1.2 compatibility, n—the ability of two or more differing
roller mill (Sections8–12).
substances to be mixed together without resultant kick-out or
NOTE 1—ASTM Subcommittee D01.37 recommends using the indus-
haziness.
trial blender where possible.
2.1.3 dissolution, n—the point at which all resin completely
1.2 These practices use laboratory equipment generally
dissolves in the solvent.
available in a normal, well-equipped laboratory.
2.1.4 incompatibility, n—when a mixture of two or more
1.3 These procedures are for use with ink resins intended
differing substances results in precipitation, kick-out, or hazi-
mainly for liquid (for example, flexographic and rotogravure)
ness.
inks. The type of resins is typically, but not limited to, acrylic
2.1.5 solution, n—resin and solvent form a clear,
and styrene/acrylic copolymers, polyamides, polyesters,
compatible, and homogeneous mixture.
polyvinylbutyral, and maleated/fumarated rosin esters.
2.1.5.1 Discussion—Industrial practice may use the term
1.4 The typical low boiling solvents to be used include
“solution” loosely to describe what may actually be a clear
ethanol, isopropanol, n-propanol, ethyl acetate, isopropyl
“dispersion.” For the sake of simplification, the terms solution
acetate, and n-propyl acetate. For water based ink resin
and dispersion have been used interchangeably in this practice.
solutions, water is used in combination with ammonium
hydroxide or amines such as dimethylethanolamine,
BLENDER
monoethanolamine, and triethylamine.
3. Summary of Blender Practice
1.5 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
3.1 Place required amount of resin and solvent in a blender
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
jar.
standard.
3.2 Mix the resin-solvent mixture at high speed in a blender
1.6 This standard does not purport to address all of the
until heat is developed by the high shear and the resin is
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
dissolved into solution.
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
3.3 The resulting resin solution can be used to measure
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
parameters such as viscosity and solubility or compatibility of
1.7 This international standard was developed in accor-
a printing ink resin.
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
4. Significance and Use of Blender Practice
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom- 4.1 This practice provides a means of preparing resin
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical solutions by the “cold cut” method, modeling high-shear
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. production dispersion techniques.
5. Apparatus
These practices are under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D01 on Paint
5.1 Balance or Scale, weighing to 60.1 g accuracy.
and Related Coatings, Materials, and Applications and are the direct responsibility
of Subcommittee D01.37 on Ink Vehicles.
5.2 Blender, with one quart vessel and cover, 115 alternating
CurrenteditionapprovedJune1,2020.PublishedJuly2020.Originallyapproved
current volts (VAC), 60 Hz, 840 W (preferably explosion
in 2003. Last previous edition approved in 2013 as D6989 – 03 (2013). DOI:
10.1520/D6989-03R20. proof).
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D6989 − 03 (2020)
5.3 Filter Media (such as organdy cloth). required for immediate use (that is, the material is weighed and
placed on the laboratory roller mill overnight for use the next
5.4 Auxiliary Equipment (that is, aluminum foil, paper
day).
towels, lab filter stand, etc.).
6. Sampling 10. Apparatus
6.1 Solid resin should be flaked or crushed (typically to a 10.1 Balance or Scale, weighing to 60.1 g accuracy.
size no larger than 6 mm ).
10.2 Glass Jars, 1 pint or 1 quart size, with metal lids.
6.2 The total mass of resin solids and solvent should be
...