ISO 27668-2:2009

Gel ink ball pens and refills - Part 2: Documentary use (DOC)

ISO 27668-2:2009 establishes minimum quality requirements for gel ink ball pens (refillable or non‑refillable) and refills for documentary use. Basic requirements for gel ink ball pens for general use are given in ISO 27668-1.

Stylos à bille à encre gel et recharges — Partie 2: Utilisation documentaire (DOC)

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 26-Jan-2009
• ICS: 01.100.40 - Drawing equipment
• Technical Committee: ISO/TC 10 - Technical product documentation
• Drafting Committee: ISO/TC 10/WG 18 - Drawing and writing instruments
• Current Stage: 9093 - International Standard confirmed
• Start Date: 01-Mar-2021
• Completion Date: 13-Dec-2025

Overview

ISO 27668-2:2009 - Gel ink ball pens and refills, Part 2: Documentary use (DOC) defines minimum quality requirements for gel ink ball pens (refillable or disposable) and refills intended for documentary use. Documentary use covers documents required as evidence or records that must remain legible and resistant to tampering and long‑term degradation. This part complements ISO 27668-1 (general use) by adding additional durability and permanence requirements specific to archival and probative applications.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and designation
  • Applies to gel ink ball pens and refills intended for documentary (DOC) use.
  • Prescribed designation and marking format (e.g., “Gel ink ball pen ISO 27668-2 M DOC”) and mandatory identification details (manufacturer, designation, date/batch).
• Durability and permanence tests
  • Erasure resistance: Line must remain visible until the paper surface shows clear damage (eraser test).
  • Chemical resistance: Written lines must remain visible after exposure to:
    • 50% ethanol solution
    • 10% hydrochloric acid
    • 10% ammonium hydroxide
    • 3% chloramin T bleaching solution
  • Water resistance: Lines must remain visible after 24 h immersion in distilled/de‑ionized water.
  • Light resistance: Exposure test using a xenon‑arc light source with blue wool references until a specified reference reaches grey scale grade 4; written lines must remain visible.
• Testing protocols and equipment
  • Specifies sampling, climatic conditions, test piece preparation and immersion/exposure durations.
  • References ISO test methods for colour‑fastness and light ageing (ISO 105-A02, ISO 105-B02) and relies on Part 1 for general testing apparatus and procedures.
• Test reporting
  • Test reports must reference ISO 27668-2, include test conditions, sample identification, results, deviations and tester signature.

Applications and users

ISO 27668-2 is relevant for:

• Pen and refill manufacturers designing gel ink products for archival, legal, notarial, medical or government record‑keeping.
• Quality assurance and test laboratories performing permanence and tamper‑resistance testing.
• Archivists and records managers specifying inks for long‑term storage and evidentiary documents.
• Procurement teams and legal departments requiring certified documentary‑use pens for official forms and contracts. Using ISO 27668-2 helps ensure ink legibility, resistance to chemical or mechanical alteration, and long‑term document integrity.

Related standards

• ISO 27668-1:2009 - Gel ink ball pens and refills - Part 1: General use
• ISO 105-A02 - Grey scale for assessing change in colour
• ISO 105-B02 - Colour fastness to artificial light: Xenon arc fading lamp test

Keywords: ISO 27668-2, gel ink ball pens, documentary use, DOC, gel ink refills, erasure resistance, water resistance, light resistance, archival ink standards.

Standards Content (Sample)

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 27668-2
First edition
2009-02-01
Gel ink ball pens and refills —
Part 2:
Documentary use (DOC)
Stylos à bille à encre gel et recharges —
Partie 2: Utilisation documentaire (DOC)

Reference number
©
ISO 2009
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ii © ISO 2009 – All rights reserved

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
ISO 27668-2 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 10, Technical product documentation.
ISO 27668 consists of the following parts, under the general title Gel ink ball pens and refills:
⎯ Part 1: General use
⎯ Part 2: Documentary use (DOC)
Introduction
This part of ISO 27668 is applicable to gel ink ball pens for documentary use.
Part 1 of ISO 27668 is applicable to gel ink ball pens for general use.
For documentary use, some requirements, in addition to those for general use, are necessary
a) to assure the legibility of lettering, and
b) for the handling and storage of documents over long periods of time (these requirements are often
discussed with the archivist).
An example of documentary use is the preparation of documents that are required as evidence.
Furthermore, pens which meet the requirements for documentary use produce lines which are more resistant
to modification (e.g. attempts to falsify a document) than those for general use.
The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) draws attention to the fact that it is claimed that
compliance with this document may involve the use of a patent concerning aqueous gel ink-filled ballpoint
pens.
The holder of this patent right has assured ISO that he is willing to negotiate licences under reasonable and
non-discriminatory terms and conditions with applicants throughout the world. In this respect, the statement of
the holder of this patent right is registered with ISO. Information may be obtained from:
Mitsubishi Pencil Company Limited
Patent Administration Department, 5.23-37, Higashi-ohi
JP-Shinagawa, Tokyo 140-8537
Japan
[e-mail]
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights other than those identified above. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent
rights.
iv © ISO 2009 – All rights reserved

INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 27668-2:2009(E)

Gel ink ball pens and refills —
Part 2:
Documentary use (DOC)
1 Scope
This part of ISO 27668 establishes minimum quality requirements for gel ink ball pens (refillable or
non-refillable) and refills for documentary use.
Basic requirements for gel ink ball pens for general use are given in ISO 27668-1.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 105-A02, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Part A02: Grey scale for assessing change in colour
ISO 105-B02, Textiles — Tests for colour fastness — Part B02: Colour fastness to artificial light: Xenon arc
fading lamp test
ISO 27668-1:2009, Gel ink ball pens and refills — Part 1: General use
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in ISO 27668-1 apply.
4 Requirements
4.1 General requirements
See the general requirements given in ISO 27668-1:2009 (4.1 to 4.3.4, 4.3.7 and 4.3.8).
4.2 Erasure resistance
The surface of the testing paper shall show clear evidence of damage before the line is rendered invisible
when tested as specified in 6.2.1.
4.3 Ethanol resistance
The line shall remain visible when tested as specified in 6.2.2.
4.4 Hydrochloric
...