Carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), a high-performance water-soluble cellulose derivative, has wide applications in printing inks, coated pulps, and packaging materials. With the development of printing technology towards higher speeds, environmental friendliness, and digitalization, CMC, with its excellent thickening, film-forming, dispersing, and water-retaining properties, is becoming an important functional additive for improving print quality.
- The Core Role of CMC in Printing Systems
1.1. Thickening and Rheological Control
CMC has a significant thickening effect, regulating the rheological behavior of inks or coating solutions. It maintains a certain viscosity when the system is at rest and reduces viscosity under shear, improving flowability. This “pseudoplastic” rheological property helps ink transfer stably during printing, avoiding problems such as ink splatter, stringing, or sagging, thereby improving the clarity and uniformity of printed lines.
1.2. Dispersion and Stabilization Effects
In pigment inks, CMC can adsorb onto the surface of pigment particles, forming a stable charge or steric hindrance effect, improving pigment dispersion and reducing particle aggregation. A stable pigment dispersion system not only enhances tinting strength and hiding power but also extends the ink’s shelf life.
1.3. Film Formation and Adhesion Enhancement
After drying, CMC exhibits excellent film-forming properties, forming a uniform adhesion layer on paper or film surfaces, enhancing the bond between the ink and the substrate, and improving the abrasion resistance, water resistance, and operational durability of the printed layer.
1.4. Moisture Retention and Anti-Drying Effects
In water-based inks and flexographic printing, CMC can effectively reduce the drying rate of ink on the printing plate or in the ink storage system, preventing plate clogging and improving the stability of continuous printing.
- Typical Application Scenarios of CMC in the Printing Industry
2.1. Water-based Ink Systems
CMC is used in higher quantities in water-based gravure and flexographic printing inks, improving viscosity, dispersibility, and stability, and enhancing image fullness. Its environmentally friendly and non-toxic properties make it a preferred alternative to traditional synthetic thickeners.
2.2. Coated Paper and Specialty Paper Production
In coating processes for coated paper, white cardboard, and cultural paper, CMC is used as a binder and rheology modifier, which promotes uniform film formation and improves paper smoothness, gloss, and printability. Especially in high-gloss papers, CMC can improve pigment particle distribution, resulting in clearer details.
2.3. Inkjet Printing Inks
With the development of inkjet technology, CMC is increasingly used in water-based inkjet ink systems:
Controlling droplet shape and diffusion;
Improving color stability;
Reducing printhead clogging rate.
It helps improve imaging quality in high-precision fields such as photo printing and label printing.
2.4. Packaging Printing and Food Contact Materials
CMC is safe and non-toxic and can be used in food packaging printing ink systems to help improve adhesion and oil resistance, while meeting environmental requirements such as biodegradability and low migration.
- Innovative Application Trends of CMC in the Printing Industry
3.1. Development of High Substitution and Functionalized CMC
By increasing the degree of substitution (DS) and uniformity, salt resistance, transparency, and thickening efficiency can be significantly improved, making it more suitable for high-solids water-based inks and inkjet inks.
3.2. Nanoscale Pigment Blending Technology
Blending CMC with nano-pigments can improve dispersion stability, reduce ink particle size, and enhance color saturation and detail in high-resolution printing.
3.3. Core Additive for Green and Environmentally Friendly Water-Based Systems
With increasingly stringent VOC restrictions, the demand for water-based inks and water-based varnishes is rapidly rising. As a naturally sourced material, CMC is renewable and biodegradable, becoming an important component of green ink formulations.
3.4. Expansion of CMC in Digital Printing
By adjusting the molecular weight and viscosity grade, CMC can be customized for high-speed inkjet printing, improving droplet control precision and providing higher stability and durability for digital printing.
Post time: Dec-15-2025