SOLVENT FOR PRINTING INK AND PRINTING INK COMPOSITION

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a solvent for ink inexpensively obtainable by an environment-conscious means starting from raw materials derived from vegetable oils instead of petroleum-based solvents conventionally used for printing ink, and to obtain a printing ink composition having drying properties, printing aptitude and printing effects equal to those of conventional printing ink. SOLUTION: The printing ink comprises, as the printing ink solvent, regenerated vegetable oil fatty acid esters based on regenerated vegetable oils reduced in its acid value and iodine value. Printing using the printing ink can reduce liberation of volatile organic compounds compared with the ink obtained using conventional petroleum-based solvents. The printing ink is also characterized by that wastes therefrom is rapidly biodegradable and that it has excellent deinking properties to permit ready production of regenerated papers. In particular, use of the ink obtained using the regenerated vegetable oils results in a lower raw material cost compared with the case where virgin vegetable oils are used and gives effects that printed matter can be obtained with more environmental consciousness from the view point of reuse of resources. COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI