Types of thinners commonly used for gravure printing inks

Alcohol solvents: Ethanol (alcohol), Isopropanol, n-butanol Ester solvent: Ethyl acetate, butyl acetate Benzene solvent: Toluene, Dimethyl ketone Solvents: Cyclohexanone, Acetone, Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)
Since gravure inks are based on volatile drying, most of them use highly volatile solvents.
In an ink solvent, a solvent that can dissolve the ink alone is called a true solvent, and a solvent that does not dissolve the ink is called a dummy solvent. A solvent that cannot dissolve the ink alone and dissolve it with another solvent is called a cosolvent.
The solvents listed above such as ethyl acetate, butanone, acetone, toluene and ethanol are all fast-drying solvents.
Like butyl acetate, xylene, isopropanol, cyclohexanone are slow-drying solvents.
Can not be used alone in the benzene-soluble surface printing ink benzene and other solvents, benzene solvents and alcohol solvents should be pre-mixed and diluted ink, the ratio can be referenced ink supplier to provide information.
In compound printing inks (chlorinated polypropylene type) benzenes, esters, and ketone solvents are all true solvents. Do not dilute with alcohol solvents. In order to reduce costs, benzene solvents may be used, but depending on the drying speed, the ratio can be adjusted with reference to the ink supplier's data.
In the PVC shrink film ink, only the ester solvent is the true solvent, and the benzene solvent is the auxiliary solvent. Instead of adding the benzene solvent alone, the ester solvent and the benzene solvent should be mixed and used. The proportion can be referenced by the information provided by the ink supplier.

Source: 21st Century Fine Chemicals