Ceramic pigments and ink pigments are indispensable materials in modern ceramic industries, offering unique artistic and functional qualities to ceramic products. As the ceramic sector advances towards digitalization, environmental sustainability, and high performance, ink pigments have emerged as a crucial component for ceramic decoration and inkjet printing technologies.

I.Characteristics of Ink Pigments

1. High Dispersibility:
   Ink pigments feature exceptional dispersibility, enabling fine and uniform pattern transfer in inkjet printing processes. This is primarily due to their optimized particle size distribution, typically ranging between 0.3 and 0.8 microns, ensuring stable suspension in solvents or dispersing mediums.
2. Thermal and Chemical Stability:
   Ink pigments must retain vivid colors and stable performance under high-temperature sintering conditions (1000-1300°C). These pigments are often made from high-purity inorganic materials, such as zirconium oxide, aluminum oxide, silicon dioxide, and specific metal oxides.
3. Environmental Friendliness:
   The rising demand for eco-friendly materials has led to the development of water-based ink pigments. Compared to traditional solvent-based pigments, water-based ink pigments boast low volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and are safer for human health.

II. Applications

1. Ceramic Inkjet Printing:
   Ink pigments are widely used for surface decoration on tiles, wall ceramics, and tableware. Digital inkjet printing allows high-precision color patterns without requiring molds, significantly enhancing production flexibility and efficiency.
2. Functional Ceramic Coatings:
   Ink pigments are used to create ceramic coatings with special properties, such as wear resistance, antibacterial effects, or anti-fouling surfaces. These functionalities are typically achieved through active components within the pigments.
3. Decorative and Artistic Design:
   High-quality ink pigments cater to the complex design needs of ceramic artists, enabling effects such as gradient colors, metallic gloss, or matte textures.

III. Technical Challenges and Solutions

1. Particle Size Control:
   Ensuring precise control of particle size and distribution is critical to prevent inkjet printer nozzle clogging. Advanced wet milling and dispersion technologies effectively enhance the stability and applicability of ink pigments.
2. Color Saturation:
   Improving the color performance of ink pigments is essential, particularly to prevent fading after high-temperature sintering. Optimized formulations and high-purity raw materials can improve post-sintering color reproduction.
3. Compatibility and Adaptability:
   Ink pigments need to be compatible with various printing equipment, dispersing mediums, and substrates. Experimental studies and formulation adjustments ensure seamless compatibility across different systems.

IV. Future Directions

1. Green and Sustainable Development:
   The development of eco-friendly ink pigments based on renewable resources, such as water-based and inorganic solvent-based systems, is a significant future trend.
2. Intelligent and Customized Solutions:
   By integrating intelligent color matching systems and big data analytics, customized ink pigment solutions can be provided to meet specific customer needs.
3. Multi-functional Composite Materials:
   Enhancing the multifunctionality of ink pigments, such as incorporating electrochromic, photochromic, or thermochromic properties, will expand their applications in high-end ceramics.

V.Conclusion

Advancements in ceramic pigments and ink pigments not only modernize ceramic decoration techniques but also pave the way for sustainable development and innovative applications in the ceramics industry. Continuous investment in research and technological optimization will inject more vitality and potential into this field globally.