High quality dyes for inkjets, candles, markers, food, drug and cosmetics by Spectra Colors Corp.

Dyes for Writing Instruments

It is our honor to offer you our line of high quality dyes intended for writing instruments. The dyes listed earlier must be tested in the ink system to conform to low insoluble levels, purity, viscosity, surface tension, strength, shade and solubility. Appropriate dyes must be specifically qualified and developed for each type of ink.

Children markers

The issue of safety is foremost in the production of any product intended for use by children. All ingredients used in children markers should conform with certain parameters to ensure the final product will meet government regulations for use in children products. We will help you find the right dye to conform with your regulations, if needed, remembering that the specifications of the final ink is what is regulated by local and international regulations.

Fine Liner and stamp pad inks

Markers designed for writing are based on capillary flow of the ink. The type of nib, whether it is fiber, extruded or molded plastic, or roller ball, plays an important roll in the ink's formulation. Direct dyes are often used in these types of markers as they generally have better water fastness. Aqueous pigment dispersions are also used for greater permanency. Stamp pad inks generally are based on the same dyes that children's marking inks and writing inks utilize. The solvent system usually contains more slower evaporating solvents such as glycerin and glycol and less water due to the large surface area of the stamp pad that is exposed to air for long periods of time.

Permanent Markers

Permanent inks are used in both the broad and fine lined markers. As the effort to provide safer solvent systems continues, more systems are based on water, glycol ethers, and alcohols although some systems are still based on Xylene.The water based permanent systems are usually based on aqueous pigment dispersions with a resin as a binder. The glycol ether and alcohol systems can use the same type of dye-spirit soluble.

pH sensitive colors

pH sensitive dyes exhibit a predictable color change or shift as the environment or media in which the dye exists changes. The most common example of this phenomena would be the indicators used in chemical laboratories to indicate specific pH endpoints.

Ball point pens

Pens designed for writing are usually ballpoint nibs and an open tube rather than a reservoir to hold the ink. Some solvents used are Oleic Acid, Glycol Ethers, and Benzyl alcohol. Ball pen inks typically are very viscous compared with other writing inks.

Spirit soluble dyes for ball point pen inks

Owing to their chemical structure, the SPECTROSOL™ FAST Dyes are extremely soluble in a variety of solvents without the risk of recrystalization. Methanol, Ethanol, Benzyl Alcohol, Ethylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether, Ethylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether, Diethylene Glycol Monoethyl Ether, Propylene Glycol, Dipropylene Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, 2-Phenoxyethanol, Diacetone Alcohol, Methyl Ethyl Ketone. For specific solubility information check our technical data tables or with Spectra Colors Technical Assistant.

Washable Dyes

SPECTRA® WD, (Washable Dyes), are non-toxic, odorless, water-soluble colorants. They are made from the purest colorants and additives SPECTRA® WD's come in a wide spectrum of brilliant colors and may be used in various writing instrument applications, such as marker pens, dry erase, gel pens, roller ball, bingo markers, etc. SPECTRA® WD's are designed to wash easily from skin and most washable children's clothing.