Investigation of the Printability of Ethyl 2-[4 on Coated and Uncoated Papers

Abstract

There is a growing demand in the printing industry for pigment-based inks with excellent lightfastness and rub resistance qualities. In this work, a novel ink with the formulation ethyl 2-[4-(1,3,4-oxadiazole-2(3H)-thione-5-yl)phenylhydrazono]-3-oxobutyrate (OXKT) was prepared as a pigment and its printability was investigated for use in printing. The OXKT was synthesised, characterised then printed on uncoated and gloss-coated papers and Bristol cardboard. Physical tests and spectrophotometric measurements were carried out to determine the technical characteristics of the printed ink. Additionally, print quality, ink density and gloss were evaluated. The results showed that the proposed ink with the OXKT compound had acceptable rub resistance. Also, the gloss and light fastness values exceeded the acceptable rates for the printing industry because of their colour differences. However, more research needs to be conducted to improve light performance. Nevertheless, it is still possible for use in applications that do not stipulate strict light fastness values. © 2025 The Author(s). Coloration Technology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Dyers and Colourists.