From what make ink: composition. How to make real ink: step-by-step instructions and recommendations

Every day we use ballpoint pens, on the desktops there are printers that work almost without interruption. We are already so accustomed to this that we do not think how it works. And the first step to the invention of all these convenient devices was a recipe for an amazing composition that can leave permanent marks on paper and cloth. However, today we want to talk about what the ink is made of. A brief excursion into the history and modern technologies will be of interest to adults and children.

Ancient folios

The finest parchment, the lines printed on the skin, the ancient manuscripts are always striking in that it is still possible to easily understand what was written. The first ink was made very simply - mixed soot with something sticky. This, in fact, was mascara, which dried up and cracked. In addition, she was viscous enough, you had to get used to bringing out a beautiful line. Then the recipe was strictly classified. What the ink is made of, only the clergy knew. By the way, there were a lot of variations. We took honey as the basis and added gold powder to it. Widely used the composition of berries elderberry and walnut. But all this has already sunk into oblivion. Today, ink production has become simple and affordable. Let's trace the chain further.

Ink from nuts-galls

Continuing to consider what the ink is made of, one can not forget the famous discovery, namely the special growths on the sheets of oak. They are called galls, and they live in them insect larvae - walnut. That's why the growth is called ink nuts. They squeezed out the juice, then mixed it with iron sulfate and added glue. It turned out a stable composition with a beautiful luster. Even today, the surviving manuscripts look very fresh. However, there was one important nuance. These inks were colorless, you could read the writing only when the letters dried up.

A Coup in History

In the XIX century, people became more educated, many already knew what the ink is made of. In 1885 another coup was carried out. The teacher invented alizarin ink. They were also gallic, but they had intense coloration due to a unique additive. Blue-green in the vial, they became black when applied to paper. This was achieved by adding crapp, that is, extracts from the roots of the madder.

Now the technical revolution was in full swing, and crapp had already learned to be replaced with artificial dyes, and ink nuts - gallic acid. But progress did not stop there either. It was found the easiest way to produce aniline ink, that is, to receive a diluted synthetic dye in water. With the help of this technology it became possible to synthesize compositions of the most diverse shades. However, it remains a mystery how the ancient monks performed ruby, pearl and sapphire ink inscriptions. These compositions still know in some monasteries, but never this art did not leave their walls.

From antiquity to modernity

Since they make ink today on a huge, industrial scale, it is not difficult to guess that more than mankind does not address nature. Now all produced compositions can be divided into several types. The first group remains the most popular, cheap and simple. This, in fact, the manufacture of ink from gallic acid.

The second option is to get the composition using tannin. It is on sale in the form of a yellowish powder. As thickeners, glycerol and gelatin are used. This way you can make a small amount of ink that will be relatively safe even if you accidentally use it inside. Of course, this is best avoided.

How to make them yourself

If you really want to try yourself in the role of a medieval monk, then we will tell you how to make ink by yourself. All components are fairly simple. You will need to collect three grams of ink nuts, two grams of iron vitriol and the same amount of gum arabic. Ink galls need to be powdered and buried in a vessel. Pour 30 ml of water into it. In another vessel, pour in a similar amount of water and add all the other ingredients. Two days later, you can mix both liquids, mix and leave for another 48 hours, then strain. However, you need to learn how to write this composition. But since it is quite difficult to make real ink with your own hands, you will have to be satisfied with what really reminds them.

Alizarin ink

They are also prepared from ink nuts, but they are distinguished by the fact that they contain vinegar. For preparation it is necessary to take 10 grams of ink nuts, 6 g of copper sulfate, 1 g of gum arabic, 100 ml of vinegar. Cooking will take a lot of time, so immediately tune into a long process. Crushed galls insist in vinegar for at least 6 days. The remaining components are separately dissolved in the acid. On the fifth day, the second formulation should be boiled.

After both solutions are ready, you need to merge them together. Now shake the mixture vigorously. The process is almost complete. Wood-acetic acid is the best choice as a solvent. Alizarin ink has a big drawback - they do not flow around the pen evenly, but remain on it a thick mass.

Many options

Today, the manufacture of ink is an important production, which only increases the pace. In Russia, they were prepared from iron sulfate, which was added to the decoction of oak nuts. Today, conventional ink for a ball-point pen is a mixture of 50 or more components. Black color is achieved thanks to dyes, however the most popular are triphenylmethane, copper phthalocyanine, they impart a blue tint, so popular in modern writing.

The production of ink is not without the sulfate of iron and tannic acids. Dyes and additives are necessarily mixed with a solvent, they are necessary to make the formula more stable. Synthetic polymers are needed to help regulate surface tension.

Colorize the glass

Ink for a smooth surface is prepared from two working solutions. The first one is 100 ml of water and dissolved in it 1 g of potassium sulfide and 7 g of sodium sulfide. It is prepared by simple mixing. The second contains similarly 100 g of water, 3 g of zinc chloride and 13 ml of hydrochloric acid. The mixture can be used immediately as an ink. You can safely apply to the glass and get matte inscriptions after drying.

Compositions for metal

Call them ink only conditionally. Write on the metal follows a mixture of nitric and hydrochloric acid. For this, the surface is covered with wax, then the inscription is made with a sharp object, and then the composition is applied from above. After five minutes, you can put the vessel in warm water. To get an analog of the ink inscription in blue, you need to prepare another composition.

It is prepared by mixing 3.5 g of borax with 15 ml of ethyl alcohol, 2 g of rosin powder and 25 ml of methylene blue solution. As a result, there is an inscription of blue color.

Ink for fabric

We have already reviewed the compositions and are guided by what the ink is made of. However, all these compounds do not have great resistance to washing and repeated boiling. To do this, you need to slightly change the recipe. To this end, 42 g of aniline and 2.5 g of potassium salt and 13 ml of water are heated in a flask. Then add 15 ml of hydrochloric acid (25%) and continue to heat the mixture until it darkens. It remains to be small. Copper chloride is poured into the flask, this process can be considered almost complete.

The resulting solution is heated to a red-violet color. After this, under the influence of the dye, oxidizer and reaction catalyst, we can get the final result. Inks made with this recipe are very resistant. They do not fade during the washing process and can be used in the light industry.

Instead of concluding

As you can see, there are many ways to prepare ink. Modern industry allows you to produce from black to multicolored ink. Recently, technology has been developed to prevent the appearance of mold. There are special compounds, which when added to the ink completely neutralize the role of the fungus. It is creosote and formalin, salicylic acid.

As you can see, the composition of ink is not at all complicated. If you are fond of chemistry, then you will be able to repeat this at home. However, the big question is whether this costs time, especially considering the cost of the product in the stationery store and its expense.