Inks for Topography, Lithography, Chromolithography, and Autography.

Practical Magazine 14, 1876

(Chemistry applied to the Arts, Manufactures, &c.
Dyeing, Calico Printing, Bleaching, Tanning, and Allied Subjects.)

In the manufacture of inks for the above purposes Messrs. PERSOZ and JEANNOLLE make use of the heavy oils and pitch obtained from tar, but especially those from coal-tar, which has hitherto been one of the most troublesome residues in gas-works. Experiment has proved that these oils, properly thickened, possess qualities suitable for printing. They have a certain degree of consistence, and combine well with soot and other dry coloured powders. When applied as ink, they do not stain through the paper or beyond the line of the impression as rich oils do which have not undergone a special preparation, and they may therefore be usefully employed instead of such oils, either wholly or partly, according to the nature of the product to be obtained.

When printing-ink is to be prepared, use may be made of the substances known by the name of evaporated tar or liquid pitch, with which a useful black ink may be obtained by simply thickening them with a suitable proportion of soot and Prussian blue, or other substances capable of supplying the tint that is wanted. The following recipe gives satisfactory results:–
Liquid pitch ... 100 parts
Soot ... 36 "
Prussian blue ... 10 "
Glycerine ... 10 "

For preparing coloured inks use may be made of heavy oils, freed as much as possible from tarry substances, which would give them a brown shade, and coloured powders should be mixed with the oils. Heavy oils or pitch may also be used for lithography, chromolithography, and autography. Of course variable proportions of rich drying oils, or even grease and resin, should be added, according to the purpose for which the ink is to be used.

- Moniteur Industriel Belge, Jan. 1st, 1876.