Water-based inks have been used in the printing of corrugated paper for a long time abroad, and it has been more than 20 years in China. Corrugated paper printing is developed into today's flexographic water-based ink printing from lead printing (embossing), offset printing (flat printing), and rubber plate water washable printing. Flexographic water-based inks have also developed from rosin-maleic acid modified resin series (low-grade) to acrylic resin series (high-grade). Printing plates are also transitioning from rubber plates to resin plates. Printing presses have gradually developed from single-color or two-color machines with large rollers to three-color or four-color FLEXO machines.

The composition and characteristics of water-based inks are the same as those of general printing inks. Water-based inks usually have colorants, binders, auxiliary agents and other components. The colorant is the coloring substance of the water-based ink, which gives the ink a specific color. In flexo printing, in order to make the imprint colorful, the colorant generally chooses the pigment with good chemical stability and high tinting power; the binder is composed of water, resin, amine compound and other organic solvents. Resin is the most important component in water-based ink. Water-soluble acrylic resin is usually used. The component of the binder directly affects the adhesion function, drying speed, anti-adhesive performance, etc. of the ink. It also affects the gloss and transferability of the ink. The main amine compounds are Maintain the alkaline PH value of the water-based ink, so that the acrylic resin provides better printing effect. Water or other organic solvents mainly dissolve the resin and adjust the viscosity and drying speed of the ink; auxiliary agents mainly include: defoamer, retarder , Stabilizers, diluting agents, etc. Since the water-based ink is a soap composition, it is easy to generate bubbles during use, so silicone oil should be added as a defoaming agent to suppress and eliminate bubbles, and at the same time improve the transfer performance of the ink. The retarder is used to inhibit the drying speed of the water-based ink, prevent the ink from drying on the anilox roller, and reduce the paste. The stabilizer can adjust the pH value of the ink, and can also be used as a diluent to reduce the viscosity of the ink. Diluent is used to reduce the color of fresh water inks, and can also be used as a brightener to improve the brightness of water-based inks. In addition, some waxes are added to the water-based ink to increase its abrasion resistance.