I am looking for non-toxic ink that can be screen printed on the
adhesive side of clear packing tape (during manufacture).

The idea is to have a roll of the tape and use it to tape boxes of
perishable goods. The color change will initiate for example when
the tape is pulled off the roll (e.g. by exposure to air).

The ink on the tape will be between the box and the plastic of the
tape (i.e. on the adhesive side) and so will not get smudged,
rubbed-off etc. during transit.

Over say a period of 1 month, the ink will change color (e.g. from green to red).

When the receiver receives the box, he/she can tell the condition of
the perishible goods inside without opening the box. Green = good. Red
= Reject.

So in summary, I'm looking for ink that changes color over time once
it is activated. What is the ink and who sells/manufactures it.

Thank you - Blindfire

Hello Blindfire,

Digital Ink Technologies manufacturers time-temperature inks  that may
be applied directly or indirectly to packaging for perishable or heat
sensitive products

?The Digital Time/Temperature inks relate to temperature indicators
that may be applied directly or indirectly to packaging for perishable
or heat sensitive products. The temperature indicators are formed by
printing digital piezo inkjet inks on labels directly or indirectly to
products to provide information about the thermal history of the
products.?

?It is desirable to provide an indication of whether a product has
been exposed to an undesirable time-temperature history. This applies
to perishables such as foods and pharmaceuticals. These products
generally have limited useful life spans that may be significantly
shortened by exposure to relatively high temperatures for a specific
time period during storage, distribution, or use.?


Digital Ink Technologies Pty. Ltd.
13 Silicon Place 
Tullamarine, Victoria, Australia 3043
Telephone: +61 3 9335 1966 
Facsimile:   +61 3 9335 3166
Email: dit@digitalinktechnologies.com.au
 
http://www.digitalinktechnologies.com.au/time.htm



===========================


Ciba Specialty Chemicals produces OnVuŽ time-temperature indicator ink

?Available as an ink or label, new OnVuŽ time-temperature indicators
from Switzerland's Ciba Specialty Chemicals (www.cibasc.com) can
reportedly show the accumulated chill-chain history of perishables
ranging from meat and dairy products to highly-sensitive
pharmaceuticals. Each indicator can be specifically tailored to the
shelf life and optimum storage conditions of the product it's designed
to monitor.?

?OnVu technology relies on the properties of pigments that change
color over time and when temperatures fluctuate. The label consists of
a reference color and an OnVu indicator. Once activated, the label
first becomes dark and then grows progressively lighter as time
passes, and also if and when the ambient temperature rises. When the
activated color attains the same shade as the reference, the product
has reached the end of its shelf life.?

Converting Magazine
http://www.convertingmagazine.com/cgi-bin/current.cgi?view=07_06_26.html


Ciba Specialty Chemicals

?Ciba Specialty Chemicals and FreshPoint are presenting OnVu?, the
revolutionary new time-temperature indicator (TTI) system that shows
at a glance the freshness of perishable goods?

?OnVu? TTIs are supplied either as printing inks or labels and can in
principle be used for any product that is sensitive to temperature.
They give a visual summary of a product?s accumulated chill-chain
history, recording the effects of both time and temperature. Every
indicator is tailored to the shelf life and optimum storage conditions
of the product it is designed to monitor. By providing essential
information on chill-chain history, OnVu? TTIs also help to optimize
shelf life, since suppliers and retailers will no longer need to
discard products prematurely to cover for potential spoilage, caused,
for example, by incorrect storage.?

?OnVu? TTI technology relies on the properties of pigments that change
color over time and when temperatures fluctuate. The label or display
consists of a reference color and an OnVu? TTI. Once activated by a
suitable light source, the TTI first becomes dark and then grows
progressively lighter as time passes and also if and when the ambient
temperature rises. Exposure to higher temperatures than those
prescribed, therefore, accelerates the lightening process of the
color. When the activated color attains the same shade as the
reference, the product has reached the end of its shelf life.?

For further information please contact:

Media:
Tel:  +41 61 636 4444
Fax: +41 61 636 3019 

Investor Relations:
Tel:  +41 61 636 5081
Fax: +41 61 636 5111 
  

http://www.cibasc.com/index/med-index.htm?reference=53746&checkSum=162AC15ED63BA6BF4B7A50E1F419A876

Read more here:
http://www.cibasc.com/index/med-index.htm?reference=46906&checkSum=01A71E6A13BBDF0FFB57CF2A0FDEABB8



Search terms:
time indicator ink
pigments ink change color

I hope the information provided is helpful!

Best regards, 
Bobbie7