Ink

Ink is a complex medium which is usually found in the liquid state. It is a composition of various chemicals and solvents. The basic ingredients include: dyes or pigments that help in colouring a given surface. Other ingredients may include: surfactants, solvents, solubilisers, resins, fluoresces, lubricants and particulate matter along with other materials. All of these elements serve the purpose of giving the thickness to this liquid, its appearance and colour effects after it dries.

Basic Types

Dating as far as the 18th century BC, inks have flourished into a number of different types used for various purposes.
The most popular of all is the water based kind. You can find it most commonly being used in an office or at home on a variety of printers. It is composed and used to print on paper and therefore is used by all existing types of inkjet printers.
The pigment ink is usually thicker than the usual ones. It does not absorb on a surface but, dries out on the surface it is applied on, taking a longer period of time.

Advanced Types

The removable type is usually used for children and their stationary items. Additionally, it gives you the benefit of getting easily removed from your skin and clothes.

Lastly, waterproof ink is the type that can resist water from spreading or washing out the liquid from a surface. Once it is applied and is dried off, water and similar liquids can do no harm to it.

The permanent kind as suggested by the name is the type that stays permanently on a surface. It may be on a variety of different types of paper, cloth or any other material. It is difficult to remove from a surface despite using a strong remover.

It might just be a simple, coloured liquid but it plays an important part in our lives and serves for more than just the above mentioned things. In the world of today, it is the base of all office and academic work.