Several toner compositions have been formulated and tested in a commercial Toshiba copier with good copy quality. Work is in progress to further improve copy quality, conduct extensive deinking studies, patent filings and field testing by potential industrial partners prior to commercialization expected in three to five years. Promising new technology is being develped by Iowa State University to produce faster curing conjugated soybean oil, which if done economically would expand the use of soybean oil in printing ink and also coatings. Pigmented printed textiles will find uses in apparel, home furnishings and industrial items. The company is examining soybean oil and soybean derivatives in these inks, and determining the feasibility of using soybean oil as a dispersing agent for ink pigments.
Many flexographic inks are water-based and contain soy protein.
Sun Chemical works closely with USDA and national and state soybean associations to exchange technical information about soy ink. Ann Arbor-based Flint Ink Corporation is a leading soy ink manufacturer. The company also has more than 100 technical staffers in its research and development department in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Soy ink research makes sense from a business, quality and environmental standpoint. Address environmental issues.