Ag Innovation News, like many other printed items, utilizes soy-based inks. Printing inks consist of pigments, solvents, resinous binders and performance additives. Soy's growth potential is mainly in resinous binders, which affix the ink to the printed surface, and performance additives. Lithography, used to print books, magazines, envelopes, stationery and phone books, is the soybean industry's highest priority. Soy inks are continuously being improved for these markets.
Studies are also underway to incorporate more soy products in water-based inks.
But oil-based paint use is declining in the United States, threatening soy's share of this important market. So current use is focusing on water-based paints for architectural uses and specialized coatings, such as metal coatings for industrial uses. A water-based soy primer paint, the first in a new line of interior paints, is expected to be launched this year. USB says results so far have been promising. The paint industry's major concern is reducing volatile organic compounds, and soy oil meets that challenge.