Ceramic Inks Market

Market Overview

The global ceramic inks market size was valued at USD 2.19 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 4.43 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 8.13% from 2022 to 2030.

Ceramic inks serve only as carriers for the metallic oxide pigments found in ceramic nanoparticles that are applied automatically. Inks must be retained in a medium to maintain the physical consistency necessary to produce fine detail. Depending on the application method, these materials can be thick and flow like printing ink. They might also have a gel-like consistency that, after application, sticks to the skin. Alternately, they can be produced using nanoparticles or stains kept suspended in a very fluid medium. Depending on the application method, these materials can be thick and flow like printing ink.

The metallic oxide colourant mixture must be a component of more significant silica: alumina: flux formula that melts and surrounds it in a glass that adheres to the body and is compatible with the top glaze of ceramic inks to be used. Along with matching the thermal expansion of the body and glaze, compatibility must also consider the chemistry of the melt carrier and the colour scheme. The melt carrier must adhere to the specific requirements set forth by each stain system. It is also necessary to alter carrier compositions to include various concentrations of particular colours. Ceramic inks have a glossy surface, high durability, resistance to U.V. rays, and resistance to scratches and abrasions, among other benefits. Printing ceramic inks with digital and analogue technologies enable a variety of effects, including erratic patterns, intricate mosaics, and high-definition product designs.

Market Dynamics

Global Ceramic Inks Market Driver

The Rapid and Widespread Diffusion of Digital Printers

On a small scale, inkjet printers are frequently used for printing applications and graphics. These printers can now be used commercially in production environments thanks to their distinct capabilities for performance in industrial applications. Due to the widespread accessibility of digital printers, inkjet printing is quickly taking over as the most popular technique for embellishing ceramic tiles. Over the past ten years, the potential of these printers for decorating tile and ceramic items has come to light. Both printed design and ink forming have undergone significant advancements. Inkjet decoration is now the most popular type of decoration due to its many benefits, including easier material handling, endless options for decoration, extended and non-flat surfaces, and others. Inkjet printing is a non-contact decoration method that eliminates the dangers of mechanical stress that come with unfired tiles. Initially, the design and advertising departments used the portable inkjet printing machine on ceramic objects. This system has been expertly employed in recent years to develop high-calibre market trends. Utilizing piezoelectric nozzles, liquid ceramic ink is sprayed onto the necessary pieces, and the organic material is then dried and discharged before being cooked at a different temperature. The optical print ink is divided into two sections by pigment and solvent.

Growing Demand for Water-based Ceramic Inks

The inks currently used for digital printing are made using organic solvents, which are reasonably effective at ensuring the dispersion stability of hydrophobic ceramic pigments. However, due to regulations on the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in organic solvents and the shortened lifespan of inkjet heads brought on by these solvents, there is a growing interest in environmentally friendly inkjet printing materials that use water-based inks. A nano-sized ceramic pigment made of CoAl2O4 can be used to produce water-based, environmentally friendly ink that is strong in jetting and dispersion stability. Water-based inks also have a sizable amount of inorganic material and negligible organic material. Due to the decreased content of these organic substances in the composition and the typology of these chemical substances, they have the characteristic of emitting a small number of volatile substances in the atmosphere when fired in the ceramic oven, practically odourless.

Global Ceramic Inks Market Restraint

Small Colour Palette of Ceramic Inks

The limited colour palette of these inks is one of their most significant drawbacks. As a result, ceramic decorators struggle to reproduce Pantone colours precisely and sometimes struggle to print certain hues entirely. Colour performance became a significant concern because the chromatic palette of these inks is much smaller than that of traditional pigments. Since the ink volume is constrained by the shape of the print head and tile velocity along the decoration path, the solids loading was prioritized from the beginning with input on physical properties (for example, viscosity) and technical behaviours (for example, particle agglomeration). Dark-coloured mugs make the issue worse when printed on. Inkjet lighting has many shortcomings. For instance, inks need specific rheological characteristics to be gettable (e.g., surface tension between 20 and 45 mN/m, pigment particle diameter below 1 m, etc.). Although the density of the pigments used in digital inks is comparable to that of conventional pigments, the granulometric distribution is smaller, and stirring is no longer an acceptable method for resolving sedimentation. Although the density of the pigments used in digital inks is comparable to that of traditional pigments, the granulometric distribution is different, making stirring and other conventional techniques ineffective for preventing sedimentation.

Regional Analysis

According to the region, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Rest of the World.

Because of the expanding infrastructure sector in the region, Asia Pacific has become a significant regional market for ceramic inks. Over the forecast period, demand for ceramic inks is anticipated to be exceptionally high in India, China, and Southeast Asia. Due to significant investments in critical end-use industries and rising income levels in the region, the Asia Pacific is also anticipated to grow. Over the projected period, untapped markets in the Middle East and Latin America are anticipated to grow significantly. Throughout the forecast period, the North American ceramic inks market is anticipated to be driven by the expansion of the construction sector in Mexico and rising auto production in the U.S. Due to Western Europe's economic crisis, Europe is predicted to experience slow growth rates. The construction, automotive, and packaging sectors' stagnant growth are anticipated to be a significant factor limiting market expansion.

Segmental Analysis

The global ceramic inks market is segmented by application, technology, type, end-user and region.

Based on application, the market is divided into Ceramic Tiles, Glass Printing and Food Container Printing. Throughout the forecast period, the ceramic inks market's fastest-growing application segment is anticipated to be the ceramic tiles industry. The ceramic ink market for the application category of ceramic tiles held the largest market share across the board. The main factors behind the high consumption of ceramic inks in ceramic tile applications are the rising demand for personalized tiles and the advancement of digital printing technology.

By type, the market is bifurcated into Decorative and Functional. Decorative ink dominated the market. Glass printing, printing on ceramic tiles, and printing on food containers all use ceramic inks. These links are available in many different colours and tones, such as black, brown, red, white, blue, maroon, and others. Ink in those colours is in high demand. Decorative inks are extensively used in ceramic tile applications.

Based on technology, the market is categorized into Analog and Digital. The segment with the most significant and fastest-growing growth is predicted to be digital printing. The use of digital printing technology will eventually completely replace analogue printing, according to the ceramic ink market. Digital printing is quickly becoming more prevalent in the major markets, including China, Brazil, and India. If this scenario holds accurate, digital printing technology for ceramic decoration applications will control more than 95% of the market. Ceramic decorators use digital printing to print in small batches, lower inventory costs, and successfully meet the shifting needs of the ceramic inks market. Additionally, it enables the decorators to adapt quickly to rapid design changes required by the market to meet customer demands.

By End-user, the market is categorized into Construction, Consumer Products, Food & Beverage and Others. The building and construction industry contributed the most to overall market revenue. Product penetration in this area is anticipated to be driven by increased construction activity. Building owners and retailers in developed nations desire unique textures, hues, and printing options for flooring, tiles, and other products. The market penetration of ceramic ink will rise due to this trend when new structures and buildings are being built.

Recent Developments

• In June 2022: Torrecid collaborated with the inclusive project L'Alcalatén Adaptada. Torrecid has collaborated in the project with the digital printing of ceramic pieces in which the towns' different spaces, shops and services are illustrated so that these places are easily identifiable for people with functional diversity and children.
• In July 2022: DIC and SAP Partnered in Pilot Project Using Blockchain Technology in the Construction of a Waste Plastics Traceability System. DIC and SAP Partnered in Pilot Project Using Blockchain Technology to Construction a Waste Plastics Traceability System.