| I've only just bought that promotional pen and it has run | | | | analysing the reasons some personalised pens dry out |
| out already, I hear you say. Well we have all | | | | quicker than others and that is because cases can be |
| experienced that at some time and discounting the | | | | made from different materials. Some are porous and |
| fact that the odd one here and there is faulty there | | | | allow the solvents to evaporate through them even |
| are good technical reasons why some customised | | | | when the cap is in position. As a general rule plastic |
| pens last longer than others. | | | | pens or highlighters made from Styrene, PVC or ABS |
| Firstly, not all inks are equal. Ballpoint pens use a very | | | | will not last as long as metal pens or pens made from |
| thick oily solvent which does not evaporate quickly | | | | polypropylene because these materials are not porous |
| even with the cap off so they are less prone to drying | | | | and consequently the solvents cannot migrate through |
| out. Not only that but the pigment to solvent ratio is | | | | their walls. |
| high so it needs less ink deposits to achieve strong | | | | So, why are promotional pens, markers and highlighters |
| blacks or blues and hence less is used. Rollerballs on | | | | not always made from metal or polypropylene |
| the other hand require solvents that are very thin so | | | | because surely it would solve this problem of drying |
| they can flow more easily and these tend to | | | | out? There are two primary reasons why they are |
| evaporate very quickly. Hence, a cap is normally | | | | not always made from metal or polypropylene and |
| required on a rollerball to prevent the solvent drying out. | | | | these are either price or difficulties in printing the barrels |
| The pigment to solvent ratio is also lower in a rollerball | | | | when used as a business gift or a promotional item. |
| so a larger amount of wet ink is actually deposited | | | | Polypropylene has to be flamed to reduce the surface |
| when writing to achieve the same density of colour as | | | | tension before it can be printed and this is dangerous |
| a ballpoint pen. This problems also seen with | | | | and costly. If the cases are made from metal they are |
| promotional markers and promotional highlighters | | | | expensive so as price is king in the promotional pen |
| where very volatile solvents have to be used to aid | | | | market some manufacturers choose to use normal |
| fast drying when used for writing or marking. | | | | plastic materials which gives them a price advantage. |
| There is one other very important consideration when | | | | |