What is pen ink made of? Does it have animal ingredients?

Question

Ok my friend told me that pen ink was made from cows and she is not always right about everything. I am a vegetarian-vegan between those two and I don't want to write with cows. Sometimes she is right, sometimes she isn't. Please give me a link(s) to a source to prove to her whether she was right or not. Thanks!

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Good question. An ink is a liquid containing various pigments and/or dyes used for coloring a surface to produce an image, text, or design. Ink is a complex medium, comprising solvents, pigments, dyes, resins, lubricants, solubilizers, surfactants, particulate matter, fluorescers, and other materials. The components of inks serve many purposes; the ink’s carrier, colorants, and other additives are used to control flow, thickness, and appearance of the ink when dry.

Ink Ingredients: Industry Research Report
http://www.reportlinker.com/p090591/Worl…

HOWEVER, GEL inks are particularly resistant to erasure and frequently bear recommendations from forgery experts. ANIMAL collagen is added.

Source(s):

I hope this helped.

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Asker's Comment:

Thanks!!!!!!! When you said gel inks you mean like those sparkly multicolored pens NOT normal Papermate and BIC, right?

Answer 2

No it's not made out of cow. Most ink is made up of carbon, varnish, and a drying agent. All of them are chemicals and are laboratory-created.

Some other inks are made out of an oil base (petroleum, coal tar, etc.)

Other inks still are made with soy, but you will probably know which ones those are, because it will be advertised that it's soy ink.

Answer 3

No, I always heard ink was just a bunch of chemicals and maybe has some petroleum or something.

Answer 4

that's a good question.. i've never thought of that before.

Answer 5

Your freind was wrong, ink is made from the wholesome goodness of an ink tree.