The Basics of Printer Cartridges
Printer cartridges are consumables for print devices that contain the liquid ink or dry toner powder that is transferred onto a substrate, usually paper, during the printing process. Most individuals will encounter either inkjet or laser print technology in the home or office environments. Ink-based consumables are containers designed to contain the pigmented fluid (ink) used to form an image or text on a print surface. Inks found in printer cartridges are usually water or solvent based. The water or solvent act as a carrier for the colouring agent (pigment). The water, in the case of water-based inks, is absorbed by the paper, leaving the pigment which forms the image on the surface. Solvent-based inks are used where the print surface is not porous, vinyl, or some other type of plastic, for example. Here, the solvent carrying the pigment evaporates off the substrate, leaving the pigment behind.
Printer cartridges contain fluid reservoirs to hold the ink, usually one for black-and-white output or four or more for full-colour output. Some manufacturers include a microchip that communicates with the device it fits. The microchip provides information about how much ink is left in the cartridge or whether the unit is a genuine original equipment manufacturer (OEM) unit or not.
Is it Better to Buy in Bulk?
Most OEM manufacturers offer replacement printer cartridges in multiple unit packs (called multi-packs), which are priced to make the cost per unit, in the multi-pack, less than the price of buying an individual, single, cartridge. Alternatively, consumables are offered at special or promotional pricing where larger quantities are purchased at the same time. Where this is the case, it obviously makes economic sense to purchase in bulk and save on your print costs going forward.
While toner lasts much longer than ink-based consumables, because of toner’s dry powder structure, unfortunately, liquid ink consumables are subject to deterioration over time. Deterioration happens even when printer cartridges are sealed inside their original packaging.Ink may dry out or the pigment may separate out from the carrier fluid and settle inside the printer cartridge. Leading manufacturers who provide (OEM) replacements for their devices will include an expiration date on their ink-based consumables. The length of time that printer cartridges will last and still deliver the expected quality and yield, when kept in their sealed packaging, is known as their shelf life. Shelf life is determined by the manufacturers through rigorous testing.
The expiry dates of printer cartridges will be set conservatively because OEM manufacturers do not want end users to have a bad experience when using their products. In other words, consumables will usually last beyond the set date, but it is still prudent to work with the date provided by the manufacturer. Expired units may cause clogging or even damage to your machine. If you cannot reasonably expect to use all the ink you purchase before the expiration date, don’t buy it.
If you print large volumes of material and do buy in bulk, printer cartridges should be stored in a dark, dry location at a temperature of between 15°C to 25°C. Extremes of either heat or cold will shorten their shelf life, leading to poor quality or totally unusable units. Ink-based printer cartridges should always be stored in an upright position. Units stored on their side or upside down will be more prone to deterioration and print quality issues. OEM expiration dates are usually 24 months from the date of manufacture while manufacturers of compatible (generic) units claim shelf lives of up to 36 months.
Expert Advice on Printer Cartridges
At Raydian, we supply all multifunctional device and print consumables, as well as spares for most leading brands. We stock a choice of genuine OEM cartridges and compatibles made by third-party companies. We are certified to stock and supply household name brands, such as HP, Canon, Lexmark, Samsung, Epson, Xerox, Pantum, Oki, and Brother, among others. Original consumables should be your first choice where possible but for cost-sensitive consumers, we also stock a wide range of price-competitive, high-quality compatibles. All our compatibles comply fully with OEM standards.
We stock an extensive range of consumables, including consumables for many older machines. We pride ourselves on both our availability and our range. In the unlikely event of us not having your model’s consumables in stock, we will do everything possible to source them for you. We at Raydian can provide expert advice on any matter related to printing and printer cartridges. Contact us today.