E Ink has several novel types of electrophoretic ink, often called electronic ink. When laminated to a plastic film, and then adhered to electronics, it creates an Electronic Paper. Display (EPD). although futuristic-sounding, electronic ink is actually a straightforward fusion of chemistry, physics and electronics. It’s so much like paper, it utilizes the same pigments used in the printing industry today
Two Color Ink System
The two pigment electronic ink system is made up of millions of tiny microcapsules, each about the diameter of a human hair. Each microcapsule contains negatively charged white particles and positively charged black particles suspended in a clear fluid. When a positive or negative electric field is applied, corresponding particles move to the top of the microcapsule where they become visible to the viewer. This makes the surface appear white or black at that spot.
Three Color Ink System
E Ink also offers a 3-pigment ink system in a microcup structure. This ink was engineered specifically for Electronic Shelf Labels (ESL). It works similarly to the dual pigment system, in that a charge is applied to the pigments, and to a top and bottom electrode to facilitate movement. However, instead of the use of microcapsules, this system utilizes Microcups®, which are filled with the liquid and sealed.
