WHAT MAKES A PERMANENT MARKER PERMANENT?

3 MAIN INGREDIENTS

• Colorant (dyes or pigments)
• Solvent (ethanol or isopropanol)
• Polymer (adds adhesion)

PIGMENTS OR DYES?

• Pigments!
• They resist fading
• Don't bleed through paper
• Dyes do complete opposite

CLASSIFICATION OF BEING PERMANENT

• Adheres to most surfaces and/or is water resistant
• Uses dyes or pigments (usually pigments)
• FUN FACT:
• Sharpies have 1 or both of there characteristics in every permanent marker

WHAT DOES THE SOLVENT DO?

• Either ethanol or isopropanol
• Better smelling and environmentally friendly
• Dries fast so it ink won't smear
• Used to be bad-smelling xylene

WHAT THE POLYMER/RESIN DOES...

• Added to promote adhesion
• Polymer isn't permanent unless it sticks to a surface like glue.
• The resin forms a film, once the alcohol dries, that allows
• the ink to write smoothly and evenly on any surface while acting like
• glue for the pigment.

MIX THOSE ALL TOGETHER

BY: SAM

SOURCES

• Sharpie.com
• Madsci.org

BY: SAM