Contaminated ink causes clogging, poor print quality, and system faults. Here’s how to identify it before it damages your printer.
Visual signs of ink contamination
| Symptom | What it means |
|---|---|
| Cloudy appearance | Moisture or cross-contamination |
| Colour shift | Chemical degradation or exposure to air |
| Sediment at bottom of tank | Dye/resin separation |
| Thick gel-like texture | Ink reacting with incompatible solvent |
| Strange odour | Decomposition or ageing beyond spec |
Common causes of contamination
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Mixing different ink families (e.g. MEK and ethanol)
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Using expired fluids
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Poorly sealed ink tanks
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Exposure to high humidity or heat
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Incompatible cleaning agents
What to do if contamination is suspected
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Stop printing immediately
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Run Clean Ink System
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Replace all filters and restrictor
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Flush with the correct solvent
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Switch to fresh ink from sealed packaging