Traditional solvent-based inks are gradually being phased out due to high VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) emissions and environmental pollution. Water-based UV inks have become the mainstream, using water as the solvent, with UV curing technology, no VOC volatilisation in the printing process, in line with stringent environmental standards. At the same time, vegetable-based inks are emerging, using natural raw materials such as soybean oil, castor oil and other preparations, biodegradable, from the source to reduce the burden on the environment.
Optimisation of ink composition also improves printing adaptability. Special ink formulations are developed for different glass substrates (soda-lime glass, toughened glass, Low-E glass) to ensure strong adhesion between ink and glass and excellent weather resistance, so that even in extreme climates (high temperature, high humidity, strong UV rays), the printed patterns do not peel off or fade, thus guaranteeing the long-term beauty of architectural curtain walls and outdoor decorative glass. Functional inks give special properties to digital printing glass. Conductive ink to achieve glass circuit printing, in the smart glass curtain wall, printing conductive lines connected to sensors, LED lights, so that the glass has environmental monitoring, dynamic lighting functions; temperature-changing ink with temperature changes to change the colour, applied to the building glass can be automatically adjusted to enter the light, dark shade in summer, light light light transmission in winter, to help energy-saving buildings; antibacterial ink add silver ions, nano zinc oxide and other ingredients, the printed glass surface has antibacterial, antimicrobial and other components. Anti-bacterial ink has silver ion and nano zinc oxide, etc. After printing, the glass surface has anti-bacterial and anti-bacterial function, which is suitable for hospitals, food workshops and other hygienic and sensitive places.

In order to meet the safety requirements of large-scale architectural curtain walls and traffic facilities, high-strength glass substrates have become the first choice. Ultra-white glass to enhance the colour reproduction of the printed pattern, so that the picture is more clear and realistic; toughened glass, laminated glass through the physical toughening, laminated technology, impact strength increased several times, with digital printing, in order to protect the aesthetic at the same time, to enhance the safety of buildings and transportation facilities, such as high-rise buildings glass curtain wall using digital printing laminated glass, even if broken will not fall and hurt people. The fusion of smart glass substrate and digital printing technology has given rise to multi-functional products. Electrochromic glass substrate printing pattern, through the current to adjust the transparency of the glass and colour, privacy protection and decorative function switching; photochromic glass in the light automatically change colour, combined with the printed pattern, to create dynamic visual effects. In addition, transparent photovoltaic glass substrate printing transparent conductive ink, build photovoltaic circuits, so that the glass has both power generation, decorative, light transmission function, for building photovoltaic integration to provide a new solution.

The nano-coating technology is a perfect addition to digital printing glass. The super hydrophobic coating makes the glass surface self-cleaning, so that rainwater can take away dust and stains, thus reducing the cleaning cost of architectural glass curtain walls; the anti-glare coating scatters light through the nano-structure, reduces the reflection of the glass, and improves the indoor visual comfort, which is suitable for digital printing glass in office space and display windows; the wear-resistant coating enhances the hardness of the glass surface, resists daily scratches, and prolongs the service life of the printed pattern, thus protecting the long-term beauty of traffic glass and home glass. The combination of 3D printing technology and digital printing can realise three-dimensional glass decoration. The combination of 3D printing technology and digital printing can realise three-dimensional glass decoration. 3D printing can first build micro-relief structure on the glass surface, and then digital printing can make the pattern and relief fusion, creating decorative effects with tactile and visual impact, which can be applied to art glass and high-end home decoration. The hot bending process and digital printing synergise to hot bend the printed glass into curved and curved surfaces, which is suitable for special modelling needs such as curved architectural curtain walls and curved automotive windows, expanding the application of digitally printed glass in shaped structures.

In the future, digital printing glass material innovation will focus on the construction of ‘synergistic ecology’. Ink, substrate, post-processing technology enterprises in-depth cooperation, the development of more adaptable material systems; industry-university-research collaboration to accelerate the research and development of cutting-edge materials, such as quantum dot ink to achieve a wider colour gamut, higher brightness display, graphene coating to give the glass super-strong conductive, thermally conductive properties; at the same time, the establishment of the material lifecycle evaluation system, to promote the development of digital printing glass in the direction of a more environmentally friendly, smarter, and more valuable, and continue to expand the application boundaries, reshaping the pattern of material applications in multiple industries. Expanding application boundaries and reshaping the application pattern of materials in multiple industries.