Smelly Ink

[smithno]

I inked a new pen with Pilot Blue-Black today. I noticed that the ink has a strong odor after I finished filling the pen. I have probably had this bottle of ink only about 6 months and I don't remember a strong smell the times I have used it before. I don't see anything growing in the ink. Is the strong odor normal for this ink or has it gone bad. I am considering flushing the pen and trying another ink. Recommendations??

 

Norm

Edited November 14, 2014 by smithno

[amberleadavis]

Does it smell like lysol or the hospital smell, if so, then you are probably smelling phenol.

[Sasha Royale]

Fountain pen inks contain solvents (ink flow) and fungal inhibitors . There is always evaporation, but fumes

don't accumulate in the bottle, unless there is air space. If it is a chemical smell, it is likely the ink. If it is an

"organic" smell (musty, funky, sour), something might be growing.

 

Can chemists of our membership suggest an "additive" to thwart fungus in an ink bottle ?

[vossad01]

I would not associate as a chemist (WAY too little knowledge on my part), but I know Phenol has been the long standing recommendation (yes, I consider four years long). I know recently some alternatives have been proposed that might be safer-for-humans than Phenol, but I have not seen any comparisons or easy purchasing information.

[Lou Erickson]

Phenol is what a lot of inks used to use and many still do. Pilot blue-black smells of phenol; at least my bottle does. And I didn't add it.

[tinysnail]

Is phenol what makes Sailor inks smell the way they do, also? I've never smelled Pilot, but I LOOOVE the distinct smell all my Sailor inks seem to have.

[lgsoltek]

Is phenol what makes Sailor inks smell the way they do, also? I've never smelled Pilot, but I LOOOVE the distinct smell all my Sailor inks seem to have.

 

Me too! I thought I was a weirdo who likes the smell of Sailor inks!

Edited November 15, 2014 by lgsoltek

[smithno]

Does it smell like lysol or the hospital smell, if so, then you are probably smelling phenol.

When you describe it like that, yes it does...

[tinysnail]

 

Me too! I thought I was a weirdo who likes the smell of Sailor inks!

 

You're definitely not alone! They're distinct and smell really pigment-y/like cardboard or something? I need to figure out what it is. I like that you can even smell it from the nib when you're writing.

[Lou Erickson]

I would also describe it as the smell of poster paint; it must be phenol there too. It's a distinct smell.

 

If your ink is smelling that way, it's fine to use. The smell will fade quickly after writing. I can't even usually smell it while it's in the pen.

[bayport714]

I have been using a bottle of red Parker Quink that has a distinct odor of phenol for two or three years now with no problems. I am using it in a Kullock 51 full demonstrator.

[PabloAU]

 

Me too! I thought I was a weirdo who likes the smell of Sailor inks!

 

Guilty here too

[LamyOne]

Phenol is what a lot of inks used to use and many still do. Pilot blue-black smells of phenol; at least my bottle does. And I didn't add it.

 

Hello LE and everyone else,

 

Phenol can still be found in some Asian brands; however, the U.S. banned it in late '90s and (Western) Europe banned it in the early '90s. However, even before it was formally banned in the U.S. (and Europe), it had been going out of favor due to its toxicity and ever expanding OSHA regulations. From what I've read, Dowicil 75 usurped its use in most countries ages ago.

 

Best regards,

 

Chris

Edited November 15, 2014 by LamyOne

[napalm]

 

Phenol can still be found in some Asian brands; however, the U.S. banned it in late '90s and (Western) Europe banned it in the early '90s. However, even before it was formally banned in the U.S. (and Europe), it had been going out of favor due to its toxicity and ever expanding OSHA regulations. From what I've read, Dowicil 75 usurped its use in most countries ages ago.

 

Intriguing. According to Wikipedia the replacement ain't that safe either:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaternium-15

 

I think that the problem with phenol is that no one holds a valid patent on it anymore. Thus it shall be banned.

Edited November 16, 2014 by napalm

[I like mango cheesecake]

My Diamine Syrah smells funky but I don't see or notice anything odd with it. All my other Diamines are scent less

[LamyOne]

 

Intriguing. According to Wikipedia the replacement ain't that safe either:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quaternium-15

 

I think that the problem with phenol is that no one holds a valid patent on it anymore. Thus it shall be banned.

 

Hello Napalm,

 

You are making a serious mistake - you are expecting common sense and practical intelligence from bureaucracies and strong central governments. Tsk, tsk.

 

Patents have nothing to do with the ban - environmentalism and workplace safety is why Phenol was deemed unfit for use - so they say. If you're suggesting big government/big business collusion - who knows? I cannot say it isn't possible. The fact that the replacement is also dangerous doesn't surprise me; when was the last time the government made a smart decision?

 

Best regards,

 

Chris

Edited November 16, 2014 by LamyOne

[Lou Erickson]

Phenol is not banned. It's still the active ingredient in Chloraseptic throat spray, for instance. It's easily available via mail order should you want some to preserve your own inks, as cited in the biocides thread mentioned earlier.

 

Many ink vendors did stop using it, though. I believe it was not because it was toxic for the user, but because of more expensive requirements for the health and safety of the people who made it. Those added production costs made other alternatives more attractive, and companies changed. It may have also been public opinion; if people though, "PHENOL BAD!" then the ink makers didn't want to be smeared with that same brush.

 

It isn't banned, but it isn't commonly used in the United States. It's still used in some products, and still available.

[LamyOne]

Phenol is not banned. It's still the active ingredient in Chloraseptic throat spray, for instance. It's easily available via mail order should you want some to preserve your own inks, as cited in the biocides thread mentioned earlier.

 

Many ink vendors did stop using it, though. I believe it was not because it was toxic for the user, but because of more expensive requirements for the health and safety of the people who made it. Those added production costs made other alternatives more attractive, and companies changed. It may have also been public opinion; if people though, "PHENOL BAD!" then the ink makers didn't want to be smeared with that same brush.

 

It isn't banned, but it isn't commonly used in the United States. It's still used in some products, and still available.

 

Hello LE,

 

No, I think it has been banned for use in certain percentages. For example, as you say, it is found in some pharmaceuticals and it is found in some art products, and elsewhere - but in very mild solutions - typically no more than 4 or 5%. Chloroseptic is less than half of 1%, (if I recall correctly). Using it in higher percentage solutions, (I'm not sure what the cut-off number is), has been prohibited, i.e., banned - due to OSHA regulations. U.S. companies probably procure the phenol, (pre-diluted into "acceptable" solutions), from foreign nations such as China or India, (where the safety regulations are lax or non-existent).

 

If you read the label for Natural Pigments' Phenol Spray, (which is a 4% solution), you'll easily understand why no one would want to handle the stuff in high percentages.

 

Best regards,

 

Chris

Edited November 16, 2014 by LamyOne

[Kuhataparunks]

From my limited experience, all of the pilot cartridges I've used have that odd smell as well. Just something I deal with, I got used to it after a while. Thank goodness for pilot inks' water resistance!

[arcadeflow]

Pilot Black smells less than Pilot Blue. Pilot Blue Black is said to smell less than Pilot Blue, but smells more than Pilot Black. Pilot Red doesn't carry the smell, as far as I am concerned. I don't know if phenol helps keeping the ink moisture in the pen, but I find it fenomenal how Pilot inks make my Pilot pens start immediately even after I have left them inked for a month or more. Even my 78G's write immediately. I don't know what else they put in the ink, but I wish other companies like Diamine had these same properties, I am yet to find another ink brand that works as well in these pens.