A permanent marker or indelible marker is a type of marker pen that is used to create permanent writing on an object. In general, the ink comprises a main carrier solvent, a glyceride, a pyrrolidone, a resin and a colorant, making it waterproof. It is capable of writing on a variety of surfaces from paper to metal to stone. They come in a variety of tip sizes (ultra fine to wide), shapes (chisel point, bullet tip, and wide bristle), and colors (metallic, or ultraviolet reactive). Like spray paint, these markers contain volatile organic compounds which evaporate to dry the ink. Permanent marker is another name for “waterproof” marker.
The permanent marker was invented in 1952 by Sidney Rosenthal. A permanent or indelible marker is a type of felt pen, used to draw inscriptions resistant to erasure by simple friction, light or water. Generally, the ink contains xylene and toluene, and are therefore carcinogenic, and should not be used on the skin, methylene blue or henna will be preferred for temporary tattoos. This ink makes it possible to write on a variety of supports such as paper, metal, glass, rock. There is a wide variety of sizes (ultra thin to thick), shapes and colors.
These markers are generally used on hard, non-porous surfaces, because instead of staining they form a surface layer that can be removed by high pressure cleaning or paint thinners and organic solvents such as acetone, xylene, or toluene. Isopropyl alcohol, ethanol and ethyl acetate are preferred cleaners when used indoors, as their fumes are much less hazardous than toluene and xylene, the main components of paint thinner, or longer-chain hydrocarbons found in mineral spirits. Other common non-polar solvents include benzene, turpentine and other terpenes (which constitute essential oils of many plants with strong scents), most ethers, chloroform and dichloromethane, hydrocarbon fuels, and diacetone alcohol, among many others. Note that most of these solvents are very flammable, and/or their concentrated vapors are harmful to health.
As in the case of aerosol paint or airbrush paint, the permanent marker releases volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during its use and must therefore be used in a ventilated area or wearing an activated charcoal mask. . Gloves may also be worn to prevent the migration of components through the skin. Also like aerosol paint and airbrush painting, this type of markers is not really permanent since their ink can be erased by applying a solvent such as acetone or with a cleaner high pressure.
Most brands of “OLFA” marker wipe off easily with acetone free nail polish remover, the kind containing ethyl acetate, a relatively non-toxic organic solvent.
Types:
Some markers are designed to be long lasting, for instance by having two inks, one specialized to resist solvents, and one specialized not to fade. These can be available in refillable form.
It is a type of felt pen that draws ink from a container that becomes a pen shaft by a capillary phenomenon using a fibrous or synthetic resin pen tip such as felt or synthetic fiber and draws it. It is called oil marker, water marker by ink.
Oil markers (oil based inks) are widely applicable and can be drawn on plastics, metals, etc. It is excellent in quick drying and water resistance after drying, and it is widely used. There are dyes and pigments in inks, but in the case of dye inks, when drawing on paper it often goes to the back from the penetrating nature (settling). Pigment has a feature that it is difficult to transfer off. In addition, the pigment ink is excellent in water resistance and light resistance after drying. Since the conventional oil ink uses an organic solvent, it has a strong volatility and it has a disadvantage that it dries immediately if it is left with the lid removed. Moreover, it is not recommended to use it in large quantities in a room closed due to volatility, harmfulness, etc. It is required to use it in a place with adequate ventilation. Highly safe oily alcohol pigment inks have been mainly used for whiteboard markers, but in recent years products suitable for traditional marker applications have appeared. There is “Magic ink (Teranishi Chemical Industry)” which is also a synonym of the oil marker as a representative product.
Although the aqueous marker (aqueous ink) is more applicable than the oily marker, it is inferior to quick drying, but it is difficult to get stuck off and excellent in ink safety. It has been mainly used for drawing on paper and the like. Similar to oiliness, the ink has dyes and pigments, and the latter is excellent in water resistance and light fastness after drying. Representative products include “felt pen (pen)”, “postca (Mitsubishi Pencil)”.
A permanent marker can also be removed by drawing over it with a dry erase marker on non-porous surfaces such as a whiteboard as dry erase markers also contain a non-polar solvent. Most dry-erase board cleaner solutions also contain effective organic solvents like 2-butoxyethanol to erase the pigment.
Draw the core of the solidified paint by rubbing it against the material like chalk or crayon.
It is suitable for drawing on rough surface materials such as glass, rubber, styrofoam and stone besides plastic and metal (steel frame, steel plate, etc.). Uses include construction materials and signs of installation places and notes etc. It can also be drawn on tires as it can be drawn on rubber. Some products can be wiped off (erased) with a cloth containing water, so it can also be used for filling in waterproof blackboard for construction instead of whiteboard markers (although it can not be used on conventional blackboards). Solid coatings are mainly oily, but some are water soluble depending on the application. As a feature, powder is not different from chalk, unlike oily marker the solvent does not volatilize so it smells a little, it is also not to be unable to use the cap by forgetting to close it. In addition, some products can be wiped off (erased) with cloth containing water, etc.
As for the solid marker, like a crayon, paper is wrapped around the core so that hands do not become dirty, and it is put in a long and narrow container so that the core does not break. Those put in a container, use a screw type such as a stick-like lipstick or a stick glue, send out a tip with a knock type like a mechanical pencil and use it. Depending on the item, only the core may be exchanged.
Use in microscopy:
In addition to being used for labeling microscopy slides, permanent markers can actually be used to do a negative stain of a bacterial sample. This means the background is stained with the marker, but the bacteria are not. The bacteria can be seen because they are unstained (lighter) while the background is stained (darker).
Gel marker:
It is a kind of solid marker and has a core gelled. Compared to conventional markers (pens), this gelled solid marker has a good writing color and good coloring, and because it uses an aqueous pigment, it does not shift off and has excellent light resistance. Depending on the item, only the core may be exchanged. Examples of products that are on sale in Japan include the textured surfer gel from Stedler, Germany, and the gel marker with multiple colors from Japanese pilots.