Outdated Ink

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Inks

Recently, I inadvertently bought some outdated inks for my Epson 2100
printer. The expiry dates ranged between July 2004 to December 2004. Can
anyone tell me how important these expiry dates are? Will the use of
outdated printer inks cause any harm to the prints or to the printer. Can
outdated printer ink be used for a few months after the expiry date without
any harm?

Thanks for your help.

John
 
With dye inks, I would say you can safely use most of them for years
after their expiration date if they have been stored in a room
temperature or below condition without being opened, especially if they
are in the vacuum packed sealed aluminized envelope.

Ultrachrome inks are probably more sensitive to aging than most. The
inks are a special technology involving taking pigment and resin
encapsulating it. Pigments tend to settle out over time, and resins
tend to degrade or clot.

I would imagine using them up within months of their expiry date is
probably fine. Usually, one would expect to get at least 6 months after
opening a cartridge to use it up. The worse case scenario is they could
possible clog the heads, but that is reversible. I would shake the
cartridge well before opening and installing it the first time.

You might be able to get a retailer to exchange them, or even Epson, if
you are uncomfortable with the close expiration date, if you can prove
date of purchase and it has been in the recent past.

Art
 
Thanks very much Arthur for this information, I think I will try to replace
them, I didn't realise that ultrachrome inks are probably more sensitive to
aging than most.

John
 
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