CTI introduces new heat-activated, tamper-evident ink

Chromatic Technologies Incorporated (CTI, Colorado Springs, Colorado) has introduced Tamper Alert – a new irreversible, heat-activated ink technology that identifies tamper evidence in labels and packaging, primarily for chemicals, pharmaceuticals, food, electronics and other products targeted for theft and counterfeiting. “CTI’s newest technology is a breakthrough in tamper-evidence providing customers with a tight activation window where the alert transitions from colorless to full colour within a range of 10° C,” said the company. Traditional, irreversible technologies require a transition window between 30° to 50° C (86° F to 122° F). This results in weak colour activation and detection at lower temperatures. The new Tamper Alert technology is available in target activation temperatures of 50° C (122° F), 60° C (140° F), 70° C (158° F) and 80° C (176° F). Tamper Alert is currently available only in water-based applications.
“For much of our 24-year-history, CTI has produced inks that change ‘back and forth’ based on temperature or sunlight. This was demonstrated in our ink used recently for the U.S. Postal Service 2017 Solar Eclipse Stamp,” said Lyle Small, CTI’s Founder and CEO. “Now, we’ve perfected an ink that goes only one way. It’s irreversible and it’s used to show a product that’s been tampered with, or has undergone temperature changes that impact the product’s quality.” Tamper Alert also incorporates CTI’s Turbo colour technology, creating “the strongest colour alert in tamper evidence” in blue, green, black and red. “CTI receives about 30 calls every year from across the world seeking improved tamper-evidence technology,” Small added. “We’re constantly asked: ‘Do you have something that activates in a tighter temperature window and has stronger colour?’ It was very tough chemistry to figure out, but the team finally did it!”