Work Well Blog
Work Well Blog
July 2, 2024
The Magical FriXion® Erasing Experience: Unlocking the Secrets of Thermosensitive Ink Technology
At first glance, Pilot's FriXion® line of pens and highlighters seems to possess almost supernatural properties. The dark, vivid strokes they produce appear permanently etched onto the page but with a simple friction of the eraser tip, those inky marks vanish, leaving the surface pristine once again.
This disappearing act isn't driven by magic, but rather an ingenious application of chemistry known as thermosensitive gel ink. How does this wizardry work its erasable wonders? Let's take a deeper look.
The Thermosensitive Ink Formula
The key lies in the unique ink composition used in FriXion® products. Traditional inks, like those found in permanent markers, are "dye-based," meaning the pigment is dissolved into a liquid solvent which soaks into the paper. FriXion® ink, however, works differently. Microscopic pigment particles are suspended in a solid polymer compound without any dissolving solvents involved. This solid polymer acts as the "vehicle" for the pigment rather than a liquid.
But here's where it gets cool — this solid polymer contains specialized temperature-sensitive dyes that are colourless at normal temperatures, but change to a coloured ink pigment when heated slightly.
The Disappearing Act Revealed
When you write or colour with a FriXion® pen or highlighter, the friction actually causes the polymer vehicle to slightly heat up and activate those dyes, allowing the pigment to be visible on the page. To erase, you simply rub the specialized erasing tip (made from an incredibly heat-absorbing rubber) against the ink. The friction generates just enough heat to warm the polymer past its thermal threshold. This causes the coloured dyes to transition back to their invisible state while the minuscule pigment particles easily wipe away. Pretty magical, right? It's like giving temperature-changing superpowers to your ink!
The Accidental Discovery
Believe it or not, Pilot's thermosensitive FriXion® ink was an accidental invention. In the 1960s, Rent Kurebayashi, a junior engineer at Pilot Japan, was attempting to develop a new type of permanent marker. Instead of the marker ink he expected, he accidentally created a muddy, coloured liquid at room temperature that turned clear when heated. While useless as a marker, this temperature-responsive property caught Kurebayashi's attention.
Years of refinement eventually led to Pilot's pioneering FriXion® line that could erase written text through the application of frictional heat alone. The first iteration launched in 1975, though the formula and technology have continued to evolve over the decades. The current FriXion® line now includes roller ball stick pens like FriXion® Ball Sticks, FriXion® Ball, FriXion® Point, retractable roller ball FriXion® Ball Clicker and the latest addition of FriXion® Point Clicker with Synergy Tip.
In addition, erasable highlighters FriXion® Light in neon and pastel colours, fineliners FriXion® Fineliner and FriXion® Colours markers are other options that satisfy every need.
Writing the Reusable Future
Not only does FriXion®'s thermosensitive ink enable magical erasable writing and reusable paper, but it aligns with growing sustainability interests. The ability to reuse pages reduces paper consumption compared to traditional pens and markers in addition to the fact that a vast majority of FriXion® pens are refillable.
While the FriXion® wizardry may seem complex, it stems from an accidental discovery masterfully applied through chemistry. The next time you experience that deeply satisfying feeling of erasing FriXion® ink, remember the amazing science making the magic possible!
Shop our FriXion® products here >
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