Disappearing Ink Saves Forests as well as Energy

Xerox has produced a revolutionary ink that disappears after a certain amount of time. The technology is based on photosensitive paper exposed to UV light. While the paper can be reused similar to a DVD-RW or a CD-RW, the energy saved per print is significantly notable. Xerox’s Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) has been instrumental with this research.

The photosensitive paper turns dark when exposed to UV light and hence the print. The print stays until 16 hours and before 24 hours, the paper is blank as new. Also, if there is a need to erase the prints before the stipulated time, the paper can be run through an eraser that could do the job at any desired hour.

This paper can be rewritten hundreds of times. It becomes unusable if it gets crumbled or damaged.

Printing on a letter sized paper takes around 2000 joules with a normal inkjet printer. The similar print can be achieved on a photosensitive paper at 1000 joules, thereby saving energy by 50%. There’s more, if the print is allowed to fade away naturally, it takes 100 joules to reprint; that’s 95% of total energy savings. Wow!

Many prints taken at offices like emails, memos, minutes etc are meant for a short duration of time; its meant to be read and trashed. Instead, photosensitive paper can be used at minimal energy and reused, thereby saving paper.

This technology is currently in the research phase and researchers from PARC say that it might take a few more years for the technology to be viable commercially.

via News