Ballpoint Pens: How do they work? (2023)
Ballpoint Pens are the most common oil-based pen internationally. But how exactly do they work?
In this article, we’ll teach you how and why the ballpoint pen works, and how to care for your pen to get the most out of its duration.
What is a ballpoint pen?
The Ballpoint Pen was first patented in 1888 by American John J Loud, when he envisioned an ink pen capable of writing on rougher materials such as wood and leather.
The ballpoint refills are made up of a reservoir to store ink, a brass, steel, or tungsten carbide ball bearing, and a casing to hold the bearing in place.
Various designs call for various different mechanisms. For example – a click or twist-activated pen would require a spring and thrust-activated mechanism to extract and retract the pen.
How does the bearing work?
The ball bearing is found at the tip of the pen and is as small as approximately 1mm.
The ink contained in the reservoir spreads over the bearing which in turn naturally rotates the ink out of the pen when pressed on paper or a surface. The ink is then disposed out of the bearing at the surface of the ball.
What is the ballpoint ink made from?
The ink is made from a mixture of 25% – 40% dye that is suspended in a combination of oils and fatty acids. The most common of those being benzyl alcohol and phenoxyethanol.
Benzyl alcohol and phenoxyethanol cause the ink to dry almost instantly upon being exposed, with fatty acids such as oleic acid acting as a lubricant to keep the ball bearing spinning smoothly.
Additionally, additive chemicals can be mixed in to add vibrancy to colour, cause ink to dry more efficiently as well as make the ink waterproof.
Ballpoint ink works more efficiently, as it is a thicker based substance compared to water-based ink which takes longer to dry.
History of the ballpoint ink.
The invention of the ballpoint pen came years before the idea of ballpoint ink. Before the oil-based ink was made available, the ballpoint pen’s ink would flow too freely and cause the pen to dry out or clog the pen.
It was not until László Bíró patented ballpoint ink by adapting newspaper ink into a workable pen ink, his brother György in 1938.
The difference between a ballpoint and a rollerball.
The distinct difference between a rollerball and a ballpoint pen is the ink used. As mentioned, ballpoint pen ink is made from an oil-based combination, whereas the rollerball pen is made from water-based gel ink.
The ballpoint pens’ thick ink requires more pressure applied to the paper in order for the ink to work, whereas the gel-based ink in a rollerball pen requires much less effort for the ink to flow smoothly when writing.
The gel-based pen needs more time for the ink to dry, which can cause smudging.
Caring for your Ballpoint Pen
Even a reliable ballpoint pen has a lifespan.
In this section, we’ll discuss the problems that might occur and how to troubleshoot and fix them.
Why isn’t my ballpoint pen working?
The most common answer: your pen has run out of ink.
But what if that isn’t the case? If your pen still has ink in the cartridge then you’ll want to first try to get the bearing rotating again.
Even though the bearing acts as a cap for the pen, if left exposed for too long the ink will begin to dry up around the ball.
Featured Ballpoint Pens
How to fix my Ballpoint Pen
#1 – The Scribble Method
Take a piece of paper and your ballpoint pen. Begin to scribble on the page until the dry ink begins to flow again.
#2 – The Rubbing Alcohol Method
Dip the tip of your pen in rubbing alcohol for a few seconds and attempt writing on paper again.
Rubbing alcohol should dissolve the oil ink the ink and dislodge anything blocking the pen from working.
#3 – The Lighter Method
Holding the lighter at a safe distance apply the heat of the lighter to the tip of the pen for a few seconds then try writing again.
The heat should melt any clog in the bearing.
Why is my ballpoint pen leaking?
Ballpoint pens tend to leak when there is a puncture in the ink reservoir, the ball bearing comes loose, or from exposure to pressure such as high altitudes.
Since the ink is still a liquid, it will constantly seek a way out of the pen. If there is a potential way for the ink to escape from the reservoir, it will try to do so.
Why is my ballpoint pen dry?
Your ballpoint pen will dry out if exposed to air for too long.
Unlike water-based ink, it takes a much longer time to dry out and can be left exposed for sometimes hours to days without drying out, however it is inevitable that an exposed ballpoint will dry up over time.
Is ballpoint pen ink erasable?
Technically speaking, yes – most ballpoint pens can be erased by applying a small amount of acetone (nail polish remover) to the paper and gently rubbing.
Nowadays some ballpoint pens’ ink is carefully mixed with chemicals that can be erased using a special eraser.
Is my ballpoint pen refillable?
There are models of ballpoint pens that are built for once-off use such as The Aruba Ball Pen, however more popular ballpoint pens such as the Parker Pens and Alex Varga Pens have options with ink refills.
Conclusion.
Ballpoint pens work due to a combination of oil-based ink and a rotating ball bearing that disposes the ink to paper and other surfaces.
As a left-handed author, ballpoint pens are a favorable option for me as water-based ink tends to smudge while writing. Dry ink is a must-have for writing on thicker paper such as birthday cards, wood, and cardboard.
If there are any questions left unanswered, please feel free to leave a comment and I will get back to you quicker than a fast-drying ballpoint pen!