What is a Stylus Gel Ink Pen?

What is a Stylus Gel Ink Pen?

A stylus gel ink pen is a writing utensil that uses thicker ink that shows up better on slick surfaces than the typical ink used in regular ballpoint pens or felt tip pens. The gel ink typically contains pigments (such as copper phthalocyanine, carbon black and iron oxides), water and biopolymers such as xanthan gum and tragacanth gum as well as some types of polyacrylate thickeners. The ink is suspended in the gel and is deposited on paper via an ink "follower", made of more viscous gelled material that primarily prevents leakage and back flow of the ink. This type of pen is often preferred by artists due to its ease of use and its ability to produce vivid, opaque colours that show up very clearly on dark paper.

When first introduced, gel ink was prone to smudging willy-nilly before it could dry. This problem was resolved with more careful formulations of the ink, so that gel pens today are generally a good choice for both right- and left-handed writers. They are also popular with bankers and others who need to sign checks and other documents, because the ink is resistant to check washing.

Adding a stylus to this type of pen makes it even more useful for people who frequently use their smartphones or tablets. Styluses are often small, elongated cylinders that easily tuck into the cap of the pen, and are also available as accessories for tablet devices and graphics tablets. In modern usage, the term stylus also refers to an input tool used with touchscreen-enabled devices to accurately navigate interface elements and send messages, etc.

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