How Are Bic Pens Produced?
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How Bic Pens Are Made
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Bic pens are very common throughout homes and offices in the United States. The pens are inexpensive and dependable. Bic products are sold in 160 countries. The company sold its 100 billionth pen in 2005.
The Ball and Point
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The ball of ballpoint pen used to be made from steel, but now it is made from tungsten carbide that is placed in a tray with a fatty additive. The trays are baked in an oven until it hardens almost as hard as a diamond. The ball is shaped and textured between two flat surfaces. When complete, the surface has around 50,000 pits and plateaus. This allows the ink to be on the plateaus where it will write and in the pits where it will be in reserve. The points of a Bic pen are made of machined brass for durability. It is also resistant to corrosion.
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The Ink
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The inks for Bic pens are made in-house under their own specifications to ensure quality. The inks need to be slightly thick and slow drying in the pen reservoir and rapid drying once it is on a surface. This ensures the ink will flow without clogging and dry quickly due to absorption and evaporation. Inks are made of a combination of dyes, lubricants, thickeners and preservatives.
The point, ink tube and support are assembled and centrifuged to eliminate any air bubbles from the ink.
The Pen Body
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The pen assembly is made from molded plastic made with an extrusion or injection molding process. The rubber grip is designed to allow a comfortable grip. Plastic is used because it is inexpensive, lightweight and corrosion resistant.
Pen Assembly
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While the ink is being mixed in a large batch, the various components of the pen are manufactured. The ballpoint is then attached to the ink reservoir and injected with ink. This assembly is then placed in the pen body.
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Resources
- Photo Credit A common Bic pen. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
