Ink/Toner cartridges are an inseparable part of the modern day printer and technology revolution. They have come quite a way since their advent, in 1978, when the first toner cartridge was used to print. No one knew at the time just how far technology would take this device. In 1986, the business world was introduced to a budget friendly industry, by the name of cartridge re-manufacturing. This new innovation not only saves many large corporations thousands of dollars per year, it also helps to preserve nature in its most pristine integrity by reducing the amount of cartridges with toner that end up in the landfill. Cartridges with toner are extremely hazardous to the environment as they tend to leak into underground water systems.

Cartridges with toner are much larger than the standard ink cartridges that are found in inkjet printers. Though this is the most distinguishable difference, it is far from the only one. Standard inkjet cartridges contain an ink mixture which is sprayed onto the paper during a print, whereas cartridges with toner use a powder mixture of carbon and polymer which is heated to extremely high temperatures and fused onto the paper which is being printed. The cartridge actually has two electrodes built into it, and uses the two opposite charges to bind fibres and create a crisp, clean print. The print also is much more durable and lasts longer than ink.

When cartridges with toner first came out, they used to be actually built into the printer in such a fashion wherein they could not be removed. This method was very ineffective because whenever someone bought a printer to use, they essentially had to buy another one as soon as they ran out of toner powder. In those times only a black powder was used. This system would eventually give way to the advent of interchangeable toner cartridges. Technology has come a long way since then, giving rise to the CMYK format, which is used with many high-end laser printers, this system uses four cartridges, each with a different colour. A wide range of colours can be created simply from using different amounts, and blends of these four: cyan, magenta, yellow and black.

Toner is extremely easy to find in this day and time, and a mere trip to your local office supply store will yield excellent results in your search. You can also purchase toner all over the internet. A lot of vendors sell refilled cartridges, and while this can be a cheaper option for many, it is oftentimes not as reliable as new cartridges. The reason for this is that while manufacturers refill the toner in the cartridge they do not check, or replace any parts that may be defective in the cartridge. Re-manufactured cartridges are a much better option if you are going to buy used. Also, if you ever have a cartridge to break or come apart on you be careful not to inhale the powder, as it is extremely hazardous to your health.

Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Cartridge World, providers of printer cartridges including toner cartridges.

Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Cartridge World (http://www.cartridgeworld.co.uk), providers of office supplies, including ink cartridges and toner cartridges.

Author Bio: Ben Greenwood is writing on behalf of Cartridge World, providers of printer cartridges including toner cartridges.

Category: Computers and Technology
Keywords: inkjet cartridges, toner cartridges, printer cartridges