eli5: What makes ‘permanent’ markers more permanent than regular markers?
In: Chemistry
Marketing! 😄 it’s obviously not actually permanent.
Inks usually just have the “colour” portion. Permanent markers also have a sticky resin mixed into them which makes them “permanent”.
From there some surfaces help stuff “stick” to them easier, other surfaces the “permanent” marker just rubs off because the resin can’t grab on well.
When you get solvent that can dissolve this resin again (making it float in the solvent and thus not stick) it can be rubbed off easily (e.g. alcohol, oils, acetone, etc).
* Your skin produces oils, so your fingers can act as a solvent
* Whiteboard markers have a solvent in them that works on this resin (thus erasing it)
Note: Whiteboard markers use a different resin, one which dries really fast (so the ink can’t spread over the surface and INTO IT to stain it permanently). But also one which doesn’t stick to things as well (so they can be rubbed off later)
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