Linseed oil, also known as flaxseed oil or flax oil, is a colourless to yellowish oil obtained from the dried, ripened seeds of the flax plant (Linum usitatissimum). The oil is obtained by pressing, sometimes followed by solvent extraction.
Linseed oil is an edible oil in demand as a nutritional supplement, as a source of α-Linolenic acid, (an omega-3 fatty acid).
Linseed Oil Uses. Linseed oil is used to preserve wood and concrete, as an ingredient in paint, varnish and stains as well as soap and ink. It is also used in conjunction with mineral turpentine to aid penetration and speed up the drying process.
PRINTING INK: It is also a major constituent for oleoresinous printing ink varnishes, where the oil is reacted with one or more resins and is then let down in a high boiling point solvent. Refined linseed oil is also used as an additive in heat set and cold set printing inks.
