Pen ink smudges because it is wet and takes time to dry. When the ink is not fully dried and comes into contact with another surface, such as your hand or paper, it can transfer and create smudges. Additionally, some paper types or qualities can increase the likelihood of smudging due to their texture or absorbency.
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Ballpoint pens can smudge easily because of the wet ink they use. This can make signatures illegible or easily tampered with. As a result, most official documents require signatures with a pen that uses indelible ink, such as a fountain pen or a rollerball pen.
Ball point pen ink is generally not water soluble. Once it dries, it forms a semi-permanent bond with the paper or surface it is on, making it resistant to water. If the ink is water soluble, it would smudge or run when exposed to water.
John Loud did not invent the ballpoint pen. The ballpoint pen was actually patented by Laszlo Biro in 1938. Biro was inspired to create a pen with a ball tip after noticing that newspaper ink dried quickly and did not smudge.
A pen that has run out of ink is commonly referred to as a "dead" pen or "empty" pen.
An ink pen works by transferring ink from a reservoir within the pen to the paper. When the pen tip is applied to paper, the ink flows due to capillary action, creating the writing or drawing on the surface. The friction between the pen tip and the paper allows the ink to be released in a controlled manner.