Methods and compositions for direct print having improved recyclability
First Claim
1. A recyclable plastic article comprising:
- a curved external surface with a digitally-printed image printed directly on the curved external surface, the image comprising cured droplets of ink, and the droplets of ink comprising a composition, wherein the composition comprises;
(a) from about 65 to about 85 weight percent of a base ink;
(b) from about 5 to 20 weight percent of an ink removal-promoting additive having a glass transition temperature less than about 130°
C.; and
(c) from about 5 to about 15 weight percent of a carrier capable of dissolving at least a portion of the ink removal-promoting additive;
wherein the digitally-printed image has an adhesion score of at least 6.0 and up through 9.0, and the removal-promoting additive is configured to cause the cured droplets of ink to separate or loosen from the curved external surface of the article when the digitally-printed image is exposed to the basic solution at an elevated temperature of at least about 70°
C.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The disclosure relates to ink compositions for digital printing on an external surface of a plastic article. The ink compositions comprise an ink removal-promoting additive. In some aspects, the ink removal-promoting additive can facilitate the separation or loosening of the image from the external surface of the article when the image is exposed to a liquid-based solution at an elevated temperature. Also disclosed are recyclable plastic articles having an external surface with an image printed thereon using the disclosed ink composition and methods for removing cured ink from a plastic container. This abstract is intended as a scanning tool for purposes of searching in the particular art and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A recyclable plastic article comprising:
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a curved external surface with a digitally-printed image printed directly on the curved external surface, the image comprising cured droplets of ink, and the droplets of ink comprising a composition, wherein the composition comprises; (a) from about 65 to about 85 weight percent of a base ink; (b) from about 5 to 20 weight percent of an ink removal-promoting additive having a glass transition temperature less than about 130°
C.; and(c) from about 5 to about 15 weight percent of a carrier capable of dissolving at least a portion of the ink removal-promoting additive; wherein the digitally-printed image has an adhesion score of at least 6.0 and up through 9.0, and the removal-promoting additive is configured to cause the cured droplets of ink to separate or loosen from the curved external surface of the article when the digitally-printed image is exposed to the basic solution at an elevated temperature of at least about 70°
C. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification