Radiation curable inks containing curable gelator additives
First Claim
1. An ink comprising an ink vehicle that includes at least one curable monomer, at least one polymerizable organic gelator, at least one photoinitiator, and at least one colorant.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An ink preferably used in piezoelectric ink jet devices includes an ink vehicle that includes at least one curable monomer, at least one polymerizable organic gelator, at least one initiator, at least one colorant and optionally at least one low molecular mass non-reactive organic gelator and/or at least one thermal solvent. The use of the curable gelator enables the ink to form a gel state having a viscosity of at least 102.5 cps at very low temperatures of about 30° C. to about 50° C. The ink may thus be jetted at low temperatures of about 50° C. to about 90° C. The ink is heated to a first temperature above the gel point of the ink, jetted onto a surface maintained at a second temperature at which the ink forms a gel state, and when on the image receiving substrate, is exposed to radiation energy to polymerize the polymerizable components of the ink.
50 Citations
24 Claims
- 1. An ink comprising an ink vehicle that includes at least one curable monomer, at least one polymerizable organic gelator, at least one photoinitiator, and at least one colorant.
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19. A method of forming an image, comprising
heating an ink to a first temperature, wherein the ink comprises an ink vehicle that includes at least one curable monomer, at least one polymerizable organic gelator, at least one initiator, at least one colorant, and optionally at least one heat solvent and wherein the first temperature is above the gel point of the ink; -
jetting the heated ink onto an intermediate transfer member surface, wherein the intermediate transfer member surface is maintained at a second temperature at which the ink forms a gel state;
subsequently transferring the ink from the intermediate transfer member surface to an image receiving substrate; and
exposing the ink on the image receiving substrate to radiation energy to initiate polymerization of the polymerizable components of the ink. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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22. A method of forming an image, comprising
heating an ink to a first temperature, wherein the ink comprises an ink vehicle that includes at least one curable monomer, at least one polymerizable organic gelator, at least one initiator, at least one colorant, and optionally at least one heat solvent and wherein the first temperature is above the gel point of the ink; -
jetting the heated ink directly onto an image receiving substrate in which at least the surface is maintained at a second temperature at which the ink forms a gel state; and
exposing the ink on the image receiving substrate to radiation energy to initiate polymerization of the polymerizable components of the ink. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification