Inkjet inks, methods for applying inkjet ink, and articles printed with inkjet inks

• US 20070043145A1
• Filed: 02/14/2006
• Published: 02/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Electronics For Imaging Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Electronics For Imaging Incorporated
• Inventors: Mills, Stephen, Beck, Charles
• Granted Patent: US 7,919,543 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 523/160
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/101 Inks specially adapted for printing processes involving curing by wave energy or particle radiation, e.g. with UV-curing following the printing

Abstract

Compositions for inkjet inks, methods for applying the ink to a surface of a substrate, and articles that include indicia printed with the ink. The inkjet inks include a cellulose polymer and a liquid carrier. Unlike currently available commercial inks, the inkjet inks of this invention can be formulated with less toxic ingredients, thus reducing the risks of negative impact on environmental quality and the health and safety of workers who use the inks.

Claims

1. An inkjet ink composition, comprising:

a) a cellulose-based polymer in an amount of between about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the ink composition; and

b) a liquid carrier in an amount of between about 10% to about 90% by weight of the ink composition.

2. The inkjet ink composition of claim 1, wherein the liquid carrier includes ethyl lactate.

3. The inkjet ink composition of claim 1, wherein the cellulose-based polymer is a nitrocellulose-based polymer.

4. The inkjet ink composition of claim 1, wherein the cellulose-based polymer includes at least one reactant selected from the group consisting of a reactive monomer and a reactive oligomer.

5. The inkjet ink composition of claim 4, wherein the cellulose-based polymer includes at least one reactant selected from the group consisting of a reactive dimer, a reactive trimer, a reactive oligomer having more than three functional groups, and a reactive hyper-branched monomer.

6. The inkjet ink composition of claim 4, wherein the total amount of reactant present in the ink composition is no greater than about 70% by weight of the ink composition.

7. The inkjet ink composition of claim 4, wherein the cellulose-based polymer includes at least one reactant selected from the group consisting of triacrylate, diacrylate, triacrylate ester and diacrylate ester.

8. The inkjet ink composition of claim 4, further including at least one photoinitiator.

9. The inkjet ink composition of claim 8, wherein the total amount of photoinitiator present in the ink composition is no greater than about 25% by weight of the ink composition.

10. The inkjet ink composition of claim 1, further including at least one colorant component.

11. The inkjet ink composition of claim 10, wherein the colorant component is a pigment, and wherein the total amount of the pigment present in the ink composition is no greater than about 30% by weight of the ink composition.

12. The inkjet ink composition of claim 11, wherein the total amount of pigment present in the ink composition is no greater than about 15% by weight of the ink composition.

13. The inkjet ink composition of claim 1, further including at least one additive selected from the group consisting of a defoaming agent, a deaerating agent, a wetting agent, a dispersing agent, an anticrater additive, a surface tension modifying agent, a UV absorption agent, and a light stabilizing agent.

14. The inkjet ink composition of claim 13, wherein the total amount of additive present in the ink composition is no greater than about 10% by weight of the ink composition.

15. An inkjet ink composition, comprising:

a) a nitrocellulose polymer in an amount of between about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the ink composition;

b) ethyl lactate in an amount of between about 10% to about 90% by weight of the ink composition;

c) at least one pigment in a total amount of no greater than about 10% by weight of the ink composition; and

d) at least one additive selected from the group consisting of a defoaming agent, a deaerating agent, a wetting agent, a dispersing agent, an anticrater additive, a surface tension modifying agent, a UV absorption agent, and a light stabilizing agent, wherein the total amount of additive in the ink composition is no greater than about 10% by weight of the ink composition.

16. The inkjet ink composition of claim 15, further comprising:

e) at least one reactant selected from the group consisting of triacrylate, diacrylate, triacrylate ester and diacrylate ester; and

f) at least one photoinitiator selected from the group consisting of substituted or unsubstituted ketone and phosphine oxide.

17. A method of applying indicia to a substrate, comprising the steps of:

a) applying a stream of ink droplets to a substrate, wherein said ink droplets include a nitrocellulose polymer in an amount of between about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the ink droplets and a liquid carrier in an amount of between about 10% to about 90% by weight of the ink composition; and

b) electronically controlling the application of stream so that the droplets form at least one printed image on the substrate;

thereby applying indicia to the substrate.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the liquid carrier includes ethyl lactate.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the ink droplets further include at least one reactant selected from the group consisting of a reactive monomer and a reactive oligomer.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the total amount of the reactant present in the ink composition is no greater than about 70% by weight of the ink composition.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the ink droplets further include at least one photoinitiator.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the total amount of photoinitiator present in the ink composition is no greater than about 25% by weight of the ink composition.

23. The method of claim 17, wherein the ink droplets further include at least one pigment.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the total amount of pigment present in the ink composition is no greater than about 30% by weight of the ink composition.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein the ink droplets further include at least one additive selected from the group consisting of a defoaming agent, a deaerating agent, a wetting agent, a dispersing agent, an anticrater additive, a surface tension modifying agent, a UV absorption agent, and a light stabilizing agent.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the total amount of additive present in the ink composition is no greater than about 10% by weight of the ink composition.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein a portion of the substrate on which the indicia is applied is constructed of glass, a polymer, paper, fabric, metal, or wood.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the substrate on which the indicia is applied is constructed of at least one member of the group consisting of PETG, polycarbonate, acrylic, polyester, polystyrene, polypropylene, ABS, and PVC.

29. An article comprising:

a) a substrate with a surface; and

b) at least one image printed on said surface through the deposition of a liquid inkjet ink, wherein the liquid inkjet ink deposited on the surface includes a cellulose-based polymer in an amount of between about 0.1% to about 10% by weight of the ink composition and a liquid carrier in an amount of between about 10% to about 90% by weight of the ink composition, and wherein the liquid inkjet ink that is dried or cured to form the image.

30. The article of claim 29, wherein the liquid carrier is ethyl lactate.

31. The article of claim 29, wherein the liquid inkjet ink further includes at least one reactant selected from the group consisting of a reactive monomer and a reactive oligomer.

32. The article of claim 31, wherein the total amount of reactant present in the liquid inkjet ink is no greater than about 70% by weight of the liquid inkjet ink.

33. The article of claim 31, wherein the liquid inkjet ink further includes at least one photoinitiator.

34. The article of claim 33, wherein the total amount of photoinitiator present in the liquid inkjet ink is no greater than about 25% by weight of the liquid inkjet ink.

35. The article of claim 29, wherein the liquid inkjet ink further includes at least one pigment.

36. The article of claim 35, wherein the total amount of pigment present in the liquid inkjet ink is no greater than about 30% by weight of the liquid inkjet ink.

37. The article of claim 29, wherein the liquid inkjet ink further includes at least one additive selected from the group consisting of a defoaming agent, a deaerating agent, a wetting agent, a dispersing agent, an anticrater additive, a surface tension modifying agent, a UV absorption agent, and a light stabilizing agent.

38. The article of claim 37, wherein the total amount of additive present in the liquid inkjet ink is no greater than about 10% by weight of the liquid inkjet ink.

39. The article of claim 29, wherein a portion of the substrate on which the indicia is applied is constructed of glass, a polymer, paper, fabric, metal, or wood.

40. The article of claim 39, wherein the surface is made of at least one member of the group consisting of PETG, polycarbonate, acrylic, polyester, polystyrene, polypropylene, ABS, and PVC.