Inks

• US 20140347429A1
• Filed: 12/04/2012
• Published: 11/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sericol Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sericol Limited (Fujifilm Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Gould, Nigel
• Application Number:
  US14/367,300
• Publication Number:
  US 20140347429A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 347/100
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/36 based on non-aqueous solvents

Abstract

An ink comprising a colorant, an organic solvent having a boiling point below 170° C. and a radiation-curable component of molecular weight >1000, wherein the ink contains less than 10 wt % of radiation-curable components of molecular weight 1000 or less and the ink contains less than 5 wt % water. The ink is particularly useful for printing packaging used for products intended for ingestion by humans or other animals.

Claims

1. An ink comprising a colorant, an organic solvent having a boiling point below 170°

C. and a radiation-curable component of molecular weight >

1000, wherein (i) the ink contains less than 10 wt % of radiation-curable components of molecular weight 1000 or less; and

(ii) the ink contains less than 5 wt % water and (iii) the ink has a viscosity of 5 to 25 cP, when measured at 25°

C.

3. An ink according to claim 1 which further comprises a photoinitiator.

4. An ink according to claim 1 wherein all of the ink components are approved for use on food packaging.

5. An ink according to claim 1 wherein the radiation-curable component of molecular weight >

1000 is or comprises a polyester polyacrylate of molecular weight 1,100 to 3000.

6. An ink according to claim 1 which comprises:

(a) 0.25 to 20 wt % of colorant;

(b) at least 40 wt % of organic solvent having a boiling point below 170°

C.;

(c) 2 to 65 wt % of radiation-curable component of molecular weight >

1000;

(d) 0 to 20 wt % photoinitiator; and

(e) less than 10 wt % of radiation-curable components of molecular weight 1000 or less.

7. An ink according to claim 1 which comprises:

(a) 0.5 to 5 wt % of colorant;

(b) 60 to 75 wt % of organic solvent having a boiling point below 140°

C.;

(c) 10 to 35 wt % of radiation-curable component of molecular weight >

1000;

(d) 1 to 10 wt % photoinitiator; and

(e) less than 5 wt % of radiation-curable components of molecular weight 1000 or less.

8. An ink according to claim 1 wherein all of the radiation-curable components of molecular weight 1000 or less present in the ink have at least two ethylenically unsaturated groups.

9. An ink according to claim 1 which is free from radiation-curable components of molecular weight 1000 or less.

10. An ink according to claim 1 wherein the colorant comprises a pigment.

11. An ink according to claim 1 wherein the organic solvent is or comprises the mono methyl ether of propylene glycol.

12. An ink according to claim 1 wherein the organic solvent is or comprises ethanol.

13. An ink according to claim 1 wherein the organic solvent is or comprises ethyl acetate.

16. A process for printing a substrate comprising applying thereto an ink according to claim 1 by means of an ink jet printer and curing the ink.

17. A process according to claim 16 wherein the curing is performed by a process comprising irradiating the ink with ultra-violet light.

19. An ink according to claim 6 which is free from radiation-curable components of molecular weight 1000 or less.

20. An ink according to claim 7 which is free from radiation-curable components of molecular weight 1000 or less.

21. An ink according to claim 6 wherein the organic solvent is or comprises the mono methyl ether of propylene glycol, ethanol or ethyl acetate and the colorant comprises a pigment.

22. A process for printing a substrate comprising applying thereto an ink according to claim 6 by means of an ink jet printer and curing the ink.

23. A process according to claim 22 wherein the curing is performed by a process comprising irradiating the ink with ultra-violet light.

2. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

15. (canceled)

18. (canceled)