Jet printing ink composition

• US 4,021,252 A
• Filed: 02/07/1975
• Issued: 05/03/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: United States Gypsum Company (GEBR Knauf Verwaltungsgesellschaft KG)
• Original Assignee: United States Gypsum Company (GEBR Knauf Verwaltungsgesellschaft KG), M&T Chemicals Incorporated
• Inventors: Tan, William Eric, Banczak, Daniel Philip
• Primary Examiner(s): Morris, Theodore
• Application Number:
  US05/547,979
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 106/27-30
• US Class Current: 106/31.42
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/30 Inkjet printing inks

Abstract

An ink composition suitable for ink jet printing on metal surfaces, the ink incorporating, in solution, a colorant, a resin component, an alcohol-water solvent and optionally an electrolyte, proportioned to give the ink properties of low surface tension, low viscosity and a low resistivity, all these properties, together with the pH of the composition, being controlled to give excellent workability and stability of the ink in jet printing operations.

Claims

1. An ink composition suitable for use in jet printing operations comprising a solution of the following components:

a. between about 1 and 25 weight percent of shellac,

b. between about 0.5 and 5 weight percent of a basic dye,

c. between 0 and about 30 weight percent of a solvent modifier chosen from the group consisting of ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether and propylene glycol monoethyl ether,

d. the remainder of said ink consisting of a blend of water and a lower aliphatic monohydric alcohol of no more than three carbon atoms, in a water-to-alcohol ratio of between 1 to 1.5 and 1 to 10, the proportions of said water and alcohol within such limits being such that said ink has a surface tension at 68°

F. of between about 22 and 40 dyne cm., a viscosity at 68°

F. of between about 1.75 and 5 cps., said ink having a pH of between 8.0 and 9.5 and a specific resistivity of less than 1000 ohm cm.

5. An ink composition according to claim 1, wherein said alcoholic component is a blend of ethyl alcohol and a propyl alcohol and said viscosity is between 3 cps. and about 5 cps. at 68°

F.

7. An ink composition according to claim 1 containing between about 1 and 17 weight percent of the shellac.

8. An ink composition according to claim 1 containing between about 1 and 12 weight percent of the shellac.

9. An ink composition in accordance with the ink composition of claim 1, as a composition consisting essentially of the specified components excepting, in addition thereto and in combination therewith, to also contain as an added ingredient therein:

e. an electrolyte in an amount, below about 2 weight percent, effective to significantly affect the specific resistivity of said ink composition.

10. An ink in accordance with claim 8, wherein the amount of shellac is between about 1 and about 17 weight percent and the ink has a viscosity at 68°

F. of between about 1.75 and 5 cps.

11. An ink in accordance with claim 9, wherein the amount of shellac is between about 1 and about 12 weight percent and the ink has a viscosity between about 1.75 and 3 cps. at 68°

F. and a specific resistivity below about 200 ohm cm.

12. An ink in accordance with claim 10, wherein the ink contains an electrolyte chosen from the group consisting of dimethylamine hydrochloride and lithium chloride.

13. An ink in accordance with claim 8, wherein the ink contains an electrolyte chosen from the group consisting of dimethylamine hydrochloride and lithium chloride.

15. An ink in accordance with claim 13, wherein said electrolyte is chosen from the group consisting of dimethylamine hydrochloride and lithium chloride, said lower aliphatic alcohol is chosen from the group consisting of methanol and a blend of methanol and ethanol, and said water-to-alcohol ratio is between 1 to 1.5 and 1 to 5.

17. An ink in accordance with claim 15, wherein said Victoria blue dye is present in an amount between 0.5 and 2.5 weight percent, ethylene glycol monomethyl ether is present in an amount between 10 and 30 weight percent, and said water-to-alcohol ratio is about 1 to 3.0.

2. An ink composition suitable for use in jet printing operations consisting essentially of a solution of the following components:

a. between about 1 and 17 weight percent of shellac,

3. b. between about 0.5 and 5 weight percent of a basic dye,

c. between 0 and about 30 weight percent of a solvent modifier chosen from the group consisting of ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether and propylene glycol monoethyl ether,

d. the remainder of said ink consisting of a blend of water and a lower aliphatic monohydric alcohol of no more than three carbon atoms in a water-to-alcohol ratio of between 1 to 1.5 and 1 to 10, the proportions of said water and alcohol within such limits being such that said ink has a surface tension at 68°

F. of between about 22 and 40 dyne cm., a viscosity at 68°

F. of between about 1.75 and 5 cps., said ink having a pH of between 8.0 and 9.5 and a specific resistivity of between about 500 and 1000 ohm cm.

6. An ink composition in accordance with claim 3, wherein said alcoholic component is a blend of methyl and ethyl alcohols and said viscosity is between 1.90 and 3 cps. at 68°

F.

4. An ink composition suitable for use in jet printing operations consisting essentially of a solution of the following components:

a. between about 1 and 12 weight percent of shellac,

b. between about 0.5 and 5 weight percent of a basic dye,

c. between 0 and about 30 weight percent of a solvent modifier chosen from the group consisting of ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether and propylene glycol monoethyl ether,

d. the remainder of said ink consisting of a blend of water and a lower aliphatic monohydric alcohol of no more than three carbon atoms in a water-to-alcohol ratio of between 1 to 1.5 and 1 to 10, the proportions of said water and alcohol within such limits being such that said ink has a surface tension at 68°

F. of between about 22 and 40 dyne cm., a viscosity at 68°

F. of between about 1.75 and 3 cps., said ink having a pH of between 8.0 and 9.5 and a specific resistivity of less than 1000 ohm cm.

14. An ink composition suitable for use in a jet printing operation consisting essentially of a solution of the following components:

a. between about 1 and 12 weight percent of shellac;

b. an electrolyte in an amount below about 2 weight percent, effective to significantly affect the specific resistivity of said ink composition;

c. between about 0.5 and 5 weight percent of a basic dye;

d. between about 0 and 30 weight percent of ethylene glycol monomethyl ether; and

e. the remainder of said ink consisting of a blend of water and a lower aliphatic monohydric alcohol in a water-to-alcohol ratio of between 1 to 1.5 and 1 to 10, the proportions of said components within said limits being such that said ink has a surface tension at 68°

F. of between about 22 and 40 dyne cm., a viscosity at 68°

F. of between about 1.75 and 3.0 cps., a resistivity of less than about 200 ohm cm. and a pH of between 8.0 and 9.5.

16. An ink in accordance with claim 14, wherein said coloring component is a Victoria blue dye.

18. An ink in accordance with claim 14, wherein said coloring component is rhodamine dye in an amount between about 2 and 3 weight percent and said water-to-alcohol ratio is about 1 to 3.7.

19. An ink composition suitable for use in an ink jet printing apparatus and having a surface tension at 68°

F. of between about 22 and 40 dyne cm., a pH adjusted to between 8.0 and 9.5 by ammonium hydroxide, a resistivity of less than about 500 ohm cm., and a viscosity at 68°

F. of between about 1.75 and 3 cps., said ink consisting essentially of shellac in an amount between about 1% and 12% by weight of the ink, an electrolyte chosen from the group consisting of dimethylamine hydrochloride and lithium chloride in an amount between about 0.25% and 2% by weight of the ink, a colorant selected from the group consisting of basic dyes in an amount between 0.5% and 5% by weight of the ink, and the remainder of said ink consisting essentially of a blend of water and lower aliphatic alcohols in a water-to-alcohol ratio between 1 to 1.5 and 1 to 10.

20. An ink composition suitable for ink jet printing operations consisting essentailly of a solution of about:

14 parts by weight of Victoria blue dye;

580 parts by weight of methanol;

220 parts by weight of water;

10 parts by weight of 26°

Baume ammonium hydroxide;

16 parts by weight of lithium chloride;

48 parts by weight of shellac;

112 parts by weight of ethanol; and

220 parts of weight of ethylene glycol monomethyl ether.

22. An ink composition according to claim 20, wherein said alcoholic component is a blend of ethyl alcohol and a propyl alcohol and said viscosity is between 3 cps. and about 5 cps. at 68°

F.

23. An ink composition according to claim 20 containing between about 1 and 17 weight percent of the resin.

24. An ink composition according to claim 20 containing between 1 and 2 weight percent of the resin.

25. An ink composition in accordance with the ink composition of claim 20, as a composition consisting essentially of the specified components excepting, in addition thereto and in combination therewith, to also contain as an added ingredient therein:

e. an electrolyte in an amount, below about 2 weight percent, effective to significantly affect the specific resistivity of said ink composition.

26. An ink in accordance with claim 24, wherein the amount of resin is between about 1 and 17 weight percent and the ink has a viscosity at 68°

F. between about 1.75 and 5 cps.

27. An ink in accordance with claim 25, wherein the amount of resin is between about 1 and about 12 weight percent and the ink has a viscosity between about 1.75 and 3 cps. at 68°

F. and a specific resistivity below about 200 ohm cm.

28. An ink in accordance with claim 26, wherein the ink contains an electrolyte chosen fron the group consisting of dimethylamine hydrochloride and lithium chloride.

29. An ink in accordance with claim 24, wherein the ink contains an electrolyte chosen from the group consisting of dimethylamine hydrochloride and lithium chloride.

21. An ink composition suitable for use in jet printing operations comprising a solution of the following components:

a. between about 1 and 25 weight percent of an alcohol soluble resin component which is adhesive to various surfaces including metal;

b. between about 0.5 and 5 weight percent of a basic dye;

c. between 0 and about 30 weight percent of a solvent modifier chosen from the group consisting of ethylene glycol monomethyl ether, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether, propylene glycol monomethyl ether and propylene glycol monoethyl ether; and

d. the remainder of said ink consisting of a blend of water and a lower aliphatic monohydric alcohol of no more than three carbon atoms, in a water-to-alcohol ratio of between 1 to 1.5 and 1 to 10, the proportions of said water and alcohol within such limits being such that said ink has a surface tension at 68°

F. of between about 22 and 40 dyne cm., a viscosity at 68°

F. of between about 1.75 and 5 cps., said ink having a pH of between 8.0 and 9.5 and a specific resistivity of less than about 1000 ohm cm.