Phase change inks and methods of making the same

• US 8,328,924 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2011
• Issued: 12/11/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Morimitsu, Kentaro, Belelie, Jennifer L., Chopra, Naveen, Drappel, Stephan V., Tracy, Corey, Odell, Peter G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hailey, Patricia L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Qian, Yun
• Application Number:
  US13/095,770
• Publication Number:
  US 20120272864A1
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 106/31.29
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/34 Hot-melt inks
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/38 characterised by non-macromolecular additives other than solvents, pigments or dyes

Abstract

A solid ink composition suitable for ink jet printing, including printing on coated paper substrates. In embodiments, the solid ink composition comprises both a crystalline component and an amorphous component, and optionally, a colorant, which provides for a robust ink.

Claims

1. A phase change ink comprising:

at least an amorphous component, wherein the amorphous component is an ester of citric acid having the formula;

2. The phase change ink of claim 1, wherein the amorphous component is present in an amount of from about 5 percent to about 40 percent by weight of the total weight of the phase change ink.

3. The phase change ink of claim 2, wherein the amorphous component is present in an amount of from about 5 percent to about 35 percent by weight of the total weight of the phase change ink.

4. The phase change ink of claim 1, wherein the crystalline component is present in an amount of from about 60 percent to about 95 percent by weight of the total weight of the phase change ink.

5. The phase change ink of claim 4, wherein the crystalline component is present in an amount of from about 65 percent to about 95 percent by weight of the total weight of the phase change ink.

6. The phase change ink of claim 1, wherein the crystalline and amorphous components are blended in a weight ratio of from about 1.5 to about 20.

7. The phase change ink of claim 6, wherein the crystalline and amorphous components are blended in a weight ratio of from about 2 to about 10.

8. The phase change ink of claim 1 further comprising a colorant selected from the group consisting of a pigment, dye or mixtures thereof.

9. The phase change ink of claim 1, wherein the crystalline component has a viscosity of from about 1 to about 10 cps at a temperature of about 140°

C.

10. The phase change ink of claim 1, wherein the crystalline component has a viscosity of greater than about 10⁶ cps at room temperature.

11. The phase change ink of claim 1, wherein the amorphous component has a viscosity of from about 1 to about 100 cps at a temperature of about 140°

C.

12. The phase change ink of claim 1, wherein the amorphous component has a viscosity of greater than about 10⁶ cps at from room temperature.

13. The phase change ink of claim 1 having a viscosity of less than about 15 cps at a temperature of about 140°

C.

14. The phase change ink of claim 13 having a viscosity of from about 2 to about 15 cps at a temperature of about 140°

C.

15. The phase change ink of claim 1 having a viscosity of greater than about 10⁶ cps at room temperature.

16. The phase change ink of claim 1, wherein the amide is selected from the group consisting of N-phenethylhydrocinnamide, N-phenethylbenzamide, and N-benzylbenzamide, and mixtures thereof.

17. The phase change ink of claim 1, wherein the amorphous component is present in an amount of from about 5 percent to about 40 percent by weight of the total weight of the phase change ink.

18. The phase change ink of claim 1, wherein the crystalline component is present in an amount of from about 60 percent to about 95 percent by weight of the total weight of the phase change ink.

19. A phase change ink comprising:

at least an amorphous component, wherein the amorphous component is an ester of citric acid having the formula;