Phase change inks and methods of making the same

• US 8,372,189 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2011
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Chopra, Naveen, Belelie, Jennifer L., Morimitsu, Kentaro, Drappel, Stephan V., Tracy, Corey, Odell, Peter G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mayes, Melvin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Qian, Yun
• Application Number:
  US13/095,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20120272862A1
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 106/31.29
• CPC Class Codes: C09D 11/34 Hot-melt inks

Abstract

A solid ink composition comprising an amorphous component, a crystalline material, and optionally, a colorant, which are suitable for ink jet printing, including printing on coated paper substrates. In embodiments, the amorphous and crystalline components are both synthesized from an esterification reaction.

Claims

1. A phase change ink consisting of:

an amorphous component, wherein the amorphous component is an ester of citric acid having a formula of

2. The phase change ink of claim 1, wherein the crystalline and amorphous components are blended in a weight ratio of from 65:

35 to 95;

5.

3. The phase change ink of claim 2, wherein the crystalline and amorphous components are blended in a weight ratio of from 70:

30 to 90;

10.

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

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

6. The phase change ink of claim 1, wherein the colorant is selected from the group consisting of a pigment, dye or mixtures thereof.

7. The phase change ink of claim 1, wherein the crystalline component has a viscosity of from 0.5 to 10 cps at a temperature of 140°

C.

8. The phase change ink of claim 7, wherein the crystalline component has a viscosity of from 1 to 10 cps at a temperature of 140°

C.

9. The phase change ink of claim 1, wherein the crystalline component is in a crystalline state at room temperature.

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

C.

11. The phase change ink of claim 1, wherein the amorphous component has a viscosity of at least 10⁶ cps at room temperature.

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

C.

13. The phase change ink of claim 1 having a viscosity of greater than 10⁶ cps at a temperature between 20 to 27°

C.

14. The phase change ink of claim 1, wherein the amorphous component has a molecular weight of less than 1000 g/mol.

15. The phase change ink of claim 14, wherein the amorphous component has a molecular weight of from 300 to 1000 g/mol.

16. The phase change ink of claim 1, wherein the amorphous component has a T_g value of from 10 to 50°

C.

17. A phase change ink comprising:

an amorphous component, wherein the amorphous component is an ester of citric acid synthesized by an esterification reaction with at least one alcohol and having the formula;

18. The phase change ink of claim 17, wherein the alcohol for reacting with the aliphatic linear diacid and aliphatic linear acid chloride is selected from the group consisting of phenol, p-cresol, 4-methoxyphenol, 4-methylbenzyl alcohol, 4-methoxybenzyl alcohol and mixtures thereof.

19. The phase change ink of claim 17, wherein the crystalline component exhibits crystallization (T_crys) and melting (T_melt) peaks and the difference between the peaks (T_melt−

T_crys) is less than 55°

C., and further wherein the amorphous component has a T_g value of from 10 to 50°

C.

20. A phase change ink comprising:

an amorphous component, wherein the amorphous component is an ester of citric acid synthesized by an esterification reaction with at least one alcohol and having the formula;