Vehicles for ink compositions

Abstract

Vehicles for ink compositions are disclosed. The described ink vehicles includes at least one curable component, and optionally include initiating agents, colorants, non-curable components and other additives. Processes for preparing the ink vehicles and ink compositions containing the ink vehicles are also described.

Description

EXAMPLES

Examples 1-6

Exemplary Curable Ink Vehicle

Powdered dimer diol diacrylate, 2,2-bis(acryloylmethyl) propanoic stearyl ester, and UNILIN 350 acrylate (reactive wax phase change agent, derived from UNILIN 350, which is available from Baker Petrolite) are combined in the amounts set forth in Table 2 (below) and heated to a temperature of 100° C. to melt and combine. The melted mixtures are then filtered. These inks may be optionally cooled to room temperature to yield solid ink vehicles.

	TABLE 2
	Example 1	Example 2	Example 3	Example 4	Example 5	Example 6
	(parts by	(parts by	(parts by	(parts by	(parts by	(parts by
	weight)	weight)	weight)	weight)	weight)	weight)
Dimer diol diacrylate	54.3	44.3	19.3	—	32.7	39.3
2,2-Bis(acryloylmethyl)	—	10	35	70.3	32.6	—
propionic stearyl ester
UNILIN 350 acrylate	15	25	10	10	6	35

Examples 7-12

Exemplary Ink Compositions

Carbon black (pigment black 7) and a polyisobutylene succinimide dispersant (ORONITE OLOA 11000, available from Chevron Oronite Company, LLC) are mixed together in a beaker in the amounts set forth in Table 3 (below) and heated to a temperature of 120° C.

The ink vehicles of Examples 1-6 are combined with stearyl acrylate, 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate, isobomyl acrylate, dipentaerithritol pentacrylate ester, 1,10-decanediol, an α-amino ketone photoinitiator (IRGACURE 379, available from Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Inc.), a wax-tethered photoinitiator, and an ultra-violet photoinitator (IRGASTAB UV 10, available from Ciba Specialty Chemicals, Inc.) are mixed together in the amounts set forth in Table 3 (below) and heated to a temperature of 100° C. with stirring. After 30 minutes of stirring at 100° C., the carbon black and polyisobutylene succinimide dispersant mixture is added, and the resulting mixture is stirred for another 30 minutes at 100° C. Dispersion of the pigment is assured using a Fisher Scientific Sonic Dismembrator Model 500 ultrasonic probe set at 100% amplitude and pulsing for three 1 minute cycles.

	TABLE 3
	Example 7	Example 8	Example 9	Example 10	Example 11	Example 12
	(weight %)	(weight %)	(weight %)	(weight %)	(weight %)	(weight %)
Example 1	69.3	—	—	—	—	—
Example 2	—	79.3	—	—	—	—
Example 3	—	—	64.3	—	—	—
Example 4	—	—	—	80.3	—	—
Example 5	—	—	—	—	71.3	—
Example 6	—	—	—	—	—	74.3
Propoxylated	20	10	15
neopentyl glycol
diacrylate
Stearyl acrylate	—	—	5	—	10	5
1,6-Hexanediol	—	—	—	—	5	—
diacrylate
Isobornyl acrylate	—	—	5	6	—	—
Dipentaerithritol	—	—	—	3	3	—
pentacrylate ester
1,10-Decanediol	—	—	—	—	—	10
IRGACURE 379	2	2	2	2	2	2
Wax-tethered	4	4	4	4	4	4
initiator
IRGASTAB UV	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.2
10
Pigment Black 7	2.5	2.5	2.5	2.5	2.5	2.5
ORONITE OLOA	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0	2.0
11000

It will be appreciated that various of the above-discussed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

Claims

1. An ink composition comprising a homogeneous ink vehicle that comprises one or more curable components, wherein the curable components are chosen from molecules including two reactive functional groups and one or more long aliphatic hydrocarbon chains.

2. The ink composition according to claim 1, wherein, the reactive functional groups are chosen from the group consisting of acrylate, methacrylate, vinyl ether and epoxy.

3. The ink composition according to claim 1, wherein the one or more curable components are chosen from the group consisting of acrylates, diacrylates and mixtures thereof.

4. The ink composition according to claim 3, wherein the one or more curable component is one or more compounds chosen from the group consisting of dimer diol diacrylates and AB2 diacrylates.

5. The ink composition according to claim 1, wherein the one or more long aliphatic hydrocarbon chains comprise from about 8 to about 60 carbon atoms.

6. The ink composition according to claim 1, wherein the one or more curable components are curable by radiation having wavelengths in a range of from about 200 to about 500 nanometers.

7. The ink composition according to claim 1, wherein the curable components are present in amounts in a range of from about 20 to about 95 weight %, based on a total weight of the ink vehicle.

8. The ink composition according to claim 1, wherein the ink vehicle further comprises one or more initiating agent.

9. The ink composition according to claim 8, wherein the one or more initiating agent are present in amounts in a range of from about 0 to about 15 weight %, based on a total weight of the ink vehicle.

10. The ink composition according to claim 8, wherein the initiating agent is chosen from photoinitiator compounds.

11. The ink composition according to claim 1, further comprising one or more colorant.

12. The ink composition according to claim 11, wherein the colorant is one or more coloring agents chosen from the group consisting of dyes, mixtures of dyes, pigments, mixtures of pigments, and mixtures of dyes and pigments.

13. The ink composition according to claim 11, wherein the colorant is present in amounts in a range of from about 0.1 to about 15 weight %, based on a total weight of the ink composition.

14. The ink composition according to claim 1, wherein the ink vehicle further comprises one or more non-curable components.

15. The ink composition according to claim 14, wherein the one or more non-curable components are one or more compounds chosen from waxy diols, paraffins, microcrystalline waxes, polyethylene waxes, ester waxes, fatty acids, fatty amide-containing materials, sulfonamide materials, isocyanate-derived resins and waxes, tall oil rosins, rosin esters; and mixtures thereof.

16. The ink composition according to claim 14, wherein the one or more non-curable components are present in amounts in a range of from about 0 to about 20 weight %, based on a total weight of the ink vehicle.

17. The ink composition according to claim 1, further comprising one or more additive.

18. The ink composition according to claim 17, wherein the additive is one or more additive chosen from the group consisting of dispersents and/or surfactants, conductivity enhancing agents, tackifiers, adhesives, plasticizers, nonpolymeric organic gelator additives, viscosity modifiers, clarifiers, defoamers, antifoamers, leveling agents, additives for roll release and lubricity, and mixtures thereof.

19. A method for preparing an ink composition, comprising: heating to melt and dissolve one or more curable components chosen from molecules including two reactive functional groups and one or more long aliphatic hydrocarbon chains; andcooling to yield a solid ink composition.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising dissolving one or more components chosen from initiating agents and colorants in the melted curable component.

21. The method according to claim 19, further comprising dissolving one or more non-curable components in the melted curable component.

22. The method according to claim 19, further comprising dissolving one or more additives in the melted curable component.