Sericol Limited

Inca Digital Printers Limited

Fujifilm Speciality Ink Systems Limited

Carole Noutary

Jeremy Ward

Jindrich Vosahlo

Kevin G Burns

Scott Biggs

Bridgette Blaskett

Sean Slater

Mikala Baines

Kevin Burns

Matthew Brooks

This invention provides an inkjet ink comprising: an &#x3b1;,&#x3b2;-unsaturated ether monomer in which the only radiation-curable functional groups present in the monomer are &#x3b1;,&#x3b2;-unsaturated ether groups; a tri- or higher functionality (meth)acrylate monomer in which the only radiation-curable functional groups present in the monomer are acrylate groups; and a colouring agent; wherein the ink contains less than 5% by weight of water and volatile organic solvents in total, and less than 10% by weight of mono- and di-functional monomers in total, other than the &#x3b1;,&#x3b2;-unsaturated ether monomer, where the amounts by weight are based on the total weight of the ink, and wherein the ink has a viscosity of less than 100 mPas at 25&#xb0; C. The ink is particularly suitable for printing onto food packaging.

Printing ink

The present invention provides a method of inkjet printing comprising: inkjet printing an inkjet ink onto a substrate, wherein the inkjet ink comprises a resin having a glass transition temperature of from 25 to 105&#xb0; C., a radiation-curable material, and a photoinitiator; and exposing the inkjet ink to UV LED light to cure the inkjet ink.

Method of printing

This invention provides an inkjet ink comprising: an &#x3b1;,&#x3b2;-unsaturated ether monomer in which the only radiation-curable functional groups present in the monomer are &#x3b1;,&#x3b2;-unsaturated ether groups; a tri- or higher functionality (meth)acrylate monomer in which the only radiation-curable functional groups present in the monomer are acrylate groups; and a colouring agent; wherein the ink contains less than 5% by weight of water and volatile organic solvents in total, and less than 10% by weight of mono-and di-functional monomers in total, other than the &#x3b1;,&#x3b2;-unsaturated ether monomer, where the amounts by weight are based on the total weight of the ink, and wherein the ink has a viscosity of less than 100 mPas at 25&#xb0; C. The ink is particularly suitable for printing onto food packaging.

A radiation-curable ink comprising (i) a colorant; (ii) a cyclohexyl acrylate of the Formula (1) wherein each R independently is C1-4-alkyl; n has a value of 1, 2 or 3; and Q is H or CH3; (iii) a monoacrylate which comprises a cyclohexyl and/or cyclopentyl ring; and (iv) 0 to 5 wt % of N-vinyl caprolactam; and (v) cyclic trimethylolpropane formal acrylate. 

Inks

The present invention provides an inkjet ink comprising 5 to 30% by weight of organic solvent based on the total weight of the ink, a radiation curable monofunctional monomer, a radiation curable multifunctional monomer, a photoinitiator and a colourant.

A method of curing radiation-curable fluid is described. In one example, the method includes emitting radiation from an array of light-emitting diodes towards ink to be cured. LEDs are cheap, light weight, highly efficient in their conversion of electrical power, and give effectively instant switching to full power. Another advantage is that the emission spectrum of an LED is sharply peaked around the nominal frequency. Thus LEDs give several advantages over conventional radiation sources such as mercury lamps. A low oxygen environment is preferably provided at the radiation source to accelerate the curing reaction. Also described are inks which are specially formulated to respond to the radiation emission spectrum of an LED.

Curing

This invention relates to inks for use in ink-jet printers that are cured using ultraviolet radiation. Specifically, the present invention relates to an ink-jet ink which is substantially free of water, volatile organic solvents and multifunctional (meth)acrylates comprising at least one monofunctional (meth)acrylate monomer, at least one &#x3b1;,&#x3b2;-unsaturated ether monomer, at least one radical photoinitiator and at least one coloring agent, the ink having a viscosity of less than 50 mPas at 25&#xb0; C. This provides extra-low viscosity inks, which still meet the requirements for printing onto porous substrates such as paper and board.

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Broadstairs, United Kingdom

Carole Noutary