3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Richard L Severance

Caroline M Ylitalo

Jennifer L Lee

Joel D Oxman

Ronald K Thery

William J Hunt

Bruce A Nerad

Bret W Ludwig

Oh Sang Woo

Patrick Darby Hyde

James G Carlson

Todd R Williams

Philip G Martin

F Andrew Ubel

John H Ko

William L Parish, Jr

Dong Wu

Michael Govek

Carole Sedlock

Richard F Theissen

Sharon R Benjamin

Thomas P Klun

Kevin Michael Lewandowski

Larry R Krepski

Jeffrey O Emslander

Joseph D Rule

Yizhong Wang

David J Kinning

Peiwang Zhu

Brian N Holmes

Verna J LeMire

Ernest M Rinehart

Robin Edgar Wright

John J Stofko, Jr

James D Carlson

Mark J Hendrickson

Hsin Hsin Chou

Jeffrey T Anderson

Eugene P Janulis

Michael G O'Reilly

Verna J Lemire

Presently described are curable compositions comprising a mixture of at least one (e.g. free-radically) polymerizable ionic liquid and at least one other ethylenically unsaturated monomer, oligomer, or polymer. The polymerizable ionic liquid is characterized as having an air to nitrogen curing exotherm ratio of at least 0.70. Also described are articles and methods of making articles from such curable compositions. A monofunctional polymerizable ionic liquid is also described comprising a non-polymerizable substituted imidazolium cationic group and a polymerizable sulfonate anion.

Compositions and articles comprising polymerizable ionic liquid mixture, and methods of curing

Low viscosity, radiation curable fluid formulations that can be used advantageously as radiation curable, inks. The formulations are easily prepared for use in ink jet systems. The viscosity of the compositions is low enough so that conventional solvent is not required in order to satisfy the requisite low ink jet viscosity specifications. After curing, the compositions form durable, weatherable, abrasion resistant, printed images on a wide variety of porous and nonporous substrates. The formulations are very suitable for outdoor printing applications, especially for printing outdoor graphics onto a variety of surfaces, including vinyl or other polymer films commonly used for signage, retroreflective signage or other retroreflective items.

Weather resistant, ink jettable, radiation curable, fluid compositions particularly suitable for outdoor applications

Inkjet printing apparatus for use with radiation curable ink includes a sensor for sensing the amount of radiation emitted by a source of radiation. A controller is connected to the sensor and is operable to vary the amount of radiation emitted by the radiation source in accordance with a signal received from the sensor. A drive mechanism moves the source of radiation to a location laterally offset from the substrate where the sensor is positioned.

Method and apparatus for inkjet printing using radiation curable ink

The present invention relates to an imaged article including a substrate having a primed surface layer. The primed surface layer is included of a base polymer having a solubility parameter, molecular weight (Mw) and glass transition temperature within a specified range. The presence of the primer improves the overall image quality by improving at least one property including ink uptake, dot gain, color density and/or ink adhesion. Preferred primer compositions are soluble at least in part in the ink composition resulting in an increase in ink layer thickness that further improves the durability and/or day/night color balance. A variety of substrates may be primed including various sheeting for traffic control signage and commercial graphic films for advertising and promotional displays.

Imaged articles comprising a substrate having a primed surface

The present invention relates to an imaged article comprising a substrate having a primed surface layer. The primed surface layer is comprised of a base polymer having a solubility parameter, molecular weight (Mw) and glass transition temperature within a specified range. The presence of the primer improves the overall image quality by improving at least one property including ink uptake, dot gain, color density and/or ink adhesion. Preferred primer compositions are soluble at least in part in the ink composition resulting in an increase in ink layer thickness that further improves the durability and/or day/night color balance. A variety of substrates may be primed including various sheeting for traffic control signage and commercial graphic films for advertising and promotional displays.

The invention relates to articles comprising a substrate comprising an ink receptive layer and an ink-jet printed image as well as methods of ink jet printing. The ink receptive layer comprises certain urethane-containing polymers and blends.

Ink jet receptive coating

Radiation curable inks with moderate amounts of solvent with low surface tension provide unique processability characteristics that allow ink jetted features to be formed and cured with excellent flow, adhesion, dot gain, compatibility, weatherability, and curing characteristics. In a representative printing method, an ink jettable ink composition is provided that includes one or more oligo/resins, a radiation curable, reactive diluent having a surface tension and 1 to 15 weight percent of a solvent component comprising a solvent having a surface tension. The solvent surface tension is no more than about, and preferably at least 2 dynes/cm less than, the surface tension of the reactive diluent. The ink composition is ink jetted onto the substrate to form an ink jetted feature. While at least a portion of the solvent is still present in the ink jetted feature, the ink jetted feature is exposed to an amount of curing energy under conditions effective to at least substantially cure the radiation curable component of the printed feature and to at least substantially dry the ink jetted feature.

Inks and other compositions incorporating limited quantities of solvent advantageously used in ink jetting applications

A photocurable thermally transferable composition containing a multifunctional monomer that is substantially non-liquid at room temperature and a thermoplastic binder is disclosed. The composition is suitable for use in thermal transfer ribbons. After thermal transfer, the compositions are photocured to provide a durable, weatherable image on a graphic article.

Thermally transferable compositions and methods

The present invention relates to primed substrates comprising radiation cured ink jetted images and methods of ink jet printing radiation curable inks that employ applying a primer. The imaged articles are durable for outdoor usage. A variety of polymeric sheets may be primed including various sheeting for signage and commercial graphic films for advertising and promotional displays.

Primed substrates comprising radiation cured ink jetted images

Inkjet printing apparatus includes a drum, a print head for directing radiation curable ink toward a substrate on the drum, and a curing device for directing radiation toward the ink that is received on the substrate. The curing device is selectively operable to direct radiation toward a certain portion of the ink received on the substrate only after that certain portion has moved with the substrate and the drum through an arc that is at least 360 degrees. In this manner, the ink on the substrate has sufficient time to spread and level and the resultant image is of high quality.

Rotatable drum inkjet printing apparatus for radiation curable ink

Low viscosity, radiation curable urethane oligomer, preferably a radiation curable polyester urethane oligomer, that can be incorporated into radiation curable ink compositions. Preferred embodiments are suitable for ink jetting applications. The ink jettable embodiments are particularly well-suited for use in piezo ink jet printers. The viscosity characteristics of the compositions are such that conventional solvent is not required in order to satisfy the requisite low ink jet viscosity specifications. The oligomer generally is a reaction product of ingredients comprising an aliphatic polyisocyanate; and a radiation curable, polyester alcohol comprising one or more radiation curable moieties, one or more hydroxyl moieties, and one or more ester moieties.

Inks and other compositions incorporating low viscosity, radiation curable, polyester urethane oligomer

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Stillwater, MN, United States of America

Richard L Severance