Day-glo Color Corp.

Wayne R Likavec

Thomas C DiPietro

John F Waters

Apparao Jatla

Curtis Ray Bradley

A fluorescent naphthalimide diester dye that is miscible or soluble in a variety of organic compounds such as, for example, mineral oil, polyalkylene glycols, polyolesters, motor oil, gear oil, synthetic oils, and polyalphaolefins, is provided. The fluorescent naphthalimide diester is useful as a tracer to detect leaks within a fluid systems such as, for example, refrigerant systems, transmission systems, and hydraulic systems. The fluorescent naphthalimide diester dye is comprised of a chromophore having the following structure:

Naphthalimide diester fluorescent tracers having improved solubility and fluorescence

Novel water soluble toners for use in ink jet printers, which are stable in water, and which have an acid number of greater than about 175, are provided. The toner, which is preferably fluorescent, is comprised of a novel, cycloaliphatic, polyester dye carrier; and a dye, preferably a fluorescent dye. The invention also relates to an ink which preferably comprises: an humectant, water and a toner dissolved in the water, and a base. The ink preferably has a viscosity less than about 10 cps, preferably less than about 6 cps, most preferably less than about 4 cps. The invention also relates to ink jet cartridges, and ink jet printers, which contain such novel ink, and also to a novel fluorescent yellow dye, which is useful in the novel fluorescent toner and ink jet printer inks. The invention also relates to methods of making such dye, the polyester dye carrier, and the ink jet cartridge.

Ink jet printing inks

The present invention provides ultraviolet curable or electron beam curable fluorescent inks and ink concentrates, which cure upon exposure to ultraviolet or electron beam radiation. The synthesis of the fluorescent ink and ink concentrates does not involve the use of volatile organic solvents, so removal of solvents is not necessary during the manufacturing process. The fluorescent inks and ink concentrates display minimal, consistent color shift when cured. The cured fluorescent inks and ink concentrates are solvent resistant, particularly to methyl ethyl ketone, methanol, nonane, and sec butyl alcohol. The fluorescent ink and ink concentrate is comprised of: from about 20 to 90%, preferably from about 30 to 70%, more preferably from about 30 to 60% by weight of an oligomer, which is either a formaldehyde oligomer or a cyclic-aliphatic oligomer; from about 0.1 to 15%, preferably about 1 to 10%, of fluorescent dye; and from about 10 to 80%, preferably from about 30 to 70%, more preferably from about 35 to 60% of a photopolymerizable vehicle. The oligomer preferably has a weight average molecular weight of at least 400 g/mole. Preferably the oligomer has a molecular weight of from about 400 to 50,000 g/mole. The formaldehyde oligomer embodiment of the fluorescent ink preferably contains from about from 45% to 60% photopolymerizable vehicle, and from about 30 to 45%, oligomer. The formaldehyde oligomer contains from about 5% to 60%, preferably from about 15 to 45 % polymerized units of formaldehyde monomer and from about 40 to 95%, preferably about 55 to about 85%, polymerized units of an aromatic amide monomer. The cyclic-aliphatic oligomer embodiment preferably contains from about from 35% to 55% photopolymerizable vehicle, and from about 40 to 60%, oligomer. The cyclic-aliphatic oligomer contains polar groups and is comprised of polymerized units of from about 20 to 80%, preferably from about 30 to, 50% of cyclic monomers, and from about 80 to 20%, preferably from about 50 to about 70%, aliphatic monomers.

Ultraviolet and electron beam radiation curable fluorescent printing ink

The present invention provides a novel, non-formaldehyde thermoset fluorescent pigment which is useful to color plastics, particularly flexible vinyl, which is solvent resistant, particularly to acetone. Moreover, the pigment does not bleed in plastics. The pigment comprises a polymer matrix and a fluorescent dye. The polymer matrix has a molecular weight of greater than about 330, preferably greater than about 1000. Embodiments which lack the water insoluble resin, have a molecular weight greater than about 330, preferably greater than about 500. The polymer matrix contains: from about 15 to 50 mole percent, preferably 30 to 40 mole percent, of a carboxylate functional oligomer; 30 to 80 mole percent, preferably 50 to 60 mole percent, of a metal ion; and 0 to 40 mole percent, preferably about 1 to 40 mole percent, more preferably from 1 to 30 mole percent, most preferably from about 3 to 10 mole percent of a water insoluble resin. In embodiments where no water insoluble resin is used, the metal is present from at least 51 mole percent. The oligomer comprises from about 10 to about 60 mole percent, preferably 20 to 35 mole percent of a first monomer, 40 to 90 mole percent, preferably 65 to 80 mole percent of second monomer. The weight average molecular weight of the oligomer is 330 to 2000, preferably about 560 to 600. The invention also relates to a novel method for producing the fluorescent pigments.

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Parma, OH, United States of America

Wayne R Likavec