Ink jet printing inks

Details Ink jet printing inks Ink jet printing inks

1999-02-25

2001-01-02

Powers, Fiona T. (Department: 1626)

Organic compounds -- part of the class 532-570 series

Organic compounds

Heterocyclic carbon compounds containing a hetero ring...

Utility Patent

active

06169185

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Ink jet printer inks are typically prepared using water soluble dyes, or pigment dispersions, or toners, as the coloring agents. Fluorescent colorants are often unsuitable for ink jet printer inks. Fluorescent dyes alone are generally not suitable candidates for ink jet inks, because they require a polymeric dye carrier to provide bright, clean color.
Pigment dispersions contain a fluorescent dye associated with a polymeric carrier. However, the size of the pigment particles in the dispersion must be less than about 0.8 microns so the particles will not clog the print heads. Unfortunately, fluorescent pigments require extensive grinding to achieve such a particle size; such grinding is difficult, time consuming and expensive.
Fluorescent toners, which are fluorescent pigments which are soluble in water, eliminate the need for grinding. Such toners tend to be soluble in basic solutions and are typically acid functional; unfortunately, the toners are not stable to base hydrolysis and they hydrolyze over time. As the toner hydrolyzes, the pH of the solution drops which causes the toner to become insoluble and precipitate. The precipitated pigment clogs the print head and renders the ink unusable for ink jet printing. Thus, such inks have a short shelf life.
It would be desirable to have a fluorescent ink for use in ink jet printers which does not require grinding, is stable in water and does not clog printer heads.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a novel, water soluble toner, for use in inks particularly in ink jet printer ink, which is stable in water, does not clog printer heads, and which has an acid number of greater than about 175. The toner, which is preferably fluorescent, is comprised of a novel, alicycylic, polyester dye carrier; and at least one dye, preferably a fluorescent dye. The invention also relates to an ink concentrate which comprises the toner and a humectant, and also to the ink jet printer ink which preferably comprises: a humectant, water, a toner dissolved in the water, and a base. The ink jet printer 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 jet printer ink, and also to novel fluorescent Yellow BAC dyes, which are useful in the toners and ink jet printer inks. The invention also relates to methods of making such dyes, the polyester dye carrier and the toner.


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Chemical Abstracts Service, Registry Handbook Number Section, 1998 Supplement, p. 8465R, Registry No. 213629-18-6, 1999.*

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