Ink for ink-jet recording

Details Ink for ink-jet recording Ink for ink-jet recording

2002-01-17

2004-02-03

Koslow, C. Melissa (Department: 1755)

Compositions: coating or plastic

Coating or plastic compositions

Marking

C106S031430, C106S031490

Reexamination Certificate

active

06685770

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to ink for ink-jet printers and ink-jet recording methods using the ink.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The ink-jet recording method has become popular rapidly and its growth has not yet ceased, because its material cost is low, it permits high-speed recording, it generates less noise upon recording and it facilitates color recording.
Ink-jet recording methods include a method of applying pressure by a piezo-element, thereby ejecting ink droplets, a method of generating air bubbles in ink by heat, thereby ejecting ink droplets and a method of sucking and ejecting ink droplets by making use of electrostatic force. As ink for ink-jet, an aqueous ink, an oily ink and a solid (fusible type) ink are available.
A colorant incorporated in ink for ink-jet is required to have high solubility in a solvent, permit high-density recording, have a good color hue, have excellent fastness to light, heat, air, water or chemicals, be free from toxicity, have a high purity and be available at a low cost. The ink itself is required to be fixed well to an image-receiving material without causing smudges, have excellent storage stability and be free from clogging at an ejecting opening.
Although various dyes or pigments have been proposed and practically used for ink for ink-jet, a colorant capable of completely satisfying the above-described requests has not yet been found. As means for solving this problem, ink comprising a dye, glycerin, diethylene glycol and an ethylene-oxide adduct of alcohol is disclosed in JP-A-58-74761 (the term “JP-A” as used herein means an “unexamined published Japanese patent application”) and JP-A-60-92369, while use of an ethylene-oxide adduct of a long-chain linear alcohol is disclosed in JP-A-2000-265098. These proposals are however accompanied with the drawbacks that clogging of a nozzle is diminished but not prevented completely and the quality of an image formed using the above-described ink deteriorates during storage.
In JP-A-6-88048, JP-A-8-333532 and JP-A-8-333533, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,837,043 and 5,626,655, proposed are inks comprising an ethylene-oxide adduct of a higher alcohol and capable of lessening smudge of a recorded image, but these inks also involve problems such as tendency to cause clogging and a change in color tone due to poor storage stability of an image after printing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is therefore to provide an ink for ink-jet which does not clog a nozzle, has a sufficient image density and is excellent in storage stability of the image formed using the ink; and an ink-jet recording method using the same.
The inventors have carried out an extensive investigation with a view to attaining the above-described object. As a result, they completed the below-described invention.
(1) An ink for ink-jet comprising: a water-soluble dye; a compound represented by the following formula (1):
wherein, R
1
and R
2
each independently represents a saturated hydrocarbon having from 4 to 10 carbon atoms with the proviso that the total number of carbon atoms contained in the saturated hydrocarbons represented by R
1
and R
2
is from 8 to 18, and m represents an integer of from 3 to 20; and triethylene glycol monobutyl ether.
(2) The ink for ink-jet as described in (1) above, wherein the total number of carbon atoms contained in the saturated hydrocarbons represented by R
1
and R
2
is from 8 to 16.
(3) The ink for ink-jet as described in (1) or (2) above, wherein m in formula (1) represents an integer of from 5 to 20.
(4) The ink for ink-jet as described in (1) or (2) above, wherein m in formula (1) represents an integer of from 6 to 18.
(5) The ink for ink-jet as described in any one of (1) to (4) above, which further comprises a water-soluble organic solvent.
(6) The ink for ink-jet as described in any one of (1) to (5) above, which further comprises one of an antiseptic agent and an antifungal agent.
(7) The ink for ink-jet as described in any one of (1) to (6) above, wherein an amount of the compound represented by the formula (1) is from 0.001 wt % to 15 wt % based on 100 wt % of a total amount of the ink.
(8) The ink for ink-jet as described in any one of (1) to (7) above, wherein an amount of the water-soluble dye is from 0.1 wt % to 20 wt % based on 100 wt % of a total amount of the ink.
(9) The ink for ink-jet as described in any one of (1) to (8) above, wherein an amount of the triethylene glycol monobutyl ether is from 0.1 wt % to 20 wt % based on 100 wt % of a total amount of the ink.
(10) The ink for ink-jet as described in any one of (5) to (9) above, wherein an amount of the water-soluble organic solvent is from 0.1 wt % to 20 wt % based on 100 wt % of a total amount of the ink.
(11) The ink for ink-jet as described in any one of (6) to (10) above, wherein an amount of the one of an antiseptic agent and an antifungal agent is from 0.001 wt % to 3 wt % based on 100 wt % of a total amount of the ink.
(12) The ink for ink-jet as described in any one of (5) to (11) above, wherein the water-soluble organic solvent has a lower vapor pressure than that of water.
(13) The ink for ink-jet as described in any one of (5) to (12) above, wherein the water-soluble organic solvent is one of ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerin, 2-pyrrolidone and triethanolamine.
(14) The ink for ink-jet as described in any one of (1) to (13) above, wherein a surface tension of the ink is from 28 mN/m to 34 mN/m.
(15) The ink for ink-jet as described in any one of (1) to (14) above, wherein pH of the ink is from 6 to 10.
(16) The ink for ink-jet as described in any one of (1) to (15) above, wherein a viscosity of the ink is 30 mPa·S or less.
(17) An ink-jet recording method comprising ejecting an ink for ink-jet comprising: a water-soluble dye; a compound represented by the following formula (1):
wherein, R
1
and R
2
each independently represents a saturated hydrocarbon having from 4 to 10 carbon atoms with the proviso that the total number of carbon atoms contained in the saturated hydrocarbons represented by R
1
and R
2
is from 8 to 18, and m represents an integer of from 3 to 20; and triethylene glycol monobutyl ether.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention will hereinafter be described specifically.
First, a compound represented by formula (1) is described. R
1
and R
2
each independently represents a saturated hydrocarbon having 4 to 10 carbon atoms (ex. n-butyl, i-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, 2-ethylhexyl, n-nonyl and n-decyl). R
1
and R
2
have 8 to 18 carbon atoms in total, with 8 to 16 being preferred. m stands for 3 to 30, preferably 5 to 20, more preferably 6 to 18.
The compound of the invention represented by the formula (1) is available by a method as described in Takehiko Fujimoto: “New Guide for Surfactants (wholly revised edition), page 94(1992)”. When the raw material employed is a mixture, the numbers of carbons atoms of R
1
and R
2
are not indicated respectively but by the total number. It is needless to say that m represents a mean value. Accordingly, two or more compounds different in R
1
, R
2
or m, or a mixture of them may be employed.
Specified examples of the compound represented by the formula (1) will be mentioned below, but the present invention is not limited thereto.
TABLE 1
Specific compounds of (1)
Exemplified
compounds
R
1
R
2
m
1
n-C
4
H
9
n-C
4
H
9
3
2
i-C
4
H
9
i-C
4
H
9
5
3
i-C
4
H
9
i-C
4
H
9
9.5
4
i-C
4
H
9
i-C
4
H
9
11.4
5
n-C
5
H
11
n-C
5
H
11
8
6
n-C
5
H
11
n-C
5
H
11
10
7
n-C
5
H
11
n-C
5
H
11
11.4
8
n-C
5
H
11
n-C
5
H
11
13.5
9
n-C
5
H
11
n-C
6
H
13
15
10
n-C
6
H
13
n-C
6
H
13
10
11
n-C
6
H
13
n-C
6
H
13
13.6
12
n-C
6
H
13
n-C
6
H
13
15.8
13
n-C
6
H
13
n-C
7
H
15
16
14
n-C
7
H
15
n-C
7
H
15
15
15
n-C
7
H
15
n-C
7
H
15
16.5
16
n-C
8
H
17
n-C
8
H
17
14
17
n-C
8
H
17
n-C
8
H
17
17.6
18
n-C
8
H
17
n-C
10
H
21
20
20
C
12
H
25
—C
14
H
29
9
21
C
12
H
25
—C
14
H
29
12
The compound represented by the formula (1) is added in an amount of 0.001 to 15 wt.

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