Coating processes – Nonuniform coating – Paper or textile base
Statutory Invention Registration
1998-07-02
2001-06-05
Jordan, Charles T. (Department: 1762)
Coating processes
Nonuniform coating
Paper or textile base
C427S388400, C427S388500, C427S389700, C427S391000, C427S393000, C427S393500, C427S395000, C427S397000, C427S388100, C106S001150, C106S001150
Statutory Invention Registration
active
H0001967
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to ink formulations suitable for use in ink jet applications, as well as methods for the use thereof, and articles produced therefrom. In a particular aspect, the present invention relates to ink jet formulations which have excellent adhesion and colorfast properties. That is, the inks of the present invention are sufficiently resistant to removal that the ink can not readily be altered or removed from the substrate once applied thereto.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Ink jet printing is a non-impact and non-contact printing method in which an electronic signal controls and directs droplets or a stream of ink that can be deposited on a wide variety of substrates. Ink jet printing is extremely versatile in terms of the variety of substrates that can be treated, as well as the print quality and the speed of operation that can be achieved. In addition, ink jet printing is digitally controllable. For these reasons, ink jet methodology has been widely adopted for industrial marking and labeling. In addition, ink jet methodology has also found widespread use in architectural and engineering design applications, medical imaging, office printing (of both text and graphics), geographical imaging systems (e.g., for seismic data analysis and mapping), signage, in display graphics (e.g., photographic reproduction, business and courtroom graphics, graphic arts), and the like.
Both dyes and pigments have been used as colorants for ink jet formulations. However, such materials do not always adhere well to the substrate to which the ink is applied. For example, dyes may dissolve upon contact with water. Thus, images applied employing ink jet methodology may tend to run or smear upon repeated contact, or may actually be removed from the printed surface if exposed to substantial quantities of aqueous media (e.g., if an ink jet printed article is laundered). Moreover, images applied employing ink jet methodology may also tend to fade or washout upon prolonged exposure to visible, ultraviolet and/or infrared light.
Accordingly, there is still a need in the art for ink jet formulations which have improved adhesion properties and/or colorfastness when printed on a variety of substrates.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, it has been discovered that the adhesion properties and/or colorfastness of ink jet formulations when applied to a variety of substrates can be improved by adding a specific class of additives thereto and subsequently heat treating the printed substrates. Thus, the present invention enables the formation of water-resistant (e.g., washable), colorfast images on a wide variety of substrates utilizing ink jet printing technology.
Accordingly, the present invention addresses some of the difficulties and problems discussed above by providing a method of improving the adhesion of an ink jet ink formulation to a substrate. The method includes:
adding to the ink jet ink formulation an amount of a chelate of a transition metal or a chelate of a mixture of transition metals effective to improve the adhesion of the ink jet ink formulation to the substrate;
printing the substrate with the chelate-containing ink jet ink formulation; and
treating the printed substrate with heat for a time and at a temperature to further improve the adhesion of the ink jet ink formulation to the substrate.
In general, the ink jet ink formulation includes a diluent system and colorant. For example, the diluent system may be an aqueous diluent system or a non-aqueous diluent system.
In general, the substrate may be any substrate upon which images may be placed by ink jet printing techniques. For example, the substrate may be paper, fabric, a polymeric film, a cellulosic film, glass, metal, wood, vellum, or carbon. As another example, a fabric substrate may contain free hydroxyl and/or free carboxyl groups. As a further example, a fabric substrate may be 100 percent cotton, a cotton/polyester blend, silk, rayon, wool, nylon, latex, butyl rubber, vinyl, or a polyamide fiber. As yet another example, a paper substrate may be ragbond paper, coated paper, or emulsion coated paper.
Also by way of example, the chelate may be a derivative of caprylic acid, capric acid, citric acid, lactic acid, lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, tartaric acid, cyclohexanecarboxylic acid, boric acid, or an ammonium complex. The transition metal or mixture of transition metals generally may be selected from the group consisting of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, W, Ti-Ni, Ni-Cr, Fe-Co, Ti-W, Fe-Ti, Fe-Ni, Fe-Cr, Fe-Ni-Cr, Mo-Si and W-Si.
The chelate typically will be present in the ink jet ink formulation in a range of about 0.001 up to about 20 percent by weight, based on the total weight of the chelate-containing ink jet ink formulation. A particularly desirable chelate is zirconium lactate.
The colorant generally may be a dispersion of a pigment, a dye, or a polymeric colorant. The ink jet ink formulation typically may contain a dispersion of a pigment in a range of about 6 up to about 20 percent by weight. The ink jet ink formulation typically may contain a dye in a range of about 4 up to about 20 percent by weight. The ink jet ink formulation typically may contain a polymeric colorant in a range of about 1 up to about 12 percent by weight.
More generally, the ink jet ink formulation may further include one or more of a biocide, a surface active agent, a corrosion inhibitor, a pH adjusting agent, an aqueous diluent, a non-aqueous diluent, an ultraviolet absorber, and an infrared absorber, as well as other additives known to those having ordinary skill in the art.
The present invention also provides an article produced by the method described hereinabove. The present invention further provides a fabric substrate having an ink jet image printed thereon by the method described hereinabove, wherein the image adheres sufficiently to the fabric substrate to resist removal therefrom upon washing of the fabric substrate. The present invention additionally provides a substrate having an ink jet image printed thereon by the method described hereinabove, wherein the image adheres sufficiently to the substrate to resist removal therefrom upon repeated contact of the substrate with water.
The present invention additionally provides, in a method of improving the adhesion of an ink jet ink formulation to a substrate, wherein the method includes adding to the ink jet ink formulation an amount of a chelate of a transition metal or a chelate of a mixture of transition metals effective to improve the adhesion of the ink jet ink formulation to the substrate; the improvement which includes:
printing the substrate with the chelate-containing ink jet ink formulation; and
treating the printed substrate with heat for a time and at a temperature to further improve the adhesion of the ink jet ink formulation to the substrate.
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Baker Aileen J.
Jordan Charles T.
Kimberly--Clark Worldwide, Inc.
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