Compositions: coating or plastic – Coating or plastic compositions – Marking
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-02
2001-10-30
Koslow, C. Melissa (Department: 1755)
Compositions: coating or plastic
Coating or plastic compositions
Marking
C106S031600, C503S214000, C503S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06309452
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to ink compositions. More particularly, the invention relates to wet rub resistant ink compositions.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Ink jet printing is a well-known printing technique by deposition of an ink composition from a reservoir onto a substrate. The deposition is conventionally accomplished by spraying droplets of the ink composition from the reservoir, without having the reservoir touch the substrate. By controlling the location of deposit of the droplets, images or printed characters are formed on a surface of the substrate.
Ink compositions typically contain an aqueous carrier medium and a colorant. The colorant may be a pigment, a dye or a mixture thereof. The colorant imparts color to the ink composition, and in turn, to the substrate after printing. As used herein, “pigment” refers to a colorant that does not dissolve in the ink composition. As used herein, “dye” refers to a colorant that dissolves in the ink composition.
Wismer et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,007,141, disclose opaque films comprising a film-forming binder material and discrete particles which contain cells or voids. Wismer et al. teach that the opaque films may optionally contain dyes or pigments, and that the discrete particles act as an opacifying agent.
Loria et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,880,465, disclose an ink composition having dye compounds and no pigment. Loria et al. teach that the ink composition contains opacifying agents, such as hollow microspheres filled with water, a resin component and a carrier. Loria et al. further teach that the ink composition dries after printing, wherein the water within the hollow microspheres evaporates to form an ink coating with air filled microvoids. The air filled microvoids scatter light, causing an opaque image to be produced.
Fasano, U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,568, discloses a method for improving the fluorescence of a coating by adding hollow polymer particles which scatter ultraviolet light and shorter wavelength visible light.
Mead et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,596,027, disclose an ink composition for printing on substrates comprising a carrier, a colorant, a polyamine and an acidic resin. Mead et al. teach that the colorant may be selected from the group consisting of dyes, pigments, hollow microspheres and combinations thereof. Mead et al. further teach that the hollow microspheres are opacifying agents, and that the polyamine interacts with the acidic resin to provide a smear resistant and durable printed image.
Alexiou, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,594,045 and 5,726,221, discloses correction fluid comprising a particulate opacifier, a water-soluble or water-dispersible binder, water, a di- or tri- or quaternary ammonium compound, and, optionally, hollow microspheres of hydrated alumina, alumina-silica alloy, or acrylate-styrene copolymer.
Substrates printed with ink compositions may smear when wetted and rubbed. Unfortunately, many prior art compositions require significant amounts of resins or polyamine compounds to achieve acceptable wet rub resistance, and these ingredients may interfere with other ingredients and adversely affect desired ink properties.
Accordingly, a need exists to minimize such smearing by improving properties of the ink composition such as wet rub resistance, without sacrificing other desired properties of the ink composition such as stability, maintainability, print quality, waterfastness and lightfastness. A need also exists to provide ink compositions having an optimal color gamut when used in combination with other ink compositions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide improved ink compositions suitable for use in an ink jet printer.
It is another object of the invention is to provide ink compositions having improved wet rub resistance.
It is an additional object of the invention to provide pigmented ink systems having improved color gamuts.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided compositions containing carrier medium, colorant and polymeric capsules. The compositions are substantially free of a film-forming resin. The polymeric capsules each have a central cavity containing water.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided methods of applying ink compositions to substrates, wherein the ink compositions contain carrier medium, colorant and polymeric capsules having central cavities containing water. The methods include applying the ink composition to the substrate and then applying heat and pressure to the ink composition.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided ink systems having at least two ink compositions, wherein at least one ink composition contains a carrier medium, a colorant and polymeric capsules having central cavities containing water; wherein the ink composition is substantially free of a film-forming resin. Additional embodiments and advantages of the compositions, methods and systems will be apparent from the following detailed description.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided methods of applying ink compositions to substrates, wherein the ink compositions contain carrier medium, colorant and polymeric capsules having central cavities containing water. The methods include applying the ink composition to the substrate and then applying heat to the ink composition.
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Beach Bradley L.
Madhava Ameeta B.
Pearson Anna M.
Suthar Ajay K.
Daspit Jacqueline M.
Faison Veronica F.
Koslow C. Melissa
Lexmark International Inc.
Oberhaus Geoffrey L.
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