Abstract: This invention provides an inkjet ink comprising: an ?,?-unsaturated ether monomer in which the only radiation-curable functional groups present in the monomer are ?,?-unsaturated ether groups; a tri- or higher functionality (meth)acrylate monomer in which the only radiation-curable functional groups present in the monomer are acrylate groups; and a colouring agent; wherein the ink contains less than 5% by weight of water and volatile organic solvents in total, and less than 10% by weight of mono-and di-functional monomers in total, other than the ?,?-unsaturated ether monomer, where the amounts by weight are based on the total weight of the ink, and wherein the ink has a viscosity of less than 100 mPas at 25° C. The ink is particularly suitable for printing onto food packaging.

Abstract: A radiation-curable ink comprising (i) a colorant; (ii) a cyclohexyl acrylate of the Formula (1) wherein each R independently is C1-4-alkyl; n has a value of 1, 2 or 3; and Q is H or CH3; (iii) a monoacrylate which comprises a cyclohexyl and/or cyclopentyl ring; and (iv) 0 to 5 wt % of N-vinyl caprolactam; and (v) cyclic trimethylolpropane formal acrylate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of inkjet printing comprising the following steps, in order: (i) providing a hybrid inkjet ink comprising an organic solvent, a radiation-curable material, a photoinitiator and optionally a colorant; (ii) printing the ink on to a substrate; (iii) pinning the ink by exposing the ink to actinic radiation at a dose of 1-200 mJ/cm2; (iv) evaporating at least a portion of the solvent from the ink; and (v) exposing the ink to additional actinic radiation to cure the ink.

Abstract: The present invention provides a colorless inkjet ink composition comprising at least 30% by weight of monofunctional acrylate monomer based on the total weight of the ink and at least 3% by weight of a photoinitiator based on the total weight of the ink, wherein the photoinitiator comprises an ?-hydroxy ketone photoinitiator and wherein the ink comprises 0 to 6% by weight of acyl phosphine photoinitiator based on the total weight of the ink.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method comprising: applying a UV-curable ink to a substrate; partially curing the ink by exposing the ink to UV radiation from an LED source; and exposing the partially cured ink to UV radiation from a flash lamp. The flash lamp is a xenon or krypton flash lamp. An apparatus for performing the method and an ink adapted for use in the method are also provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to a printing ink and in particular to an ink for ink-jet printing which is cured by irradiation. The ink comprises at least one radiation-curable monomer; at least one passive thermoplastic resin; at least one radical photoinitiator; and at least one colouring agent; wherein the ink has a viscosity of less than 100 mPas at 25° C., and wherein the at least one passive resin is present at 2 to 15 wt % based on the total weight of the ink and has a molecular weight of 1,500 to 70,000.

Abstract: The present invention provides an inkjet ink comprising 5 to 30% by weight of organic solvent based on the total weight of the ink, a radiation curable monofunctional monomer, a radiation curable multifunctional monomer, a photoinitiator and a colourant.

Abstract: An ink comprising a colorant, an organic solvent having a boiling point below 170° C. and a radiation-curable component of molecular weight >1000, wherein the ink contains less than 10 wt % of radiation-curable components of molecular weight 1000 or less and the ink contains less than 5 wt % water. The ink is particularly useful for printing packaging used for products intended for ingestion by humans or other animals.

Abstract: The present invention provides an inkjet ink comprising at least 30% by weight of organic solvent based on the total weight of the ink, a radiation curable material, a photoinitiator and optionally a colorant. The invention also provides an apparatus for printing the ink wherein the apparatus comprises at least one printhead, a means for evaporating solvent from the printed ink and a source of actinic radiation. Furthermore, the invention provides a method of inkjet printing comprising i) inkjet printing the inkjet ink as defined above on to a substrate; ii) evaporating at least a portion of the solvent from the printed ink; and iii) exposing the printed ink to actinic radiation to cure the radiation curable material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a radiation-curable ink-jet ink comprising at least two monofunctional (meth)acrylate monomers; a monofunctional monomer selected from an N-vinyl amide, an N-acryloyl amine, or a mixture thereof; a polymerisable (meth)acrylate oligomer; a radical photoinitiator; and a colouring agent; wherein the ink has a viscosity of less than 100 mPas at 25° C. The ink is substantially free of multifunctional monomers; and the at least two monofunctional (meth)acrylate monomers include a combination of a cyclic monofunctional (meth)acrylate monomer and an acyclic-hydrocarbon monofunctional (meth)acrylate monomer. The ink displays an excellent balance of cure speed and viscosity for the ink together with hardness and flexibility for the cured film.

Abstract: This invention relates to a radiation-curable ink-jet ink having a viscosity of 30 mPas or less at 25° C., the ink comprising: at least two monofunctional (meth)acrylate monomers which comprise a cyclic monofunctional (meth)acrylate monomer and 2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethyl acrylate; a monofunctional monomer selected from an N-vinyl amide, an N-acryloyl amine or a mixture thereof; a multifunctional (meth)acrylate monomer; a polymerisable (meth)acrylate oligomer; a radical photoinitiator; and a colouring agent. The ink is preferably used in reel-to-reel printing and in printing where the substrates are stacked.

Abstract: This invention relates to an ink-jet ink substantially free of water and volatile organic solvents comprising at least one monofunctional (meth)acrylate monomer, including phenoxyethyl acrylate; at least one monofunctional N-vinyl amide monomer, including N-vinyl caprolactam; at least one radical photoinitiator; and at least one coloring agent. The ink has a viscosity of less than 100 mPas at 25° C., and the molar ratio of the at least one monofunctional (meth)acrylate monomer to the at least one monofunctional N-vinyl amide monomer is from 1.0 to 6.0.

Abstract: This invention relates to an ink-jet ink comprising at least one monofunctional (meth)acrylate monomer; at least one monofunctional N-vinyl amide monomer; at least one radical photoinitiator; and at least one coloring agent. The ink has a viscosity of less than 100 mPas at 250° C., and the ink contains no more than 15 wt % of multifunctional monomers based on the total weight of the ink.

Abstract: This invention relates to an ink-jet ink comprising at least one monofunctional (meth)acrylate monomer; at least one monofunctional N-vinyl amide monomer; at least one radical photoinitiator; and at least one coloring agent. The ink has a viscosity of less than 100 mPas at 25° C., and the molar ratio of the at least one monofunctional (meth)acrylate monomer to the at least one monofunctional N-vinyl amide monomer is from 1.0 to 6.0.

Abstract: A method of curing radiation-curable fluid is described. In one example, the method includes emitting radiation from an array of light-emitting diodes towards ink to be cured. LEDs are cheap, light weight, highly efficient in their conversion of electrical power, and give effectively instant switching to full power. Another advantage is that the emission spectrum of an LED is sharply peaked around the nominal frequency. Thus LEDs give several advantages over conventional radiation sources such as mercury lamps. A low oxygen environment is preferably provided at the radiation source to accelerate the curing reaction. Also described are inks which are specially formulated to respond to the radiation emission spectrum of an LED.

Abstract: This invention relates to inks for use in ink-jet printers that are cured using ultraviolet radiation. Specifically, the present invention relates to an ink-jet ink which is substantially free of water, volatile organic solvents and multifunctional (meth)acrylates comprising at least one monofunctional (meth)acrylate monomer, at least one ?,?-unsaturated ether monomer, at least one radical photoinitiator and at least one coloring agent, the ink having a viscosity of less than 50 mPas at 25° C. This provides extra-low viscosity inks, which still meet the requirements for printing onto porous substrates such as paper and board.

Abstract: Inks are disclosed which are used in ink-jet printing. The inks are cured by ultraviolet radiation, preferably free radical initiation. The inks contain a (meth)acryate monomer, an ?,?-unsaturated ether monomer and a photoinitiator. The inks exhibit a low viscosity and give tough printed images after curing.

Abstract: Inks are disclosed which are used in ink-jet printing. The inks are cured by ultraviolet radiation, preferably free radical initiation. The inks contain a (meth)acrylate monomer, an ?,?-unsaturated ether monomer and a photoinitiator. The inks exhibit a low viscosity and give tough printed images after curing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for ensuring image consistency of an image printed onto a plurality of substantially identical objects printed by different vendors at different times and/or locations: The method involves receiving a plurality of inks and a product-printing facilitating kit which provides a three step printing process which may be carried out by multiple vendors to provide the same image on all of the objects. The product-printing facilitating kit comprises a film-positive standard having a black image in a plurality of different tones thereon, a digital file encoding said film-positive standard, a plurality of test-print standards each of said test-print standards having one of said inks printed thereon in a plurality of different tones, and a list of suggested parameters for producing a test film positive and a plurality of test-printed objects.

Abstract: Compositions suitable for use as base coats and varnishes, preferably for use in combination with electrostatic of set inks printed onto plastics substrates, particularly polycarbonate compact discs. They contain a photopolymerisable material, a photoinitiator, an inorganic transfer agent and heavy metal salt, preferably a metallic carboxylate. They have a good shelf life and good adhesion after hardening with ultraviolet light.