Abstract: The invention provides a drop-on-demand ink jet printing apparatus for printing inks comprising water or a volatile solvent onto a continuous web substrate, the printing apparatus comprising: a print head, a chamber for retaining water or solvent vapour in the vicinity of the print head, the chamber having an inlet for the continuous web substrate and an outlet for the printed continuous web substrate, and means for feeding the continuous web substrate through the chamber inlet into the chamber, past the print head and out of the chamber outlet.

Abstract: A carbon dioxide gas barrier coating comprising clay dispersed in a polymer composition comprising EVOH, gas barrier materials such as laminate materials (20) including the coating (1) on a substrate (2), methods of enhancing the carbon dioxide barrier properties of materials using the coating, uses of the coating composition in enhancing the gas barrier properties of a substrate packages including the carbon dioxide barrier materials (20) and methods of protecting articles.

Abstract: The present invention is drawn to adhesion promoters comprising an organotitanium compound and a polyamide, for use in solvent-based liquid inks and coatings for flexible packaging, including non-direct food packaging, uses of such adhesion promoters, methods of using such adhesion promoters, inks and coating comprising such adhesion promoters and articles printed with the inks and coatings comprising such adhesion promoters, for example, a laminated printed article (20) comprising a printed image (1) on a substrate (2) and superimposed with an overlay (3) wherein the printed image (1) is prepared from inks or coatings comprising the adhesion promoters.

Abstract: The invention provides a drop-on-demand ink jet printing apparatus for printing inks comprising water or a volatile solvent onto a continuous web substrate, the printing apparatus comprising: a print head, a chamber for retaining water or solvent vapor in the vicinity of the print head, the chamber having an inlet for the continuous web substrate and an outlet for the printed continuous web substrate, and means for feeding the continuous web substrate through the chamber inlet into the chamber, past the print head and out of the chamber outlet.

Abstract: A value document, such as a banknote, is printed using a printing ink or varnish comprising an aqueous dispersion of a preferably aliphatic polycarbonate polyurethane and/or a polyether or polyester polycarbonate polyurethane copolymer having a particle size range from 10 to 400 nm and an acid value no greater than 10 mg KOH/g.

Abstract: Water-dilutable coating compositions comprising poly(vinyl alcohol) and/or ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer, dispersed clay and polycarboxylic acid polymer that can be prepared using convention apparatus and that provide exceptional oxygen barrier along with good laminate bond strengths at high relative humidity when incorporated into adhesively formed laminates, particularly PET-PE laminate structures.

Abstract: A process for enhancing the gas barrier properties of a composite laminate material whilst maintaining adequate bond strength, in which a gas barrier coating comprising a clay dispersion and a polymer solution or dispersion is positioned between two flexible plastics films using an adhesive, wherein a coating is applied to a first flexible polymer film at a coating weight (D), an adhesive is applied to either or both of the coated side of the first film or to a second polymer film and adhering the first and second films together to provide a material in which: (A/B).(C/D)>200, and in which: A/B>75; C>1.0; and D<1.5; wherein: A=Oxygen Transmission Rate for the laminate at 23 OC and 50% RH without the coating; B=Oxygen Transmission Rate for the laminate at 23 OC and 50% RH with the coating; C=Bond Strength in N/15 mm after the adhesive has fully cured; D=Coating Weight in g/m2 (dry).

Abstract: The present invention relates to curable, liquid, adhesive compositions comprising polyamideimide resins for use in bonding layers of material in metal clad laminate materials for electronic components, such as flexible circuit boards. In particular, the invention relates to liquid adhesive compositions comprising polyamideimides having a terminal isocyanate group blocked by a thermally-dissociatable isocyanate-blocking group and the use of such compositions in preparation of flexible electronic components.

Abstract: A photoinitiator composition comprising a combination of aminoalkyl phenone, thioxanthone and multifunctional amino benzoate synergist for use in printing inks and coatings that are curable using UV radiation, particularly from LED lamps.

Abstract: An energy-curable ink or coating composition comprising: a monofunctional urethane monomer, such as a monofunctional urethane acrylate monomer; a monofunctional monomer; and, optionally, a colorant, photoinitiator, stabilizer, surfactant and/or a vinyl resin, for use as a thermoforming ink or coating that, when printed onto a substrate (1), elongates on thermoformation of the substrate (3) to adopt the shape of a mould (2), a method of printing on a thermoforming substrate using such an ink ro coating and a printed thermoformed article (4).

Abstract: A liquid resin, which is the Michael addition product of an amine-terminated aminoamide thermoplastic polymer with one or more polyol ester compounds having at least one (meth)acrylate group, wherein the amine-terminated aminoamide thermoplastic polymer contains a bisphenol or novolac segment to provide increased hardness and improved flow of radiation-curable compositions incorporating such resins, methods of printing using such compositions and articles printed with such compositions.

Abstract: Cyclic carbamate functional compounds, which are the reaction product of a cyclic carbamate having an acrylate functional group, such as N-(2-acryloyloxyethyl)oxazolidinone, with aliphatic amine compounds, said cyclic carbamate functional compounds being useful as oxygen scavengers in energy-curable compositions, such as inks, coatings and adhesives, that comprise (a) the cyclic carbamate functional compound, (b) reactive monomers and/or oligomers and, optionally, (c) a photoinitiator.

Abstract: The present invention relates to curable liquid coverlay compositions comprising polyamideimide resins for use in curable compositions for use as protective coverlay coatings for metal clad laminate materials in electronic components, such as flexible circuit boards. In particular, the invention relates to liquid coverlay compositions comprising polyamideimides having a terminal isocyanate group blocked by a thermally-dissociatable isocyanate-blocking group and the use of such compositions in preparation of flexible electronic components.

Abstract: A reactive component suitable for use in a radiation-curable composition, which comprises an acrylated epoxy-amine oligomer represented by the formula (I): C-B-[A-B]n-A-B-C wherein: n is from 2 to 500; each A is individually a unit derived from a diglycidyl ether; each B is individually a unit derived from a difunctional secondary amine or a monofunctional primary amine; and each C is individually a unit derived from a multifunctional acrylate monomer, radiation-curable compositions, such as inks, coatings and adhesives, comprising said reactive component and methods of making said reactive component.

Abstract: The use of a colloidal silica having a specific surface area greater than 300 m2/g in a gas barrier coating additionally comprising polyvinyl alcohol and/or ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer and/or a silylated derivative thereof improves wet bond strength.

Abstract: An ink jet-printable composition, which comprises a compound having a reactive silyl group and which is suitable for printing on non-porous substrates such as a glass or ceramic, and a process of decorating non-porous substrates involving ink jet printing the composition onto the substrate, exposing the printed composition to actinic or electron beam radiation to initiate curing and heating the printed composition to a temperature of at least 100° C.

Abstract: By appropriate selection of an overprint varnish, so that it dries to no adhesion within 120 seconds, it is possible to coat one side only of newsprint or other similar substrates or to coat both sides of the substrate (without having regard to the relative times at which the sides are coated), without, in almost all cases, causing any fluting or curling of the substrate.

Abstract: The invention provides a drop-on-demand ink jet printing apparatus for printing inks comprising water or a volatile solvent onto a continuous web substrate, the printing apparatus comprising: a print head, a chamber for retaining water or solvent vapour in the vicinity of the print head, the chamber having an inlet for the continuous web substrate and an outlet for the printed continuous web substrate, and means for feeding the continuous web substrate through the chamber inlet into the chamber, past the print head and out of the chamber outlet.

Abstract: A composition having good gas barrier properties can be prepared from a metal silicate, clay and a polymer emulsion, provided that the proportions of these components are maintained such that the silicate comprises at least 70% by weight of the solids in the composition, and the clay and polymer each comprise at least 1% by weight of the total solids in the composition.

Abstract: In order to maintain adequate bond strength of a composite in which a gas barrier coating comprising a clay dispersion and a polymer solution or dispersion of a PVA and/or EVA is positioned between two flexible plastics films using an adhesive, it is necessary that the clay dispersion and the polymer solution or dispersion should be kept separate until shortly before they are to be applied.