Abstract: The present invention provides a water-based black ink, utilizing biochar as the black pigment. The black inks of the invention contain high bio-renewable carbon content (BRC), preferably 100% BRC. The inks exhibit the physical properties required to perform according to the requirements of rotogravure and flexographic printing.

Abstract: UV-curable ink compositions can be more effectively cured by curing the pigmented ink compositions through two or more exposures to UV rather than a single exposure, where the total UV dose supplied by the multi-exposure approach is the same or less than the dose supplied by the single exposure.

Abstract: The invention describes the unique finding that UV-curable flexo (and single pass inkjet) ink compositions can be more effectively cured by curing the pigmented ink compositions through two or more exposures to UV rather than a single exposure, where the total UV dose supplied by the multi-exposure approach is the same or less than the dose supplied by the single exposure.

Abstract: A polymer complex is disclosed which is the reaction product of one or more polymers having a terminal or pendant hydroxyl group, or a terminal or pendent carboxyl group, or combinations thereof, with at least one metal complex and one alkyl phosphate. This polymer complex acts as an adhesion promotion agent as well as a viscosity stabilizer when formulated in a printing ink or coating.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition comprising a synergistic combination of at least three dispersant classes, which is used to produce ultra-stable disperse dye dispersions and inks comprising azo-functional colorants.

Abstract: The present invention provides energy curable compositions that are curable using UV LED radiation. The compositions comprise vinyl methyl oxazolidinone (VMOX), as well as other components generally found in energy curable inks, such as ethylenically unsaturated monomers (in addition to VMOX), acrylated oligomers, and photoinitiators. The compositions are suitable for high speed flexographic or gravure printing.

Abstract: Described herein is a polar non-aqueous dispersion comprising polar polymeric microparticles in a polar non-aqueous medium, the polar polymeric microparticles being insoluble in the medium and being produced by dispersion polymerization of vinyl monomers such as acrylate monomers in the medium in the presence of a polymeric acrylic stabilizer. Inks, coatings and overprint varnishes are formulated that employ the polar non-aqueous dispersion. Such inks, etc., exhibit superior chemical resistance properties, for example in one-part and two-part systems.

Abstract: Curable aqueous printing ink compositions, especially inkjet, having excellent resolubility, comprising self-crosslinkable styrene-acrylic polymer dispersions and hydroxy-functional PUDs.

Abstract: The present invention provides energy curable compositions comprising self-initiating oligomers, amine synergists and Group IV metal chelates. The compositions optionally comprise acrylate monomers having carbonate ester, carbamate, or oxazolidinone groups. The compositions of the present invention exhibit improved cure, and are suitable for packaging, such as food packaging.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fully integrated digital workflow for the designing and production of packaging. A designer creates a package design with a special effect ink digitally, using a computer connected to a color database and a special effect ink database. Advantageously, the present workflow minimizes the complexity of the workflow by using transparent color layers printed over plain special effect additive ink layers to develop the special effect inks to be used on press. The present workflow advantageously can also be used to assess match of polychromatic inks.

Abstract: Described herein are opaque water-based inks that include water and an opacity-providing polymer component. In one aspect, the opacity providing polymer component is a hollow sphere polymer material. The opacity-providing polymer material may replace all or part of white opacifying pigment material, such as titanium dioxide. Also described herein is a method of opacifying a printing ink by adding hollow sphere resin particles and a colorant to a printing ink that comprises water as a volatile component.

Abstract: A method of preparing a printed substrate comprising printing an aqueous inkjet ink composition to a substrate and thermally curing the printed ink by heating at a temperature of at least 80° C., wherein the aqueous inkjet ink composition comprises an acid-functional water-soluble or water-dispersible resin and a hydroxyl-functional material with the proviso that if the hydroxyl-functional material is a hydroxyl-functional polyurethane dispersion said hydroxyl-functional polyurethane dispersion has a hydroxyl value of ?25 mgKOH/g (based on the dry polymer weight); and thermally curable aqueous inkjet compositions suitable for use in said method.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a printing ink composition comprising a polymer selected from a poly(styrene-maleic acid) co-polymer having an acid number of ?225 mg KOH/g, a poly(styrene-maleamic acid) co-polymer having an acid number of ?225 mg KOH/g or a combination thereof, wherein the co-polymer is a lithium, sodium, potassium, ammonium or quaternary ammonium salt or combinations thereof. The printing ink composition is suitable for directly printing onto non-porous substrates particularly without the need for a chemical primer layer or chemical pre-treatment.

Abstract: The invention provides an aqueous printing ink composition comprising a polyurethane dispersion, wherein the polyurethane of the polyurethane dispersion comprises the properties of (a) ketone or aldehyde groups present at one or more polymer chain ends; (b) a number average molecular weight ?50,000, more preferably ?25,000 and; (c) the content of ketone and/or aldehyde groups is in the range 0.02 to 4.0 mmol g-1, based on the dry polymer weight.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for providing a printed article, comprising printing an aqueous ink composition onto a fibrous substrate and curing the ink, wherein the ink composition comprises a polyurethane dispersion having the properties of (a) ketone or aldehyde groups present at one or more polymer chain ends; (b) a number average molecular weight ?50,000 and; (c) the content of ketone and aldehyde groups is in the range 0.02 to 4.0 mmol g-1, based on the dry polymer weight. The present invention also provides use of said ink composition for printing onto a fibrous substrate.

Abstract: Inks for direct food contact with wide colour gamut and good physical resistance properties, and methods for identifying such inks, for printing such inks, and for packaging foodstuffs with materials printed with such inks.

Abstract: An electron-beam curable ink or coating for sensitive applications such as food packaging and pharmaceutical packaging. The ink or coating of the invention comprises a high bio-renewable content. A printed article or laminate comprising a cured layer derived from the ink or coating of the invention.

Abstract: A method for printing on a substrate comprises two steps. The first step consists essentially of: applying onto a substrate one or more layers of an energy curable ink and applying one or more layers of a water-based coating over the top of the one or more layers of energy curable ink. The second step comprises the steps of, in any order: a) drying the one or more layers of water-based coating, and b) actinically or electron beam curing simultaneously all the energy curable ink layers.

Abstract: The present invention provides solvent-based high opacity inks and coatings. The high opacity inks and coatings comprise one or more binders, TiO2 pigment, polymeric void hollowsphere particles, and one or more organic solvents. The inks and coatings may also include mica-based pigments and aluminum pigments. The high opacity inks and coatings of the invention are suitable for use on packaging wherein a high opacity ink or coating is needed to, for example, hide undesired visual effects, or to protect the packaged goods.

Abstract: The present invention provides cleaning solutions for removing ink, coating, varnish, adhesive, etc. residue from printing equipment. The cleaning solutions of the present invention comprise one or more solvents, preferably selected from acetoacetates, alcohols, glycol ethers, glycol esters, terpenes, and water, and are preferably free of surfactants. The cleaning solutions of the invention have a relative evaporation time (RET) of less than 60 seconds, and a ratio of the RET to the radius of the sphere of solubility of the resin in the ink to be removed of less than 6.