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 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: 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: 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: 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: 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.

Abstract: The described herein is a method for identifying a best match to a metal deco target color and distributing the best match to interested parties for ongoing validation. The method creates a digital proofing database that matches, for example, PantoneLIVE™ target colors and sets a defined digital inkjet standard to within desired tolerances. Also described is a system that implements the method.

Abstract: The present invention provides solvent-based compostable cold seal release lacquers for use in packaging structures. The lacquers of the invention comprise resins, such as polyamide resins, comprising greater than 90% biobased carbon, generally prepared from renewable sources, e.g., plants such as rice. The present invention also provides the use of the inventive compostable lacquers as cold seal release lacquers in cold seal packaging, along with eco-friendly packaging film, etc., and has the potential to make the cold seal packaging fully compostable.

Abstract: An inorganic, non-quarter wave, heterogeneous multilayer effect pigment includes a platy substrate comprising an absorbing optically active metal oxide layer thereon, having an optical thickness from about 20 nm to about 400 nm; a layer of low refractive index material on the absorbing optically active metal oxide layer and having an optical thickness from about 10 nm to about 500 nm; and an outermost optically active layer of a non-absorbing high refractive index material on the low refractive index material and having an optical thickness from about 50 nm to about 1000 nm. The multilayer effect pigment exhibits a blue reflectance ratio (BRR) of at least 3, according to the equation: BRR=(Blue Max)/(Green Min); where Blue Max is the maximum reflectance exhibited over wavelengths 380 nm to 450 nm; and Green Min is the minimum reflectance exhibited over wavelengths 450 nm to 600 nm.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel anionic modified rosin ester resins having a high BRC content, up to 100% BRC. The resins of the present invention are useful as emulsion, dispersion, or solution resins. High BRC content pigment grind vehicles, coatings, and finished inks can be prepared using the resins of the present invention. Advantageously, the finished inks of the present invention have equal to or superior properties compared to current commercially available inks sold as sustainable products, but having little to no BRC content. The present invention represents a significant step towards developing sustainable inks and coatings that are better for the environment.

Abstract: Water based, energy curable ink jet compositions that have good insulating properties are described herein. The inventive water based energy curable ink jet compositions include a water soluble or water dispersible component polymerizable by free radical polymeration upon exposure to polymerizing radiation, wherein the cured ink jet compositions have good insulating properties, exhibited for example, by its breakdown voltage. Also described are electronic devices including ink jet-printed layers of the ink jet compositions.

Abstract: The present invention provides ink and coating compositions for printing on non-woven substrates or fabrics. Advantageously, the compositions of the invention can be used either as one component (1K) or two component (2K) ink systems. The compositions of the invention exhibit improved properties, such as ink adhesion ratings, as shown by a rub test, compared to commercially available inks designed to be printed on non-woven substrates.

Abstract: The present invention provides water-based energy curable compositions that exhibit improved printability, adhesion, opacity, and wash-up properties. The compositions comprise one or more inert water-based polyurethane resins and one or more water-based phosphate esters. Addition of the inert polyurethane resins and phosphate esters improves adhesion of the energy curable compositions to a variety of substrates.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method for curing multi-layer constructs of energy curable (EC) inks and coatings with actinic radiation. In the method, one or more layers of EC inks and/or coatings comprising materials that can crosslink or polymerize when exposured to actinic radiation, e.g., monomers, oligomers or polymers, are applied to a substrate, which EC inks and coatings contain little or no photoinitiators. This is followed by applying one or more layers of non-EC inks and/or coatings, which comprise one or more organic peroxides but no readily polymerizable components, over the top of the layers of energy curable inks and/or coatings; and exposing the layers to actinic radiation.

Abstract: Described is an energy curable ink for use in the production of layered composites the ink comprising 3 to 50% by weight of aminoacrylate as defined herein, 5 to 60% by weight of hydroxyl functional acrylate monomer and wherein the non-volatile content of the ink is not less than 45% by weight. Also described is a layered composite having a layer of the energy curable ink on a substrate and a process for producing a layered composite in which the energy curable ink according to the present invention is printed onto a substrate and then cured.

Abstract: A method for measuring the radiant exposure of energy curable inks or coatings on a printing press. The steps for measuring comprise: a) providing an ink or coating material comprising a fluorescent probe; b) transferring the ink or coating material onto a substrate using a printing process; c) exposing the ink or coating material to actinic radiation capable of initiating cure of the ink or coating material that also alters the luminescence of the probe; d) exposing the ink or coating to a first source of excitation light with wavelength and luminance capable of absorption by the fluorescent probe; and e) measuring the emitted light from the fluorescent probe by a first detector.