Abstract: A method is disclosed. The method may comprise forming an image on a surface by controlled electrostatic transfer of a fluid print agent comprising thermoplastic resin disposed in a carrier fluid The method may also comprise heating the fluid print agent on the surface to remove the carrier fluid and to melt the thermoplastic resin and allowing the melted thermoplastic resin in continuous areas on the surface to fuse together to form an image from fused print agent. The method may further involve providing a printed substrate bearing the image formed from fused print agent. The method may further comprise irradiating the printed substrate with an ultraviolet narrowband source so as to cause heating of the fused print agent to melt the thermoplastic resin. A print system and a print apparatus are also disclosed.

Abstract: In an aspect, there is provided a method of foil printing that may comprise providing a substrate having a surface comprising a first area and a second area, wherein the first area has printed thereon a first electrostatic ink composition comprising a first thermoplastic resin and substantially lacking a pigment and the second area has printed thereon a second electrostatic ink composition comprising a second thermoplastic resin and a pigment; applying a liquid solvent composition to the first electrostatic ink composition on the first area and the second electrostatic ink composition on the second area, to swell the first and second thermoplastic resins; and contacting a foiling material with the first electrostatic ink composition on the first area, such that the foiling material selectively adheres to the first area on the surface of the substrate. In another aspect, an electrostatic and foil printing system for performing the method is provided.

Abstract: A method for producing a cyan liquid electrophotographic ink composition includes: dispersing in a first portion of carrier fluid cyan pigment particles and inorganic spacer particles, the inorganic spacer particles having a particle size (d50) of 0.1 ?m or less, such that the inorganic spacer particles adhere to the cyan pigment particles; heating a polymer resin in a second portion of carrier fluid to dissolve the polymer resin; adding the dispersion of the cyan pigment particles having the inorganic spacer particles adhered thereto in the first portion of carrier fluid to the dissolved polymer resin in the second portion of carrier fluid; cooling the carrier fluid at a controlled rate to effect precipitation of the polymer resin from the carrier fluid such that a coating of the resin is formed on the cyan pigment particles having the inorganic spacer particles adhered thereto, thereby producing the cyan liquid electrophotographic ink composition.

Abstract: Described herein is an electrophotographic ink composition comprising: a first resin comprising a copolymer of an alkylene monomer and a monomer selected from acrylic acid and methacrylic acid; and a second resin comprising a condensation product of polyvinyl alcohol with an aldehyde. Also described herein is a method of producing the electrophotographic ink composition and a printed substrate produced by printing the electrophotographic ink composition.

Abstract: According to some examples in the disclosure, a method may comprise providing a first stream of discrete volumes of material; and directing a pulsed laser beam at a first discrete volume of material in the first stream of discrete volumes of material so as to interact with the first discrete volume of material and thereby displace the first discrete volume away from the first stream. An apparatus and a system are also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is an electrostatic ink composition comprising a component selected from a fatty acid ester having a plurality of hydroxyl substituents and a fatty acid amide having a plurality of hydroxyl substituents. Also described herein are scratch-off structures and methods for producing them.

Abstract: A method comprises: providing a first stream of discrete volumes (908b) of material, and directing a pulsed laser beam (912) at a first discrete volume (908b) of material in the first stream of discrete volumes of material so as to interact with the first discrete volume of material and thereby displace the first discrete volume away from the first stream. An apparatus and a system for achieving such steps are also disclosed.

Abstract: Described herein is a process for heat transfer printing, the process comprising: electrostatically printing a transparent release composition onto a transfer material to form a release layer disposed on the transfer material; electrostatically printing an electrostatic ink composition on the release layer to form an image layer disposed on the release layer; contacting a thermoplastic film with the image layer; contacting the thermoplastic film with a target substrate under conditions such that the thermoplastic film adheres to the target substrate and the release layer is softened; and separating the target substrate and the transfer material such that the thermoplastic film, image layer and release layer are transferred to the target substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a liquid electrophotographic ink. The ink can include (A) a liquid vehicle; (B) at least one colorant; (C) a resin comprising an ethylene acid copolymer; (D) an ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid C1-10 alkyl ester copolymer selected from the group consisting of an ethylene/methyl acrylate copolymer and an ethylene/butyl acrylate copolymer; and (E) a condensation product of urea and aldehyde.

Abstract: Here is described a method of printing on a plastic substrate, the method comprising: providing an electrostatic ink composition comprising a carrier liquid, and particles comprising a resin, and a slip agent dispersed in the carrier liquid; forming a latent electrostatic image on a surface; contacting the surface with the electrostatic ink composition, such that at least some of the particles and the slip agent are transferred to the surface to form a developed toner image on the surface; and transferring the toner image to the plastic substrate. Electrostatic ink compositions and plastic substrates are also disclosed.

Abstract: An electrostatic ink composition comprising a carrier liquid; a first resin comprising a copolymer of an alkylene monomer and a methacrylic acid monomer; and a second resin comprising a copolymer of an alkylene monomer and an acrylic acid monomer, wherein the second resin constitutes at least 35 wt. % of the total amount of resin is disclosed.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to an electrophotographic composition including a thermoplastic polymer, a charge adjuvant, a liquid carrier, and at least one microcapsule including at least one additive encapsulated within a shell, wherein the shell of the microcapsule includes a material having a melting temperature of at least 50 degrees C.

Abstract: Herein is disclosed a method of printing comprising the steps of applying an ink comprising a thermoplastic resin to a print substrate using an electrostatic printing process; and applying an overcoat composition comprising a crosslinking agent to the ink after applying the ink to the print substrate, such that the thermoplastic resin of the ink becomes crosslinked on the print substrate due to interaction with the crosslinking agent.

Abstract: Herein is described a liquid electrophotographic ink composition including a carrier liquid and a resin including an acid copolymer and an acrylate copolymer, wherein the acrylate copolymer includes at least about 30 wt. % of the alkyl (meth)acrylate monomer.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for producing a conductive liquid electrophotographic ink composition. The method comprises: heating a polymer resin in a carrier liquid to dissolve the polymer resin; adding conductive metallic pigment Particles to the carrier liquid; and cooling the carrier liquid to effect precipitation of the polymer resin from the carrier liquid, such that a coating comprising the resin is formed on the conductive metallic pigment particles; wherein: I) the polymer resin comprises (i) a copolymer of an alkylene monomer and a monomer selected from acrylic acid and methacrylic acid, and (ii) an ionomer of an alkylene monomer and a monomer selected from acrylic acid and methacrylic acid, wherein at least a portion of the acrylic acid and/or methacrylic acid groups are neutralised with metal ions; and/or II) a charge adjuvant is included in the coating that is formed on the conductive metallic pigment particles.

Abstract: A method comprises: providing a first stream of discrete volumes (908b) of material, and directing a pulsed laser beam (912) at a first discrete volume (908b) of material in the first stream of discrete volumes of material so as to interact with the first discrete volume of material and thereby displace the first discrete volume away from the first stream. An apparatus and a system for achieving such steps are also disclosed.

Abstract: There is provided a process for heat transfer printing, comprising: electrostatically printing a transparent release composition onto a transfer material (1) to form a release layer (2) disposed on the transfer material; (1) electrostatically printing an electrostatic ink composition to form an image layer (3) disposed on the release layer (2); applying a heat-activatable adhesive composition to the image layer to form a heat-activatable adhesive layer (4); contacting the heat-activatable adhesive layer (4) with a target substrate (5) under conditions such that the heat-activatable adhesive layer (4) is activated to adhere to the target substrate and the release layer (2) is softened; and separating the target substrate (5) and the transfer material (1) such that the heat-activatable layer (4), image layer (3) and release layer (2) are transferred to the target substrate.

Abstract: Herein is described a liquid electrostatic ink composition comprising a carrier liquid, a resin, a colorant selected from a magenta colorant, a cyan colorant and a black colorant, an amine-containing basic dispersant having a total base number (TBN) in the range of about 10 to about 65 mgKOH/g material, the amine-containing basic dispersant present in an amount from about 5 wt. % to about 40 wt. % by total weight of colorant.

Abstract: In an aspect, there is provided a method of foil printing that may comprise providing a substrate, the substrate having a first area and a second area, wherein the first area has printed thereon a first electrostatic ink composition comprising a thermoplastic resin; applying a liquid solvent composition to the first electrostatic ink composition on the first area, to swell the thermoplastic resin and not applying the liquid solvent composition to the second area; and contacting a foiling material with the first area of the surface, such that the foiling material selectively adheres to the first area. In another aspect, an electrostatic and foil printing system for performing the method is provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a liquid electrophotographic ink. The ink can include (A) a liquid vehicle; (B) at least one colorant; (C) a resin comprising an ethylene acid copolymer; (D) an ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid C1-10 alkyl ester copolymer selected from the group consisting of an ethylene/methyl acrylate copolymer and an ethylene/butyl acrylate copolymer; and (E) a condensation product of urea and aldehyde.