Abstract: This disclosure is generally directed to curable gel inks, such as radiation-curable phase-change inks, and their use in forming images, such as through inkjet printing. More specifically, this disclosure is directed to radiation-curable gel inks, such as ultraviolet-light-curable phase-change inks, that comprise a curable gellant and a curable solid.

Abstract: A process of preparing spherical nano-sized core/shell silica particles, including providing a latex polymer dispersion comprising particles of a liquid dispersible starting polymer in a dispersion liquid, adding at least one functionalized monomer to the latex polymer dispersion and polymerizing the at least one functionalized monomer on the particles, and growing an outer silicate shell on the particles through addition and reaction of at least one silane monomer.

Abstract: Methods and devices for forming, such as by printing, high quality, high throughput, ultraviolet curable gel ink images on flexible substrates for packaging applications are disclosed. The methods and devices have excellent image quality and do not require pinning of the ink during color printing or nitrogen inerting during curing.

Abstract: A system and method for preparing conductive features on a substrate including printing a radiation curable phase change gel masking material in a pattern of fillable channels on a surface of a substrate; curing the radiation curable phase change gel masking material; depositing a conductive material in the fillable channels; annealing the conductive material; and, optionally, removing the radiation curable phase change gel masking material. In embodiments, ultra-violet curable phase change gel is used to digitally prepare a pattern of dams for containing a thick layer of conductive material which is annealed to form an electronic structure.

Abstract: Disclosed are radiation curable phase change ink and overcoat compositions that contain a gellant, a cationically curable monomer, a cationic photoinitiator, and, optionally, a radically curable monomer and, further optionally, a free-radical photoinitiator. A phase change ink composition further contains a colorant. A phase change overcoat composition is free of colorant. The gellant may be an amide gellant. The cationically curable monomer may be selected from epoxides, vinyl ethers and oxetanes. The cationic photoinitiator may be selected from triarylsulphonium salts, diaryliodonium salts, aryldiazonium salts, triarylselenonium salts, dialkylphenacylsulphonium salts, triarylsulphoxonium salts, aryloxydiarylsulphonoxonium salts, and dialkylphenacylsulphoxonium salts, in which the salts are formed with ions selected from BF4?, PF6?, AsF6?, SbF6?, and CF3SO3?.

Abstract: Methods of controlling gloss of an image are disclosed. The methods may include forming an image over a substrate by applying an ink composition and optionally an overcoat composition at least partially over the substrate. The ink composition or overcoat composition may include at least one gellant, at least one curable monomer, optionally at least one curable wax and optionally at least one photoinitiator. The ink composition or overcoat composition may be curable upon exposure to radiation. The methods may further include providing a micro-roughness to one or more portions of the ink composition or overcoat composition by non-uniformly curing the ink composition or overcoat composition, and flood curing the ink composition or overcoat composition to complete a cure. The methods may thereby provide a controlled gloss level to the image.

Abstract: A method of forming a printing master on a flexographic plate by melting a radiation-curable phase change ink including at least one curable monomer, at least one phase change agent, at least one photoinitiator and an optional colorant. Multiple layers of the melted phase change ink are then deposited on the flexographic plate to form a raised pattern. Each of the deposited layers of ink are gelled before the deposition of a subsequent layer on the deposited layer. After a printing master with sufficient thickness is formed on the flexographic plate, the ink on the flexographic plate is cured.

Abstract: A system and method create an authentication mark on a recording medium by depositing marking material on a medium in an image area to create a marking material image and to create a marking material authentication image. The marking material comprises an ultraviolet curable phase change ink composition comprising an optional colorant and a phase change ink vehicle comprising a radiation curable monomer or prepolymer; a photoinitiator; a reactive wax; and a gellant. A predetermined amount of additional marking material is further deposited upon the medium in the authentication image area to increase an amount of marking material associated with the marking material authentication image in the authentication image area.

Abstract: A method for forming tactile images or a combination of tactile images and regular images, on a flexible packaging substrate comprising depositing an ultraviolet curable phase change ink composition comprising an optional colorant and a phase change ink vehicle comprising a radiation curable monomer or prepolymer; a photoinitiator; a reactive wax; and a gellant directly onto a flexible packaging substrate or depositing the ink onto an intermediate transfer member, in an image area to form a tactile image area or a combination of tactile image area and regular image; forming the tactile image by depositing multiple layers of the ink in locations of the tactile image or portion thereof; when an intermediate transfer member is used, transferring the deposited ink from the intermediate transfer member to the flexible packaging substrate; and curing the ink.

Abstract: A method for embedding information on a substrate including converting information to machine readable code, wherein the code comprises a set of intended printed markings, wherein each intended printed marking of the set has a predetermined height on a substrate and represents a predetermined value, wherein intended printed markings having a same predetermined height represent a same data value, and wherein intended printed markings representing different data values have different heights; and printing the machine readable code on the substrate by depositing an ultra-violet curable phase change ink comprising an optional colorant and a phase change ink vehicle comprising a radiation curable monomer or prepolymer; a photoinitiator; a reactive wax; and a gellant and curing the deposited ink, such that each of the intended printed markings is formed as a printed marking with the predetermined height.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a three-dimensional object including depositing a first amount of an ultraviolet curable phase change ink composition comprising an optional colorant and a phase change ink vehicle comprising a radiation curable monomer or prepolymer; a photoinitiator; a reactive wax; and a gellant upon a print region surface; successively depositing additional amounts of the ultraviolet curable phase change ink composition to create a three-dimensional object; and curing the ultraviolet curable phase change ink composition.

Abstract: An ink jet printing device including an ink jet print head and a print region surface toward which ink is jetted from the ink jet print head, wherein a height distance between the ink jet print head and the print region surface is adjustable; wherein the ink jet print head jets an ultra-violet curable phase change ink composition comprising an optional colorant and a phase change ink vehicle comprising a radiation curable monomer, or prepolymer; a photoinitiator; a reactive wax; and a gellant; wherein a print deposited upon the print region surface is Braille, raised print, or a combination of regular print and one or both of Braille and raised print.

Abstract: Methods for modifying the acid value of an unsaturated polyester resin suitable for use in forming toner particles are provided. In embodiments, methods may include contacting at least one unsaturated polyester resin with at least one grafting monomer, polymerizing the graft monomer and unsaturated polyester resin to form a graft copolymer, and then utilizing the graft copolymer to form toner particles by combining the graft copolymer with an optional colorant, at least one surfactant, and an optional wax. Toners produced by these methods are also provided.

Abstract: An image fixing member includes a substrate; an optional intermediate layer over the substrate; and an outermost layer over the intermediate layer; wherein at least one of the intermediate layer and the outermost layer comprises a healing material encapsulated within nano- or micro-capsules, wherein the healing material is capable of retaining the function of the imaging fixing member.

Abstract: An image forming medium includes a substrate, and an imaging layer coated on or impregnated into said substrate, wherein the imaging layer includes an imaging composition including a photochromic or photochromic-thermochromic material dissolved or dispersed in a solvent or polymeric binder, wherein the imaging composition is imageable by light of a first wavelength and erasable in a short time period by a combination of heat and light of a second wavelength such that simultaneous erase with heat and light of the second wavelength is faster than erase by heat alone and exhibits a reversible transition between a colorless and a colored state.

Abstract: An image forming medium includes a substrate, and an imaging layer coated on or impregnated into said substrate, wherein the imaging layer includes an imaging composition including a photochromic or photochromic-thermochromic material dissolved or dispersed in a solvent or polymeric binder, wherein the imaging composition is imageable by light of a first wavelength and erasable in a short time period by a combination of heat and light of a second wavelength such that simultaneous erase with heat and light of the second wavelength is faster than erase by heat alone and exhibits a reversible transition between a colorless and a colored state.

Abstract: Siloxane-containing materials that have been prepared by a sol-gel method and polymeric binder materials from interpenetrating networks. Silicon-containing layers including such interpenetrating networks are provided. Methods for preparing interpenetrating networks and silicon-containing layers including interpenetrating networks are also provided. In addition, photoreceptors and image-forming apparatus including such silicon-containing layers are provided.

Abstract: An electrophoretic display medium includes at least one set of colored particles in a dielectric fluid, wherein the dielectric fluid is a silicone fluid, and wherein the display medium has an electrical conductivity of about 10?11 to about 10?15 S/m. The display medium is included in an electrophoretic display device by including the medium in a multiplicity of individual reservoirs of a display layer or layers that is located between conductive substrates.

Abstract: An image forming medium includes a substrate, and an imaging layer coated on or impregnated into said substrate, wherein the imaging layer includes an imaging composition including a photochromic or photochromic-thermochromic material dissolved or dispersed in a solvent or polymeric binder, wherein the imaging composition is imageable by light of a first wavelength and erasable in a short time period by a combination of heat and light of a second wavelength such that simultaneous erase with heat and light of the second wavelength is faster than erase by heat alone and exhibits a reversible transition between a colorless and a colored state.

Abstract: An electrophoretic display medium includes one or more set of colored particles in a dielectric fluid, wherein at least one of the one or more set of particles are particles having acid functionality imparting a substantially uniform negative charge to the particles. The display medium is included in an electrophoretic display device by including the medium in a multiplicity of individual reservoirs of a display layer or layers that is located between conductive substrates.