Abstract: A process for preparing a radiation curable solid ink composition wherein a solid pigment and dispersant are added to a molten solid monomer including (a) heating a monomer that is solid at room temperature to a temperature above the monomer melting point to provide a molten solid monomer; (b) adding a curable component, a non-curable component, and a photoinitiator to the molten solid monomer to provide a molten ink base; (c) adding a dispersant to the molten ink base; and (d) a adding a pigment to the molten ink base with stirring to provide a curable pigmented ink composition. Included is a process for preparing a radiation curable solid ink composition wherein a liquid pigment concentrate or a solid pigment concentrate is added to an ink base.

Abstract: A curable solid ink composition including a curable component, a non-curable component including an ethoxylated octylphenol derivative, a photoinitiator, and a colorant. The curable solid ink composition has a viscosity in the range of less than 10 cPs at 90° C., a shrinkage value of less than 3%, and a superior curing rate compared to existing curable solid ink compositions. The ethoxylated octylphenol derivatives may be prepared by reacting an ethoxylated octylphenol, a linear alcohol, and diisocyanates or polyisocyanates.

Abstract: A light-cyan radiation-curable gel ink including at least one curable monomer, at least one organic gellant, at least one photoinitiator, and a colorant. The colorant includes a cyan colorant, a hue-adjusting colorant that absorbs light having a wavelength of from about 500 to about 600 nm, and an optional shade-adjusting colorant that absorbs light having a wavelength of from about 400 to about 500 nm.

Abstract: A light-magenta radiation-curable gel ink including at least one curable monomer, at least one organic gellant, at least one photoinitiator, and a colorant. The colorant includes a magenta colorant, a hue-adjusting colorant that absorbs light having a wavelength of from about 400 to about 500 nm, and an optional shade-adjusting colorant that absorbs light having a wavelength of from about 600 to about 700 nm.

Abstract: A process for overcoating an image and enhancing the adherence of the overcoat to the image by applying heat and/or infrared light to the image. The image may be formed with a toner containing a resin and colorant.

Abstract: A radiation curable solid overcoat composition that is capable of being ink jetted comprising at least one curable wax that is curable by free radical polymerization; at least one monomer, oligomer, or prepolymer; at least one non-curable wax; at least one free-radical photoinitiator or photoinitiating moiety; and a colorant; wherein the components form a curable solid overcoat composition that is a solid at a first temperature, wherein the first temperature is from about 20 to about 25° C.; and wherein the components form a liquid composition at a second temperature, wherein the second temperature is greater than about 40° C.

Abstract: Disclosed is a radiation curable solid ink composition comprising: (a) a curable wax; (b) at least one curable monomer, oligomer, or prepolymer; (c) at least one photoinitiator; and (d) a pigment colorant; wherein the ink is a solid at a first temperature of about 25° C. or lower; and wherein the ink is a liquid at a second temperature of about 40° C. or higher; said ink being curable by free-radical polymerization.

Abstract: A radiation curable solid ink composition comprising at least one curable wax that is curable by free radical polymerization; at least one monomer, oligomer, or prepolymer; at least one non-curable wax; at least one free-radical photoinitiator or photoinitiating moiety; and a colorant; wherein the components form a curable ink composition that is a solid at a first temperature of from about 20 to about 25° C.; and wherein the components form a liquid composition at a second temperature of greater than about 40° C.

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 method for producing metallic nanoparticles in a continuous flow-through reactor comprising combining at least one metallic precursor and at least one radical precursor in a reactant reservoir to form a reactant stream; flowing the reactant stream through at least one channel having a first channel end connected to the reactant reservoir, a second channel end connected to a product reservoir, and at least one clear channel section, which is transparent to activating radiation used to generate a radical reducing agent from the radical precursor, for exposing the reactant stream to a radiation source; exposing the reactant stream in the clear channel section to the radiation source to generate the radical reducing agent, initiate a reaction, and form a product stream comprising metallic nanoparticles; and optionally, collecting the product stream in the product reservoir.

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: The radiation-curable phase-change ink composition having at least one radiation curable fluorescent co-monomer and a gellant. The radiation-curable phase-change in composition offers both document security features as well as potential brand highlight features. The radiation-curable phase-change ink composition combines the unique attributes of the UV curable gel system, with its tremendous substrate latitude, with the ability to add tunable fluorescent effects without the safety concerns of small molecule fluorescent additives. Exemplary ink compositions include a first co-monomer, least one radiation curable fluorescent co-monomer, and a gellant. Methods for making and using these ink compositions and ink compositions are also provided.

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 an ink, including photochemically producing stabilized metallic nanoparticles and formulating the nanoparticles into an ink.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods of using inks with gellants, that can form a gel state, as receivers for particle materials. The inks are liquid when jetted, but quickly enter a tacky/semi-solid/gel state when cooled below ink gel temperature on a substrate and prior to curing. Dry powders and solid particulate substances of various types are then applied to the jetted inks and locked in place when the ink is cured.

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 method of forming bimetallic core-shell metal nanoparticles including a core of a first metal material and a shell of a second metal material, the method including photochemically producing metallic nanoparticle cores of the first metal material, and forming a shell of the second metal material around the cores. The shell can be formed by adding shell-forming precursor materials to a solution or suspension of the cores and photochemically forming the shells around the cores, or by separately photochemically producing metallic nanoparticles of the second metal material and mixing the metallic nanoparticles of the second metal material and the metallic nanoparticle cores to cause the metallic nanoparticles of the second metal material to form a shell around the metallic nanoparticle cores.

Abstract: A method of controlling gloss of an image includes applying an overcoat composition of at least one gellant, at least one curable monomer, at least one curable wax and optionally at least one photoinitiator over a substrate, wherein the overcoat composition is curable upon exposure to ultraviolet radiation; following the applying of the overcoat composition and prior to curing the overcoat composition by applying ultraviolet radiation, applying heat to heat the applied overcoat composition to a temperature of at least 35° C.; and subsequent to the applying heat, applying ultraviolet radiation to the overcoat composition to substantially cure the overcoat composition.

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.