Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the drying rate of a liquid or liquid film in air or other gaseous media by either: a) measuring changes in the print density of the liquid; b) measuring changes in the dynamic surface tension of the liquid; c) measuring the differential pressure between an inert gas required to displace a sample of the liquid drawn into a capillary tube from a reservoir of the liquid and the pressure required for a bubble of the gas to form in the reservoir; and d) measuring the electrical conductance or resistance of the liquid.

Abstract: A liquid composition and a process for coating the composition onto a surface of a substrate in a substantially oxygen-free atmosphere, under vacuum conditions. The composition comprises one or more components, all of which components do not go into a gas or vapor phase under the vacuum conditions. The composition has an ethylenically unsaturated component composed of an ethylenically unsaturated methacrylate monomer, or a combination of an ethylenically unsaturated methacrylate monomer and an ethylenically unsaturated methacrylate oligomer. The ethylenically unsaturated component is polymerizable or crosslinkable by the application of sufficient electron beam radiation. The composition is substantially absent of ethylenically unsaturated acrylate components, substantially absent of polymerization initiators, and substantially absent of solvents. The composition optionally further comprises one or more polymers without an acrylate functional group and without a methacrylate functional group.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the drying rate of a liquid or liquid film in air or other gaseous media by either: a) measuring changes in the print density of the liquid; b) measuring changes in the dynamic surface tension of the liquid; c) measuring the differential pressure between an inert gas required to displace a sample of the liquid drawn into a capillary tube from a reservoir of the liquid and the pressure required for a bubble of the gas to form in the reservoir; and d) measuring the electrical conductance or resistance of the liquid.

Abstract: The invention provides an article and process for producing electronic devices. More particularly the invention relates to an article and process for fabricating patterns of electrically conductive materials on non-electrically conductive substrates by laser ablation. Such an article and process find use in the production of RDIF devices, antennae, electrical circuits, microwave susceptors, contacts, leads, conductors, interactive displays, electrostatic shielding devices and the like. The process involves first providing an electrically conductive metal layer on an electrically non-conductive substrate. Then an electronic circuit is electrically connected to the electrically conductive metal layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a gravure printing ink and a method of multi-color gravure printing on flexible substrates with liquid radiation curable inks. Individual colors are transferred via direct contact between engraved gravure cylinder and a substrate. Each color is dried such that the sequentially printed ink layers transfer through the press without distortion of the printed image during multiple web turns around turn bars. Finally the printed substrate is cured by exposing an electron beam unit. The gravure printing ink comprises an admixture of a) a water dispersible pigment; b) a water dispersible, ethylenically unsaturated monomer, ethylenically unsaturated oligomer or ethylenically unsaturated polymer which is polymerizable or crosslinkable by the application of sufficient electron beam radiation; c) a defoaming agent; d) sufficient water to form a dispersion with components a), b) and c), which dispersion has a viscosity of from about 25 cps to about 200 cps.

Abstract: A method for printing and decorating packaging materials, such as paper, paper board and various flexible polymer films by electron beam exposure of plural layers of curable inks and coatings which do not substantially change viscosity during the printing process. The inks and coating are essentially free of volatile components such as organic solvents, inorganic solvents, water and low molecular weight fractions before, during and after exposure to electron beam irradiation. The method involves applying multiple layers of ink and an optional coating onto a substrate. The ink is an admixture of a colorant, and an unsaturated component such that the inks have a maximum of 10% volatile components. Thereafter these layers are simultaneously exposed with electron beam radiation to cause the ethylenically unsaturated components to polymerize or crosslink such that they become dried.

Abstract: An energy curable aqueous composition is disclosed containing: water; an ethylenically unsaturated oligomer; and a resin not containing energy curable functional groups.

Abstract: Single phase, water based, energy curable compositions and a method of preparing coatings and printing inks from same.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the drying rate of a liquid or liquid film in air or other gaseous media by either: a) measuring changes in the print density of the liquid; b) measuring changes in the dynamic surface tension of the liquid; c) measuring the differential pressure between an inert gas required to displace a sample of the liquid drawn into a capillary tube from a reservoir of the liquid and the pressure required for a bubble of the gas to form in the reservoir; and d) measuring the electrical conductance or resistance of the liquid.

Abstract: The invention provides an article and process for producing electronic devices. More particularly the invention relates to an article and process for fabricating patterns of electrically conductive materials on non-electrically conductive substrates by laser ablation. Such an article and process find use in the production of RDIF devices, antennae, electrical circuits, microwave susceptors, contacts, leads, conductors, interactive displays, electrostatic shielding devices and the like. The process involves first providing an electrically conductive metal layer on an electrically non-conductive substrate. Then an electronic circuit is electrically connected to the electrically conductive metal layer.

Abstract: A method is disclosed, whereby low viscosity flexograhic printing inks used in implementing wet trapping of sequentially applied ink layers are partially cured to increase the first applied layer viscosity sufficiently to wet trap a subsequently applied superposed ink layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a liquid printing ink that produces high quality flexographic or gravure printing images that have excellent solvent and abrasion resistance. In addition, the printing ink of the invention has high re-solubility, even after complete drying, upon contact with the liquid vehicle of the same ink, thereby preventing clogging of the printing plate, anilox or gravure cylinders over time. These characteristics of the printing ink are obtained by preparing a hybrid ink in which conventional organic solvent and/or water-based liquid inks are mixed with energy curable monomers and/or oligomers of resins and, optionally, a photoinitiator. After drying the ink, the printed images are exposed to an actinic radiation so that highly cross-linked polymers are formed in the printed images, which become water, chemical and abrasion-resistant.

Abstract: An energy curable lithographic ink composition having an asymptotic relative viscosity of about 0.4 to about 1.5 and a water up-take number of at least about 30%. Also disclosed is a method of improving various rheological properties and increasing the water window of an energy curable lithographic ink by varying the composition of the ink in order to result in an asymptotic relative viscosity of about 0.4 to about 1.5 and a water up-take number of at least about 30%. A method of identifying and selecting an energy curable lithographic ink composition having optimal press performance is also disclosed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a process for preparing a digital printing plate for flexographic and letterpress printing consisting of irradiating a polymeric material covering the plate to cause collapse of a non-image area on said plate.

Abstract: A digital printing process is disclosed comprising transferring energy curable paste inks from a digital printing plate onto a substrate by wet trapping, wherein said digital printing plate comprises polymeric material covering the plate and collapsed in areas to form a non-image area on said plate.

Abstract: An energy curable aqueous composition is disclosed containing: water; an ethylenically unsaturated oligomer; and a resin not containing energy curable functional groups.

Abstract: A radiation curable composition containing one or more polar, ethylenically unsaturated monomers containing a carboxylic acid functionality and one or more non-polar, ethylenically unsaturated monomers containing a fatty acid ester or a fatty alcohol ether. A laminate label and methods of laminating a label and affixing the laminate label to a surface entail application of the radiation curable composition.

Abstract: A method for producing a solvent resistant, low-extractable, film from an actinic radiation curable homogenous aqueous composition containing a water soluble compound, having at least one alpha, beta-ethylenically unsaturated radiation polymerizable double bond, and water as essential components.

Abstract: A method for controlling the cure rate of a water compatible non emulsion, non dispersing, actinic radiation curable composition containing a maleimide derivative

Abstract: Active water compatible actinic radiation curable printing ink or coating compositions comprised of maleimide derivatives, water compatible resins and water, which are capable of curing at a practical intensity and energy level and a method for curing same.