Biodegradable vehicle/carrier for printing ink

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide a composition useful as an additive to a printing ink. In one embodiment a composition is used that includes a biologically derived base material formed from one or more saturated or unsaturated straight or branched chain triglycerides or combinations thereof, wherein the triglycerides are partially to fully hydrogenated and have a viscosity between about 50 and about 200,000 centipoise at temperatures about 72 degrees Fahrenheit. In another embodiment, the composition further includes a finely divided additive selected from the group consisting of polytetrafluoroethylene or hydrogenated triglycerides in an intimate admixture with the base material. Other aspects relate to a method of making an ink additive and method for printing paper stock by letter press or lithography.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method for making a composition useful as an ink additive comprising the steps of:
 (a) heating and mixing under shear so as to generate a vortex, a composition comprising:   (i) a base material formed from one or more saturated or unsaturated straight or branched triglyceride esters derived from fatty acids selected from the groups of C 8  to C 24  fatty acids or mixtures thereof, said triglycerides optionally being partially to fully hydrogenated;   (b) adding, into the vortex, a pre-selected amount of a finely divided amount of: (ii) a material selected from a group consisting of fluorinated polymers, natural and synthetic waxes and hydrogenated triglycerides derived from C 8  to C 24  unsaturated fatty acids while heating to a temperature of about 150°-170° F.;   (c) cooling said heated mixture to a temperature between about 120° and about 140° F.;   (d) monitoring the particle size distribution and the viscosity of the resulting mixture; and   (e) when the desired particle size distribution and viscosity is achieved, discharging said mixture while cooling to a discharge temperature between about 60° and about 100° F.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein step (a) uses a mixing apparatus with a high shear agitator and a side-sweep arm. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said apparatus includes a heat exchanger. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein component (b) achieves a particle size less than 5 micron after being subjected to the conditions in the mixer. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein component (b) is polytetrafluoroethylene. 
     
     
         22 . A non-aqueous printing ink having rub-off and transfer resistance comprising:
 (a) effective amounts of customary non-aqueous ink components; and   (b) effective amounts of a biodegradable additive comprising:
 (i) a base material formed from one or more saturated or unsaturated straight or branched triglyceride esters derived from fatty acids selected from the groups of C 8  to C 24  fatty acids or mixtures thereof, said triglycerides optionally being partially to fully hydrogenated; and 
 (ii) optionally a material selected from a group consisting of fluorinated polymers, natural and synthetic waxes and hydrogenated triglycerides derived from C 8  to C 20  unsaturated fatty acids. 
   
     
     
         23 . The printing ink of  claim 22 , wherein said component (b) is present in an amount from about 4 to about 10 percent by weight of the ink. 
     
     
         24 . The printing ink of  claim 23 , wherein said component (b) has a particle size less than 5 microns. 
     
     
         25 . The printing ink of  claim 24 , wherein said ink is selected from the group consisting of heatset, sheetfed and ultraviolet printing ink. 
     
     
         26 . A method of printing paper stock by letter press or lithography using paste inks having rub-off and transfer resistance which method comprises:
 (a) providing a letter press or lithographic press;   (b) applying an effective amount an additive to an ink composition, wherein said additive comprises:   (i) a base material formed from one or more saturated or unsaturated straight or branched triglyceride esters derived from fatty acids selected from the groups of C 8  to C 24  fatty acids or mixtures thereof, said triglycerides optionally being partially to fully hydrogenated; and   (ii) optionally a material selected from a group consisting of fluorinated polymers, natural and synthetic waxes and hydrogenated triglycerides derived from C 8  to C 24  unsaturated fatty acids;   (c) running a sufficient quantity of paper stock thru the press thereby applying a sufficient quantity of the ink to the paper stock to imprint the stock; and   (d) heat the paper stock having the imprint thereon for a sufficient time to cure the imprint.   
     
     
         27 . (canceled)