Photo curable inks

Abstract

The present disclosure is drawn to polymeric photoactive agent, photo curable inks containing the polymeric photoactive agent, and methods of making the photo curable inks. The polymeric photoactive agent can include a xanthone analog modified with a polyether chain connecting to the xanthone analog through an ether linkage.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A photo curable ink, comprising:
 a photo reactive binder;   a polymeric photoactive agent comprising a xanthone analog modified with a polyether chain connecting to the xanthone analog through an ether linkage;   a co-photo initiator, a synergist, or combination thereof;   a colorant; and   a liquid vehicle including co-solvent and water.   
     
     
         2 . The photo curable ink of  claim 1 , wherein the photo curable ink has a pH of 7 to 12, the polymeric photoactive agent is stable in the photo curable ink. 
     
     
         3 . The photo curable ink of  claim 1 , wherein the photo curable ink is photo curable using UV LED electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         4 . The photo curable ink of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric photoactive agent is a sensitizer, and the ink comprises the co-photo initiator. 
     
     
         5 . The photo curable ink of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric photoactive agent is a photo initiator, and the ink comprises the synergist. 
     
     
         6 . The photo curable ink of  claim 1 , further comprising an additional xanthone analog moiety connecting to an opposite end of the polyether chain through an ether linkage. 
     
     
         7 . The photo curable ink of  claim 6 , wherein the xanthone analog moiety connecting the opposite end of the polyether chain through the ether linkage has the general formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 1  to R 4  are independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, an unsubstituted alkyl, a substituted alkyl, an unsubstituted alkenyl, a substituted alkenyl, an unsubstituted aryl, a substituted aryl, an unsubstituted aralkyl, a substituted aralkyl, a halogen atom, —NO 2 , —O—R d , —CO—R d , —CO—O—R d , —O—CO—R d , —CO—NR d  R e , —NR d R e , —NR d —CO—R e , —NR d —CO—O—R e , —NR d —CO—NR e R f , —SR d , —SO—R d , —SO 2 —R d , —SO 2 —O—R d , —SO 2 NR d R e , and a perfluoroalkyl group, wherein R d , R e , and R f  are independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, an unsubstituted alkyl, a substituted alkyl, an unsubstituted alkenyl, a substituted alkenyl, an unsubstituted aryl, a substituted aryl, an unsubstituted aralkyl, and a substituted aralkyl; and 
         wherein X is selected from the group consisting of —O—, —S—, —NH—, and —NR—, wherein R is selected from the group consisting of CH 3 , CH 2 CH 3 , and CH 2 CH 2 CH 3.    
       
     
     
         8 . The photo curable ink of  claim 1 , wherein the polyether chain is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol, and a copolymer of polyethylene glycol, and polypropylene glycol. 
     
     
         9 . The photo curable ink of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric photoactive agent has a general formula selected from the group consisting of: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
         wherein R 1  to R 5  are independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, an unsubstituted alkyl, a substituted alkyl, an unsubstituted alkenyl, a substituted alkenyl, an unsubstituted aryl, a substituted aryl, an unsubstituted aralkyl, a substituted aralkyl, a halogen atom, —NO 2 , —O—R d , —CO—R d , —CO—O—R d , —O—CO—R d , —CO—NR d R e , —NR d R e , —NR d —CO—R e , —NR d —CO—O—R e , —NR d —CO—NR e R f , —SR d , —SO—R d , —SO 2 —R d , —SO 2 —O—R d , —SO 2 NR d R e , and a perfluoroalkyl group, wherein R d , R e , and R f  are independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, an unsubstituted alkyl, a substituted alkyl, an unsubstituted alkenyl, a substituted alkenyl, an unsubstituted aryl, a substituted aryl, an unsubstituted aralkyl, and a substituted aralkyl; 
         wherein n is any integer from 5 to 200; and 
         wherein X is selected from the group consisting of —O—, —S—, —NH—, and —NR—, wherein R is selected from the group consisting of CH 3 , CH 2 CH 3 , and CH 2 CH 2 CH 3 . 
       
     
     
         10 . The photo curable ink of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric photoactive agent has a molecular weight from about 500 to about 5000 
     
     
         11 . The photo curable ink of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric photoactive agent has a general formula: 
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein n is any integer from 10 to 25. 
     
     
         12 . The photo curable ink of  claim 1 , wherein the polyether chain is selected from the group consisting of PEG 550, PEG 600, and PEG 1000. 
     
     
         13 . The photo curable ink of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric photoactive agent has a water solubility of at least 0.5 wt %. 
     
     
         14 . The photo curable ink of  claim 1 , wherein the polymeric photoactive agent has a water solubility of at least 0.5 wt %. 
     
     
         15 . A method of making the photo curable ink of  claim 1 , comprising admixing the photo reactive binder; the polymeric photoactive agent; the co-photo initiator, the synergist, or combination thereof; the colorant; and the liquid vehicle to form the photo curable ink.