Ink compositions for ink jet printing

Abstract

Radiation curable ink compositions for ink jet contain radiation curable monomers containing vinylether and acrylate functions.

1. An ultraviolet curable ink composition for ink jet printing comprising an ultraviolet curable monomer represented by the following general formula I: 
                   wherein,    R 1  represents hydrogen, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group,    L represents a linking group, wherein the linking group is an aliphatic chain of at least three carbon atoms,    X represents O, S or NR 2  wherein R 2  has the same meaning as R 1 ; when X=NR 2 , L and R 2  may form together a ring system,    m and n independently represent a value from 1 to 5.    
     
     
       2. Ultraviolet curable ink composition for ink jet printing according to  claim 1  wherein said composition further contains a colorant. 
     
     
       3. Ultraviolet curable ink composition for ink jet printing according to  claim 2  wherein said colorant is a dispersed pigment. 
     
     
       4. Ultraviolet curable ink composition for ink jet printing according to  claim 3  wherein said pigment is chosen from the list consisting of Pigment Yellow 128, 93, 17, 74, 138, 139, 154, 180, 185; Pigment Red 122, 57:1, 184; Pigment Blue 15:3, Pigment Blue 15:4 and carbon black. 
     
     
       5. Ultraviolet curable ink composition for ink jet printing according to  claim 1  wherein said composition further contains a photoinitiator or a mixture of photoinitiators. 
     
     
       6. Ultraviolet curable ink composition for ink jet printing according to  claim 5  wherein said composition further contains an initiator synergist. 
     
     
       7. Ultraviolet curable ink composition for ink jet printing according to  claim 1  wherein said ink composition further contains a second photopolymerizable monomer, oligomer or prepolymer and the monomer represented by formula (I) serves as reactive diluent. 
     
     
       8. Ultraviolet curable ink composition for ink jet printing according to  claim 7  wherein said second monomer is selected from the group consisting of the following chemical classes: an amino modified polyether acrylate, a cycloaliphatic epoxy compound, an urethane acrylate, a polyester acrylate, a polyether acrylate, and an epoxy acrylate. 
     
     
       9. Ultraviolet curable ink composition for ink jet printing according to  claim 1  wherein the viscosity of said ink composition is comprised between 1 and 75 mPa.s at 25° C. 
     
     
       10. Ultraviolet curable ink composition for ink jet printing according to  claim 1  further comprising a dendrimer. 
     
     
       11. Process for obtaining a monochrome or multicolor ink jet image comprising jetting one or more streams of ink droplets having a composition according to any one of the previous claims to a receiver element, and subjecting the obtained image to ultraviolet curing. 
     
     
       12. Process according to  claim 11  wherein said ultraviolet curing is performed by means of one or more ultra-violet sources. 
     
     
       13. An ultraviolet curable ink composition for ink jet printing comprising a free radical photoinitiator, an amine co- initiator and a radiation curable monomer represented by formula I:                       wherein,        R   1    represents hydrogen, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group,        L represents a linking group,        X represents O, S or NR   2    wherein R   2    has the same meaning as R   1   ; when X=NR   2   , L and R   2    may form together a ring system,        m and n independently represent a value from  1  to  5 , characterized in that said radiation - curable monomer represented by said formula I is selected from the group consisting of:                                                                                and        wherein the viscosity of said ink composition is between  1  and  75  mPa.s at  25 ° C.     
     
     
       14. Ultraviolet curable ink composition according to  claim 13 , wherein said composition further contains a colorant. 
     
     
       15. Ultraviolet curable ink composition according to  claim 14 , wherein said colorant is a dispersed pigment. 
     
     
       16. Ultraviolet curable ink composition according to  claim 15  wherein said pigment is chosen from the list consisting of Pigment Yellow  128 ,  93 ,  17 ,  74 ,  138 ,  139 ,  154 ,  180 ,  185 ; Pigment Red  122 ,  57 : 1 ,  184 ; Pigment Blue  15 : 3 , Pigment Blue  15 : 4  and carbon black. 
     
     
       17. Ultraviolet curable ink composition according to  claim 13 , wherein said composition contains a mixture of photoinitiators. 
     
     
       18. Ultraviolet curable ink composition according to  claim 13 , wherein said ink composition further contains a second photopolymerizable monomer, oligomer or prepolymer and the monomer represented by formula ( I )  serves as reactive diluent.   
     
     
       19. Ultraviolet curable ink composition according to  claim 18 , wherein said second monomer is chosen from the group consisting of following chemical classes: an amino modified polyether acrylate, a cycloaliphatic epoxy compound, an urethane acrylate, a polyester acrylate, a polyether acrylate, and an epoxy acrylate. 
     
     
       20. Ultraviolet curable ink composition according to  claim 13 , wherein said radiation curable ink composition further comprising a dendrimer. 
     
     
       21. Ultraviolet curable ink composition according to  claim 13 , wherein the co- initiator is aminobenzoate co - initiator.   
     
     
       22. Ultraviolet curable ink composition according to  claim 13  wherein the photoinitiator is copolymerizable. 
     
     
       23. Process for obtaining multicolour ink jet image comprising the steps of jetting one or more streams of ink droplets having a composition according to  claim 13  to a receiver element, and subjecting the obtained image to radiation curing.