Binders for pigmented ink formulations

1. An ink, comprising:

a. an aqueous vehicle;

b. at least one encapsulant-dispersed pigment; and

c. at least one block copolymer binder dispersed throughout the aqueous vehicle and having Structure I which comprises a hydrophobic block (A) and a hydrophilic block (B);

wherein

C is

D is

E is

F is

G is

wherein x2, y3, y4 and y5 are 0 and wherein x1, y1 and y2 are 1;

R1 is H or CH3;

R2 is alkyl, or aryl group wherein the numbers of carbon atoms ranges from 0 to about 20, including benzyl, butyl, or ester group;

R3 is H, an alkyl group of from 1 to about 15 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from about 6 to about 18 carbon atoms; arylalkyl; polydimethylsiloxane; polyethylene glycol chain; or a polypropylene glycol chain.

2. An ink according to claim 1 , wherein y5 is 0.

3. An ink according to claim 1 , wherein x2 and y3-y5 are 0.

4. An ink according to claim 1 , wherein y3-y5 are 0.

5. An ink according to claim 3 , wherein the polymer having Structure I has a molecular weight ranging from about 1000 to about 20,000.

6. An ink according to claim 1 , wherein the hydrophobic block A comprises a block formed from a monomer selected from the group consisting of styrene, benzylmethacrylate, isobomylmethacrylate, and combinations thereof; and the hydrophilic block B comprises a block formed from a monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, ethyltriethyleneglycolmethacrylate, butylmethacrylate, hydroxyethylmethacrylate, and combinations thereof.

7. An ink according to claim 1 , wherein, the Tg of the polymer is equal or less than about 70° C.

8. An ink according to claim 1 , wherein the Tg of the A block ranges from about 0 to about 70 degrees Celsius (° C.).

9. An ink according to claim 1 wherein the Tg of the A block ranges from about 10 to about 60° C.

10. An ink according to claim 3 , wherein the polymer has a molecular weight ranging from about 1000 to about 20,000.

11. An ink according to claim 3 , wherein the polymer has an acid number ranging from about 130 to about 200 mg KOH/g polymer.

12. An ink according to claim 4 , wherein the hydrophobic A block includes an acrylic ester group.

13. An ink according to claim 1 , wherein the encapsulant has the same chemical structure as the binder.

14. An ink, comprising:

a. an aqueous vehicle;

b. at least one encapsulant-dispersed pigment; and

c. at least one block copolymer binder dispersed throughout the aqueous vehicle and having Structure 1 which comprises a hydrophobic block (A) and a hydrophilic block (B);

wherein

C is

D is

E is

F is

G is

wherein y3, y4 and y5 are 0 and wherein x1, x2, y1 and y2 are 1;

R1 is H or CH3;

R2 is alkyl, or aryl group wherein the numbers of carbon atoms ranges from 0 to about 20,including benzyl, butyl, or ester group;

R3 is H, an alkyl group of from 1 to about 15carbon atoms, an aryl group of from about 6 to about 18 carbon atoms; arylaikyl; polydimethylsiloxane; polyethylene glycol chain; or a polypropylene glycol chain.

15. An ink, comprising:

a. an aqueous vehicle;

b. at least one encapsulant-dispersed pigment;and

c. at least one block copolymer binder dispersed throughout the aqueous vehicle and having Structure I which comprises a hydrophobic block (A) and a hydrophilic block (B);

wherein

C is

D is

E is

F is

G is

Wherein y1, y2 and y4 are 0 and wherein x1, x2, y3 and y5 are 1;

R1 is H or CH3;

R2 is alkyl, or aryl group wherein the numbers of carbon atoms ranges from 0 to about 20, including benzyl, butyl, or ester group;

R3 H, an alkyl group of from 1 to about 15 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from about 6 to about 18 carbon atoms; arylalkyl; polydimethylsiloxane; polyethylene glycol chain; or a polypropylene glycol chain.

16. An ink according to claim 14 , wherein the polymer having Structure I has a molecular weight ranging from about 1000 to about 20,000

17. An ink according to claim 14 , wherein the hydrophobic block A comprises a block formed from a monomer selected from the group consisting of styrene, benzylmethacrylate, isobornylmethacrylate, and combinations thereof; and the hydrophilic block B comprises a block formed from a monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, ethyltriethyleneglycolmethacrylate, butylmethacrylate, hydroxyethylmethacrylate, and combinations thereof.

18. An ink according to claim 14 , wherein the Tg of the polymer is equal or less than about 70° C.

19. An ink according to claim 14 , wherein the Tg of the A block ranges from about 0 to about 70 degrees Celsius (° C.).

20. An ink according to claim 14 wherein the Tg of the A block ranges from about 10 to about 60° C.

21. An ink according to claim 14 , wherein the polymer has an acid number ranging from about 130 to about 200 mg KOH/g polymer.

22. An ink according to claim 14 , wherein the hydrophobic A block includes an acrylic ester group.

23. An ink according to claim 14 , wherein the encapsulant has the same chemical structure as the binder.

24. An ink according to claim 15 , wherein the polymer having Structure I has a molecular weight ranging from about 1000 to about 20,000.

25. An ink according to claim 15 , wherein the hydrophobic block A comprises a block formed from a monomer selected from the group consisting of styrene, benzylmethacrylate, isobornylmethacrylate, and combinations thereof; and the hydrophilic block B comprises a block formed from a monomer selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, ethyltriethyleneglycolmethacrylate, butylmethacrylate, hydroxyethylmethacrylate, and combinations thereof.

26. An ink according to claim 15 , wherein the Tg of the polymer is equal or less than about 70° C.

27. An ink according to claim 15 , wherein the Tg of the A block ranges from about 0 to about 70 degrees Celsius (° C.).

28. An ink according to claim 15 wherein the Tg of the A block ranges from about 10 to about 60° C.

29. An ink according to claim 15 , wherein the polymer has an acid number ranging from about 130 to about 200 mg KOH/g polymer.

30. An ink according to claim 15 , wherein the hydrophobic A block includes an acrylic ester group.

31. An ink according to claim 15 , wherein the encapsulant has the same chemical structure as the binder.