Ink-jet authentication mark for a product or product packaging
View Patent ↗A method of ink-jet printing an authentication mark on an article including, in order, the steps of: a) providing an article including an ink-receiving layer; b) applying a curable fluid on an ink-receiving layer according to a first image; c) at least partially curing the curable fluid; and d) jetting at least one ink-jet ink on the ink-receiving layer according to a second image partially overlapping with the first image. The method can be advantageously used to generate a security document.
1. A method of ink-jet printing an authentication mark on an article comprising, in order, the steps of:
a) providing an article including an ink-receiving layer;
b) applying a curable ink-jet ink on the ink-receiving layer according to a first image;
c) at least partially curing the curable ink-jet ink; and
d) jetting at least one aqueous ink-jet ink on the ink-receiving layer according to a second image partially overlapping with the first image; wherein
the at least one aqueous ink-jet ink is free of curable compounds.
2. The method of ink-jet printing an authentication mark on an article according to claim 1 , wherein the curable ink-jet ink is jetted onto the ink-receiving layer according to the first image.
3. The method of ink-jet printing an authentication mark on an article according to claim 1 , wherein the ink-receiving layer and the curable ink-jet ink are overall cured in step c).
4. The method of ink-jet printing an authentication mark on an article according to claim 1 , wherein the curing is performed by radiation curing or electron beam curing.
5. The method of ink-jet printing an authentication mark on an article according to claim 1 , further comprising the step of:
e) providing an overcoat layer of a curable composition on the first and second images.
6. The method of ink-jet printing an authentication mark on an article according to claim 5 , further comprising the step of:
f) overall curing the curable composition on the first and second images.
7. The method of ink-jet printing an authentication mark on an article according to claim 5 , wherein step d) includes the step of printing at least three aqueous ink-jet inks on the ink-receiving layer to form the second image.
8. The method of ink-jet printing an authentication mark on an article according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one aqueous ink-jet ink includes a dye.
9. The method of ink-jet printing an authentication mark on an article according to claim 5 , wherein the at least one aqueous ink-jet ink includes a pigment.