Granted Patent B2

US 8,133,539 · App. 12/398,900 · Granted Mar 13, 2012

Abstract

Claims (15)

1. A method of ink jet printing on a non-absorbent substrate, comprising the steps of:

applying a wet primer having a primer viscosity onto a metallic substrate;

jetting an ink jet ink onto the wet primer, wherein the ink jet ink has a viscosity that is lower than the primer viscosity; and

simultaneously curing the primer and the ink jet ink.

2. The method of claim 1 , the step of applying said primer further comprising applying said primer where said primer has a viscosity that is sufficiently high to prevent mobility of the primer with respect to the non-absorbent substrate.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the primer has a viscosity of from about 100 to about 300 centipoises.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the primer has a surface energy of from about 20 to about 50 milliNewtons per meter.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the primer has a surface energy of about 20 to about 25 milliNewtons per meter.

6. The method of claim 1 , the step of applying said primer further comprising applying the primer at a temperature of from about 20 degree C. to about 40 degree C.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the primer is soluble in the ink jet ink.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the applied wet primer has a film weight of about 2 to about 6 g/m 2 .

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of:

maintaining the primer-coated substrate at a constant temperature after application and until curing of the primer coating the substrate.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the primer is applied using a technique selected from the group consisting of: a doctor blade and roll coating.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the primer and the ink jet ink are actinic radiation curable, said method further comprising the step of curing the primer and the ink jet ink with actinic radiation.

Assignments (9)