Thermochromic ink and coating compositions

1. A thermochromic ink composition comprising;

at least one thermochromic optical-state change material, at least one thermally responsive pH modifier, at least one base, at least one binder material; and a solvent; wherein the thermochromic optical-state change material comprises bis (2,4-dinitrophenyl)acetic acid ethyl ester; wherein the solvent is propylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, or mixture thereof; wherein the binder material comprises one or more of a polymer, an oligomer, a polymeric precursor, or a polymerizable monomer; wherein the quantity of the thermally responsive pH modifier is less than or equal to about 0.25 milli moles based on the amount of optical-state change material; and wherein the ink composition is capable of transforming from a first optical state to a second optical state upon exposure to a thermal stimulus.

2. The thermochromic ink composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the quantity of the thermally responsive pH modifier is in a range of from about 0.01 milli moles to about 1 milli mole based on the amount of optical-state change material.

3. The thermochromic ink composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the thermally responsive pH modifier is selected from one or more of sulfonic acid salts, phosphoric acid salts, hydrochloric acid salts, triflic acid salts, alkali metal salts, amine salts, ammonium salts, iodonium salts, and benzoic acid.

4. The thermochromic ink composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the amount of the nitro dye is less than or equal to about 0.5 milli moles based on the amount of the thermochromic optical-state change material.

5. The thermochromic ink composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the amount of the thermochromic optical-state change material is in a range of from about 25 weight percent to about 35 weight percent based on the weight of a coating formed using the composition.

6. The thermochromic ink composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the base is selected from one or more of ammonia, triethylamine, methyl amine, cyclohexylamine, dicyclohexylamine, 1,8-bis(dimethylamino)naphthalene, 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane, pyridine, imidazole, potassium hydroxide, and sodium hydroxide.

7. The thermochromic ink composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the amount of the base is in a range of from about 0.5 milli moles to about 4.0 milli mole equivalents based on the amount of the thermochromic optical-state change material.

8. The thermochromic ink composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the amount of the solvent is in a range of from about 80 weight percent to about 90 weight percent based on the weight of the ink composition.

9. The thermochromic ink composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the amount of the binder material is in a range from about 20 weight percent to about 60 weight percent based on a weight of a coating formed using the composition.

10. The thermochromic ink composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the binder material comprises one or more of a polyolefin, a polyester, a polyamide, a polyacrylate, a polymethacrylate, a polyvinylchloride, a polycarbonate, a polysulfone, a polysiloxane, a polyetherimide, a polyetherketone, or a copolymer thereof.

11. The thermochromic ink composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the thermochromic ink composition is transformed from the first optical state to the second optical state in a temperature range from about 25 degrees Celsius to about 200 degrees Celsius.

12. The thermochromic ink composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the time taken for a coating comprising the thermochromic ink composition in an optical article to bleach in presence of a thermal source is less than or equal to about 6 seconds.

13. The thermochromic ink composition as defined in claim 12 , wherein the optical reflectivity of the coating after interaction with the thermal source is in a range of about 40 percent to about 100 percent.

14. The thermochromic ink composition as defined in claim 1 , wherein the time taken for a coating comprising the thermochromic ink composition in an optical article to bleach under storage at a temperature of about 25 degrees Celsius to about 50 degrees Celsius is about 3 months to about 24 months.

15. The thermochromic ink composition as defined in claim 14 , wherein the optical reflectivity of the coating after storage is less than or equal to 30 percent.

16. A thermochromic ink composition comprising;

at least one thermochromic optical-state change material consisting of sodium salt of bromothymol blue, at least one nitro dye having a formula I

wherein R comprises hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 8 carbons, at least one thermally responsive pH modifier, at least one base, and at least one binder material; wherein the quantity of the thermally modified pH modifier is less than or equal to about 0.25 milli moles based on the thermochromic optical-state change material; and wherein the ink composition is capable of transforming from a first optical state to a second optical state upon exposure to a thermal stimulus.

17. A thermochromic coating composition comprising;

at least one thermochromic optical-state change material, at least one thermally responsive pH modifier, at least one base, and at least one binder material; and a solvent; wherein the thermochromic optical-state change material comprises bis (2,4-dinitrophenyl)acetic acid ethyl ester; wherein the solvent is propylene glycol methyl ether, dipropylene glycol methyl ether, or mixture thereof; wherein the binder material comprises one or more of a polymer, an oligomer, a polymeric precursor, or a polymerizable monomer; wherein the quantity of the thermally modified pH modifier is less than or equal to about 0.25 milli moles based on the optical-state change material; wherein the coating composition is capable of transforming from a first optical state to a second optical state upon exposure to a thermal stimulus; and wherein the coating composition is essentially free of solvent.