Clear overcoat compositions and methods for stabilizing the same
View Patent ↗Present embodiments generally relate to a novel clear or colorless overcoat composition that may be used for overcoating, for example, ink based images and xerographic images. The overcoat composition, which may be used as a base for a clear solid ink, comprises one or more waxes. Also included in the present embodiments is methods for using and stabilizing the overcoat composition as a solid ink.
1. A protected ink-based or toner-based image, comprising:
an ink-based or toner-based image disposed on a substrate;
a clear or substantially clear overcoat composition disposed over at least a portion of the ink-based or toner-based image, wherein the overcoat composition comprises
a hydroxyl-terminated polyethylene wax, the hydroxyl-terminated polyethylene wax being present in the overcoat composition in an amount of 70 percent to 99.98 percent by weight of the total weight of the overcoat composition;
a stabilizer; and
an optional resin, wherein the protected ink-based or toner-based image exhibits no smearing or offsetting.
2. The protected ink-based or toner-based image of claim 1 , wherein the hydroxyl-terminated polyethylene wax has a viscosity of from about 3 to about 30 cPs at a temperature of about 120° C.
3. The protected ink-based or toner-based image of claim 1 , wherein the optional resin is selected from the group consisting of urethane, amide, ester, and mixtures thereof.
4. The protected ink-based or toner-based image of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer is a hindered tertiary amine.
5. The protected ink-based or toner-based image of claim 4 , wherein the stabilizer is 4,4′-Bis(α,α-dimethylbenzyl)diphenylamine.
6. The protected ink-based or toner-based image of claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer is present in an amount of from about 0.05 to about 1.0 percent by weight of the total weight of the overcoat composition.
7. The protected ink-based or toner-based image of claim 1 , wherein the clear overcoat composition further includes an additive selected from the group consisting of a dispersant, antioxidant, viscosity modifier, slip agent, tackifier and mixtures thereof.
8. The protected ink-based or toner-based image of claim 1 , wherein the overcoat composition is a solid ink.
9. The protected ink-based or toner-based image of claim 8 , wherein the overcoat solid ink is thermally stable in printer for a period of about two weeks or more.
10. The protected ink-based or toner-based image of claim 8 , wherein the overcoat solid ink has a viscosity of from about 5 to about 15 cPs at a temperature of about 120° C.
11. The protected ink-based or toner-based image of claim 1 , wherein the overcoat composition is disposed on from about 10 percent of the ink-based or toner-based image to about 100 percent of the ink-based or toner-based image.
12. The protected ink-based or toner-based image of claim 1 , wherein the overcoat composition is applied to the ink-based or toner-based images by an inkjet printer.