Granted Patent B2

US 8,506,694 · App. 13/095,043 · Granted Aug 13, 2013

Abstract

Claims (31)

1. A phase separation ink comprising:

at least one crystallizable component comprising a material that crystallizes as it cools from a first ink jetting temperature to a second temperature that is lower than the ink jetting temperature, wherein the second temperature is sufficient to initiate crystallization of the at least one crystallizable component;

at least one amorphous component comprising a material that remains amorphous at the second temperature; and

an optional colorant;

wherein the at least one crystallizable component and the at least one amorphous component are in a molten, single phase state at the first ink jetting temperature;

wherein at the second temperature, the phase separation ink comprises a crystalline phase comprising the at least one crystallizable component and an amorphous phase comprising the at least one amorphous component;

wherein the at least one crystallizable component is diphenethyl L-tartrate and the at least one amorphous component is di-L methyl L-tartrate; or

wherein the at least one crystallizable component is Bis(4-methoxyphenyl) octanedioate and the at least one amorphous component is tri-DL-menthyl citrate.

2. The phase separation ink of claim 1 , wherein the at least one crystallizable component and the at least one amorphous component are in a molten, single phase state at the first ink jetting temperature, and wherein the first ink jetting temperature is from 100° C. to 140° C.

3. The phase separation ink of claim 1 , wherein at the second temperature, the phase separation ink comprises a crystalline phase and an amorphous phase, and wherein the second temperature is from 60° C. to 120° C.

4. The phase separation ink of claim 1 , wherein amorphous phase of the phase separation ink penetrates into the final image receiving substrate to a maximum depth of 10 micrometers.

5. The phase separation ink of claim 4 , wherein the crystalline phase of the at least one phase separation ink provides a protective coating on the surface of the final image receiving subtrate.

6. The phase separation ink of claim 1 , wherein the final image receiving substrate comprises a base layer, a top coat layer disposed over a first surface of the base layer; and, optionally, a bottom coat layer disposed over a second, opposite surface of the base layer; and wherein the amorphous phase of the phase separation ink penetrates into the top coat layer of the final image receiving substrate to a maximum depth of 10 micrometers.

7. The phase separation ink of claim 6 , wherein the base layer comprises paper.

8. The phase separation ink of claim 1 , wherein the colorant displays a greater affinity for the amorphous phase than for the crystalline phase.

9. The phase separation ink of claim 1 , wherein the at least one crystallizable component comprises a material having a recrystallization temperature of from 30° C. to 135° C.

10. The phase separation ink of claim 1 , wherein the at least one crystallizable component comprises a material having a viscosity of 2 to 50 centipoise at a temperature of 140° C.

11. The phase separation ink of claim 1 , wherein the at least one crystallizable component has a melt temperature of from 40° C. to 150° C.

12. The phase separation ink of claim 1 , wherein the at least one amorphous component comprises a material having a viscosity of 10 to 500 centipoise at a temperature of 140° C.

13. The phase separation ink of claim 1 , wherein the at least one amorphous component comprises a material having a viscosity of greater than 10 5 centipoise at a temperature of from 30° C. to less than 120° C.

14. The phase separation ink of claim 1 , wherein the at least one amorphous component has a glass transition temperature of from −5° C. to 50° C.

15. The phase separation ink of claim 1 , wherein the at least one amorphous component has a molecular weight of from 100 to 1000 g/mol.

16. The phase separation ink of claim 1 , wherein the difference in viscosity between that at least one crystallizable component and the at least one amorphous component is at least 500 centipoise at a temperature of 30° C.

17. The phase separation ink of claim 1 , wherein the ratio in weight percent of crystallizable component to amorphous component is from 60:40 to 95:5 percent by weight, based upon the total combined weight of the crystalline and amorphous components.

18. A process which comprises:

(1) incorporating into an ink jet printing apparatus a phase change ink comprising at least one crystallizable component comprising a material that crystallizes as it cools from a first ink jetting temperature to a second temperature that is lower than the ink jetting temperature, wherein the second temperature is sufficient to initiate crystallization of the at least one crystallizable component; at least one amorphous component comprising a material that remains amorphous at the second temperature; and an optional colorant; wherein the at least one crystallizable component and the at least one amorphous component are in a molten, single phase state at the first ink jetting temperature; wherein at the second temperature, the phase separation ink comprises a crystalline phase comprising the at least one crystallizable component and an amorphous phase comprising the at least one amorphous component;

wherein the at least one crystallizable component is diphenethyl L-tartrate and the at least one amorphous component is di-L methyl L-tartrate; or

wherein the at least one crystallizable component is Bis(4-methoxyphenyl) octanedioate and the at least one amorphous component is tri-DL-menthyl citrate;

(2) melting the ink;

(3) causing droplets of the melted ink to be ejected in an imagewise pattern onto an intermediate transfer member or directly onto the final image receiving substrate; and

(4) optionally, if an intermediate transfer member is used, transferring the image to the final image receiving substrate.

Assignments (9)