Curable phase change ink compositions
View Patent ↗A phase change ink composition is provided comprising a UV-curable component, a crystalline component, and an amorphous component, wherein the addition of a UV-curable component imparts improved robustness over the ink that contains only crystalline and amorphous materials.
1. A phase change ink composition comprising:
a UV-curable component,
a mono-amide crystalline component having an aromatic ring, wherein the aromatic ring is selected from the group consisting of a benzene group and a naphthalene group; and
an amorphous component.
2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the crystalline and amorphous components are blended in a weight ratio of from about 60:40 to about 95:5, respectively.
3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the UV curable component and the crystalline component are blended in a weight ratio of from about 40:60 to about 5:95.
4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the amorphous component has a viscosity of from about 1 to about 100 cps at a temperature of about 140° C.
5. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the amorphous component has a Tg value of from about 10 to about 50° C.
6. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the UV curable component is (2-hydroxyl ethyl) isocyanurate triacrylate.
7. A phase change ink composition comprising:
a UV-curable component;
a crystalline component,
an amorphous component selected from the group consisting of a polycyclic mono-amide and a polycyclic diamide.
8. The composition of claim 7 , wherein the crystalline and amorphous components are blended in a weight ratio of from about 60:40 to about 95:5, respectively.
9. The composition of claim 7 , wherein the UV curable component and the crystalline component are blended in a weight ratio of from about 40:60 to about 5:95.
10. The composition of claim 7 , wherein the crystalline component exhibits crystallization (Tcrys) and melting (Tmelt) peaks according to differential scanning calorimetry and the difference between the peaks (Tmelt−Tcrys) is less than 55° C.
11. The composition of claim 7 , wherein the UV curable component is (2-hydroxyl ethyl) isocyanurate triacrylate.
12. A phase change ink composition comprising:
a UV-curable component;
a crystalline component that is N-phenylethylbenzamide;
an amorphous component that is 4-tert-butyl cyclohexyl, cyclohexyl tartrate.
13. The composition of claim 12 , wherein the crystalline component and amorphous component are blended in a weight ratio of from about 60:40 and 95:5 respectively.