Encapsulated dye particle
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorsKent Vincent, Sivapackia Ganapathiappan
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Abstract
A method for stabilizing a dye in an ink comprising the dye and a vehicle is provided. The ink is intended for printing on a print medium, which may comprise a variety of surfaces. The method comprises: (a) providing at least one dye moiety (molecule or monomer); (b) encapsulating the dye moiety in a transparent polymeric matrix to form an encapsulated dye particle that provides a barrier to protect the dye moiety; and (c) incorporating the encapsulated dye particle in the ink. The dye moiety is substantially water-insoluble. Consequently, the method of the present invention enables the use of hydrophobic colorants in a hydrophilic vehicle. A hydrophobic film thus forms on the print medium upon drying.
Claims19
A method for stabilizing a dye in an ink comprising said dye and a vehicle, said ink intended for printing on a print medium, said method comprising:
- (a) providing at least one dye moiety that is substantially insoluble in water;
- (b) encapsulating said dye moiety in a transparent polymeric matrix to form an encapsulated dye particle that provides a barrier to protect said dye moiety;
- and
- (c) incorporating said encapsulated dye particle in said ink, wherein said encapsulated dye particles are dispersion-stable and wherein said ink, when printed, forms a film that is waterfast when dried.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.