Ultra violet curable 100 percent solids inks

Abstract

The present invention provides a 100% solids Uv curable ink. A 100% solids Uv curable ink should emit substantially less VOCs than an organic solvent-based ink because the components of the solids ink are intended to become part of the Uv cured product. An ink for one embodiment of the present invention can comprise more than one resin, a photoinitiator, a carrier medium; and a colorant. Preferably the one polymerizable resin is a highly functional resin and another polymerizable resin is a low functional resin. One resin may be high viscosity and the other low viscosity. The ink could be suitable for use in a drop on demand print system such as with a piezoelectric printer. Further, certain aspects of the invention provide a method for formulating an ink by combining a polymerizable resin, a photoinitiator, and a colorant in a carrier medium. Such an ink can be jetted onto a substrate and cured with ultra violet radiation. The jetting and curing of the ink can be caused by an ink jet printhead with an ultra violet lamp attached to the printhead. This lamp-printhead can be used in an ink jet printer. Other aspects of the present invention include a multicolor ink sets.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.