# US 2014/0198143 A1 · Fluorescent phase change ink compositions

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- Number: US 2014/0198143 A1
- Document ID: US20140198143A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/743,215
- Filed: 2013-01-16
- Published: 2014-07-17
- Earliest claimed: 2013-01-16
- Assignees: Xerox Corporation
- Applicants: Xerox Corporation
- Inventors: Gabriel Iftime; Daryl W. Vanbesien; Stephan V. Drappel; Jennifer L. Belelie; Adela Goredema
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140198143A1

## CPC

- C09D 5/00: Coating compositions, e.g. paints, varnishes or lacquers, characterised by their physical nature or the effects produced {(electrically insulating plastics, resins or waxes H01B3/30)}; Filling pastes
- B41J 2/21: for multi-colour printing
- B41M 3/144: {using fluorescent, luminescent or iridescent effects}
- C09D 11/34: Hot-melt inks
- C09D 11/38: characterised by non-macromolecular additives other than solvents, pigments or dyes
- C09D 11/50: Sympathetic, colour changing or similar inks
- C09D: COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES OR LACQUERS; FILLING PASTES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; INKS; CORRECTING FLUIDS; WOODSTAINS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR (cosmetics A61K; processes for applying liquids or other fluent materials to surfaces, in general, B05D; staining wood B27K5/02; glazes or vitreous enamels C03C; natural resins, French polish, drying-oils, driers, turpentine, per se, C09F; polishing compositions other than French polish, ski waxes C09G; adhesives or use of materials as adhesives C09J; materials for sealing or packing joints or covers C09K3/10; materials for stopping leaks C09K3/12; processes for the electrolytic or electrophoretic production of coatings C25D)
- B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41M: PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING, (correction of typographical errors B41J; processes for applying transfer pictures or the like B44C1/16; fluid media for correction of typographical errors by coating C09D10/00; printing textiles D06P)

## Abstract

A phase change ink composition comprising an amorphous component, a crystalline material, a fluorescent material and optionally, a non-fluorescent colorant, which are suitable for ink jet printing, including printing on coated paper substrates. The novel phase change ink formulation allows the ink to change color when exposed to UV light, reversibly and multiple times, providing an ink suitable for use in security applications.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A phase change ink comprising:
a crystalline component having a viscosity of less than 12 cps at a temperature of about 140° C. and a viscosity of greater than 1×106 cps at room temperature;
an amorphous component having a viscosity of less than 100 cps at a temperature of about 140° C. and a viscosity of greater than 1×106 cps at room temperature;
a fluorescent material; and
an optional non-fluorescent colorant, wherein a ratio between the absorbance of the fluorescent compound and the remaining components of the ink at an activation wavelength is higher than 1.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The phase change ink of claim 1 being capable of being printed at speeds of 200 pages per minute or higher with a direct to paper sheet fed or continuous print device without successive papers sticking and requiring no delay prior to cutting and/or stacking the sheets.

### Claim 3

(canceled)

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The phase change ink of claim 1, wherein the crystalline and amorphous components are blended in a weight ratio of from about 65:35 to about 95:5, respectively.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The phase change ink of claim 4, wherein the crystalline and amorphous components are blended in a weight ratio of from about 70:30 to about 90:10, respectively.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The phase change ink of claim 1, wherein the crystalline component is selected from the group consisting of
stereoisomers thereof and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The phase change ink of claim 1, wherein the amorphous component is selected from the group consisting of
stereoisomers thereof and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The phase change ink of claim 1, wherein the fluorescent material is present in an amount of from about 0.01 to about 15 percent by weight of the total weight of the phase change ink.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The phase change ink of claim 1, wherein the fluorescent material is selected from the group consisting of a fluorescent dye, fluorescent nano-pigment, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The phase change ink of claim 9, wherein the fluorescent dye is selected from the group consisting of rhodamines, fluoresciens, coumarins, napthalimides, benzoxanthenes, acridines, azos, coordination complexes of rare earth metal ions, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The phase change ink of claim 9, wherein the fluorescent nano-pigment is selected from the group consisting of (a) a fluorescent compound including at least one functional moiety and a stabilizer compound including at least one functional group, wherein the functional moiety associates non-covalently with the at least one functional group and wherein the fluorescent compound is a benzothioxanthene derivative; (b) a composite nanoparticle comprising a polymeric matrix comprising one or more crosslinked polymer resins and one or more fluorescent dyes, wherein the fluorescent dyes are incorporated into the polymer matrix; and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The phase change ink of claim 9, wherein the fluorescent nano-pigment has a particle size of less than 500 nm.

### Claim 13

(canceled)

### Claim 14

A method for confirming authenticity of an item, comprising:
providing a phase change ink for use in an inkjet printing apparatus, comprising:
a crystalline component having a viscosity of less than 12 cps at a temperature of about 140° C. and a viscosity of greater than 1×106 cps at room temperature,
an amorphous component having a viscosity of less than 100 cps at a temperature of about 140° C. and a viscosity of greater than 1×106 cps at room temperature,
a fluorescent material, and
an optional non-fluorescent colorant, wherein the phase change ink is capable of being printed at speeds of 200 pages per minute or higher with a direct to paper sheet fed or continuous print device without successive papers sticking and requiring no delay prior to cutting and/or stacking the sheets;
using the phase change ink in an inkjet printing apparatus to form text or image on an item;
exposing the formed text or image on the item to ultraviolet light; and
confirming a color change to the formed text or image upon exposure to the ultraviolet light, wherein the color change confirms authenticity of the item.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the color change is from a colorless state to a colored state.

### Claim 16 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the color change is from a colored state to a different colored state.

### Claim 17 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the color change is reversible once the ultraviolet light is removed.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the item is a packaging container, document, or a label.

### Claim 19 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the fluorescent material is present in an amount of from about 0.01 to about 15 percent by weight of the total weight of the phase change ink.

### Claim 20 (depends on 14)

The method of claim 14, wherein the fluorescent material is selected from the group consisting of a fluorescent dye, fluorescent nano-pigment, and mixtures thereof.

### Claim 21

A phase change ink comprising:
a crystalline component having a viscosity of less than 12 cps at a temperature of about 140° C. and a viscosity of greater than 1×106 cps at room temperature;
an amorphous component having a viscosity of less than 100 cps at a temperature of about 140° C. and a viscosity of greater than 1×106 cps at room temperature;
a fluorescent material; and
an optional non-fluorescent colorant, wherein the fluorescent material is selected from the group consisting of a fluorescent dye, fluorescent nano-pigment, and mixtures thereof and further wherein the fluorescent nano-pigment is selected from the group consisting of (a) a fluorescent compound including at least one functional moiety and a stabilizer compound including at least one functional group, wherein the functional moiety associates non-covalently with the at least one functional group and wherein the fluorescent compound is a benzothioxanthene derivative; (b) a composite nanoparticle comprising a polymeric matrix comprising one or more crosslinked polymer resins and one or more fluorescent dyes, wherein the fluorescent dyes are incorporated into the polymer matrix; and mixtures thereof.