# US 2014/0198167 A1 · Photochromic phase change ink compositions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0198167 A1 - Document ID: US20140198167A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/742,931 - 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; Naveen Chopra; Adela Goredema - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140198167A1 ## CPC - C09D 11/34: Hot-melt inks - B41J 2/2107: {characterised by the ink properties (supplying ink in a solid state B41J2/17593)} - B41M 3/144: {using fluorescent, luminescent or iridescent effects} - 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 photochromic material and optionally, a 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 photochromic material; and an optional colorant. ### 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 (depends on 1) The phase change ink of claim 1, wherein a ratio between the absorbance of the photochromic compound and the remaining components of the ink at an activation wavelength is higher than 1. ### 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 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 6 (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 7 (depends on 1) The phase change ink of claim 1, wherein the photochromic material is present in an amount of from about 1 to about 15 percent by weight of the total weight of the phase change ink. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The phase change ink of claim 7, wherein the photochromic material is present in an amount of from about 1 to about 10 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 photochromic material is selected from the group consisting of diarylethenes, spiropyrans and spiroxazines, fulgides and fulgimides, stilbenes, aromatic azo compounds, quinones, permidinespirocyclohexadienones, viologens, triarylmethanes, anils, and mixtures thereof. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The phase change ink of claim 1, wherein the photochromic material remains in a changed state after exposure to UV light for a period of time of from about 1 second to about 1 month. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The phase change ink of claim 10, wherein the photochromic material remains in the changed state after exposure to UV light for a period of time of from about 1 second to about 1 day. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The phase change ink of claim 1, wherein the photochromic material returns to an initial state after exposure to visible light or heat. ### Claim 13 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 photochromic material; and a colorant selected from the group consisting of a pigment, dye or mixtures thereof. ### 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 photochromic material, and an optional colorant; 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 remains for a time period of from about 1 second to about 1 week. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the color change is reversible by exposing the formed text or image to visible light. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the color change is reversible by exposing the formed text or image to heat. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The method of claim 14, wherein the item is a packaging container, document, or a label.