Malic acid derivatives as amorphous materials for phase change ink

A component that is substantially amorphous, the component comprising:

• at least one non-ester material and at least one ester of malic acid having a formula of
• wherein R1 and R2 each, independently of the other, is an alkyl group, and further wherein the alkyl portion can be straight, branched or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted, having from 1 to about 40 carbon atoms, an substituted or unsubstituted aromatic or heteroaromatic group, and mixtures thereof;
• wherein the at least one non-ester material and the at least one ester of malic acid are reaction products from the malic acid and one or more alcohols;
• and
• wherein the component has a viscosity of from about 1 to about 100 cps at a temperature from about 100° C. to about 140° C.

A method of forming a component, the method comprising:

• selecting at least one alcohol;
• reacting the at least one alcohol with a malic acid;
• and
• controlling one or more reaction conditions to form the component that is substantially amorphous, wherein the component comprises at least one non-ester material and at least one ester of malic acid having a formula of
• wherein R1 and R2 each, independently of the other, is an alkyl group, and further wherein the alkyl portion can be straight, branched or cyclic, saturated or unsaturated, substituted or unsubstituted, having from 1 to about 40 carbon atoms, an substituted or unsubstituted aromatic or heteroaromatic group, and mixtures thereof.