# US 5,700,316 A · Acoustic ink compositions > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 5,700,316 A - Document ID: US5700316A - Status: Granted - Kind: A - Application number: 08/624,156 - Filed: 1996-03-29 - Granted: 1997-12-23 - Earliest claimed: 1996-03-29 - Assignees: Xerox Corporation - Inventors: Fatima M. Pontes; Guerino G. Sacripante; Stephan V. Drappel; Anthony J. Paine; Gregory J. Kovacs - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5700316A ## CPC - C09D 11/34: Hot-melt 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) ## Abstract An ink composition comprised of a colorant and a vehicle of a poly(alkylene oxide)-alkylate (I), a poly(alkylene oxide)-dialkylate (II), a polyoxa-alkanoate ester (III), or a polyoxa-alkanedioate diester (IV), and which ink possesses a viscosity of from about 1 centipoise to about 15 centipoise at a temperature of from about 125.degree. C. to about 165.degree. C., and which vehicle is of the formulas ##STR1## wherein R is alkyl, R' is an alkylene, or arylene, and n is an integer of from about 2 to about 20. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ink composition comprised of a colorant and a vehicle of a poly(alkylene oxide)-alkylate (I), a poly(alkylene oxide)-dialkylate (II), a polyoxa-alkanoic ester (III), or a polyoxa-alkaneoic diester (IV), and which ink possesses a viscosity of from about 1 centipoise to about 15 centipoise at a temperature of from about 125.degree. C. to about 165.degree. C., and which vehicle is of the formulas ##STR3## wherein R is alkyl, R' is an alkylene, or arylene, and n is an integer of from about 2 to about 20. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein the poly(alkylene oxide)-alkylate (I), the poly(alkylene oxide)-dialkylate (II), the polyoxa-alkanoic ester (III), or the polyoxa-alkanedoic diester (IV) possesses a molecular weight, M.sub.w, of from about 200 to about 2,000 grams per mole. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein the ink is a solid at a temperature of from about 20.degree. C. to about 40.degree. C. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein the colorant is a dye, and the ink possesses a viscosity of from about 1 to about 10. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein said poly(alkylene oxide)-dialkylate of Formula (II), is (ethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethylene)-diacetate, (ethyleneoxyethyleneoxy-ethyleneoxyethylene)-diacetate, (ethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethyleneoxy-ethyleneoxyethylene)-diacetate, (ethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethyleneoxy-ethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethylene)-diaceta te, (ethyleneoxyethylene-oxyethylene)-distearate, (ethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethylene)-distearate, (ethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethylene)-distearate, (ethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethyleneoxy-ethyleneoxyethylene)-distear ate, (ethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethylene)-dilaurate, (ethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethylene)-dilaurate, (ethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethylene)-dilaurate, (ethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethylene)-dilaurat e, (propyleneoxypropyleneoxypropylene)-diacetate, (propyleneoxypropyleneoxypropyleneoxypropylene)-diacetate, (propyleneoxypropyleneoxypropyleneoxypropyleneoxypropylene)-diacetate, (propyleneoxypropyleneoxypropyleneoxypropyleneoxy-propyleneoxypropylene)-d iacetate, (propyleneoxypropyleneoxy-propylene)-distearate, (propyleneoxypropyleneoxypropylene-oxypropylene)-distearate, (propyleneoxypropyleneoxy-propyleneoxy-propyleneoxypropylene)-distearate, or (propyleneoxypropyleneoxy-propyleneoxypropyleneoxy-propyleneoxy-propylene) -distearate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein said poly(alkylene oxide)-alkylate of formula (I), is (ethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethylene)-acetate, (ethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethylene)-acetate, (ethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethylene)-acetate, (ethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethylene)-acetate, (ethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethylene)-stearate, (ethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethylene)-stearate, (ethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethylene)-stearate, (ethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethylene)-stearate , (ethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethylene)-laurate, (ethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethylene)-laurate, (ethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethylene)-laurate, (ethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethyleneoxyethylene)-laurate, (propyleneoxypropyleneoxypropylene)-acetate, (propyleneoxypropyleneoxypropyleneoxyproplene)-acetate, (propyleneoxypropyleneoxypropyleneoxypropyleneoxypropylene)-acetate, (propyleneoxypropyleneoxypropyleneoxypropyleneoxypropyleneoxy-propylene)-a cetate, (propyleneoxypropyleneoxypropylene)-stearate, (propyleneoxypropyleneoxypropyleneoxypropylene)-stearate, (propyleneoxypropyleneoxypropyleneoxypropyleneoxypropylene)-stearate, (propyleneoxypropyleneoxypropyleneoxypropyleneoxy-propyleneoxypropylene)-s tearate, (propyleneoxypropyleneoxyproplene)-laurate, (propyleneoxypropyleneoxypropyleneoxypropylene)-laurate, (propyleneoxypropyleneoxypropyleneoxypropyleneoxy-propylene)-laurate, or (propyleneoxypropyleneoxypropyleneoxypropyleneoxy-propyleneoxypropylene)-l aurate. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein said polyoxa-alkanoic ester of Formula (III) is methyl 3,6-dioxaheptanoate, ethyl 3,6-dioxaheptanoate, methyl 3,6-dioxaheptanoate, ethyl 3,6-dioxaheptanoate, propyl 3,6-dioxaheptanoate, butyl 3,6-dioxaheptanoate, isopropyl 3,6-dioxaheptanoate, isobutyl 3,6-dioxaheptanoate, neopentyl 3,6-dioxaheptanoate, hexyl 3,6-dioxaheptanoate, heptyl 3,6-dioxaheptanoate, octyl 3,6-dioxaheptanoate, nonyl 3,6-dioxaheptanoate, decyl 3,6-dioxaheptanoate, dodecyl 3,6-dioxaheptanoate, stearyl 3,6-dioxaheptanoate, methyl 3,6,9-trioxadecanoate, ethyl 3,6,9-trioxadecanoate, propyl 3,6,9-trioxadecanoate, butyl 3,6,9-trioxadecanoate, isopropyl 3,6,9-trioxadecanoate, isobutyl 3,6,9-trioxadecanoate, neopentyl 3,6,9-trioxadecanoate, hexyl 3,6,9-trioxadecanoate, heptyl 3,6,9-trioxadecanoate, octyl 3,6,9-trioxadecanoate, nonyl 3,6,9-trioxadecanoate, decyl 3,6,9-trioxadecanoate, dodecyl 3,6,9-trioxadecanoate, stearyl 3,6,9-trioxadecanoate, or lauryl 3,6,9-trioxadecanoate. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein said polyoxa-alkanedioic of Formula (IV) is dimethyl 3,6,9-trioxaundecanedioate, diethyl 3,6,9-trioxaundecanedioate, dipropyl 3,6,9-trioxaundecanedioate, dibutyl 3,6,9-trioxaundecanedioate, diisopropyl 3,6,9-trioxaundecanedioate, diisobutyl 3,6,9-trioxaundecanedioate, dineopentyl 3,6,9-trioxaundecanedioate, dihexyl 3,6,9-trioxaundecanedioate, diheptyl 3,6,9-trioxaundecanedioate, dioctyl 3,6,9-trioxaundecanedioate, dinonyl 3,6,9-trioxaundecanedioate, didecyl 3,6,9-trioxaundecanedioate, didodecyl 3,6,9-trioxaundecanedioate, distearyl 3,6,9-trioxaundecanedioate, or dilauryl 3,6,9-trioxaundecanedioate. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein said colorant is dye present in an amount of from about 0.05 to about 20 weight percent. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein said colorant is a dye present in an amount of from about 1 to about 10 weight percent. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein said colorant is the dye cyan, magenta, yellow, blue, green, brown, black, or mixtures thereof. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein said poly(alkylene oxide)-alkylate (I), said poly(alkylene oxide)-dialkylate (II), said polyoxa-alkanoate ester (III), or said polyoxa-alkanedioate diester (IV) is present in an amount of from about 60 to about 99 weight percent. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein said poly(alkylene oxide)-alkylate (I), said poly(alkylene oxide)-dialkylate (II), said polyoxa-alkanoate ester (III), or said polyoxa-alkanedioate diester (IV) is present in an amount of from about 80 to about 95 weight percent. ### Claim 14 A printing process which comprises (a) incorporating into an acoustic ink jet printer an ink composition comprised of a colorant and a vehicle of a poly(alkylene oxide)-alkylate (I), a poly(alkylene oxide)-dialkylate (II), a polyoxa-alkanoic ester (III) or a polyoxa-alkanedoic diester (IV), and which ink possesses a viscosity of from about 1 centipoise to about 15 centipoise at a temperature of from about 125.degree. C. to about 165.degree. C., and which vehicle is of the formulas ##STR4## wherein R is alkyl with from 1 to about 50 carbon atoms, n is an integer of from about 2 to about 20, and R' is alkylene with from about 2 to about 50 carbon atoms; and (b) causing droplets of the ink to be ejected in an imagewise pattern onto a substrate. ### Claim 15 A process which comprises providing an acoustic ink printer having a pool of liquid ink with a free surface, and a printhead including at least one droplet ejector for radiating the free surface of said ink with focused acoustic radiation to eject individual droplets of ink therefrom on demand, said radiation being brought to focus with a finite waist diameter in a focal plane, said ink comprising a colorant and a vehicle of a poly(alkylene oxide)-alkylate (I), a poly(alkylene oxide)-dialkylate (II), a polyoxa-alkanoic ester (III), or a polyoxa-alkanedioic diester (IV); and said ink possessing a viscosity of from about 1 centipoise to about 15 centipoise at a temperature of from about 125.degree. C. to about 165.degree. C. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein said vehicle is poly(ethylene-oxide) distearate, stearyl 3,6-dioxaheptanoate, or stearyl 3,6,9-trioxadeconoate. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein said colorant is present in said ink in an amount of from about 0.05 to about 4 percent by weight, and said ink possesses a viscosity of from about 1 to about 10. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein the viscosity is from about 1 centipoise to about 6 centipoise at a temperature of from about 140.degree. C. to about 160.degree. C. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein R is methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, tridecyl, hexadecyl, octadecyl, stearyl, lauryl, 2'-methylpentyl; and R' is ethylene, propylene, butylene, pentylene, hexylene, heptylene, octylene, nonylene, decylene, undecylene, dodecylene, tridecylene, hexadecylene, octadecylene, stearylene, laurylene, or 2'-methylpentylene. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein R is stearyl or dodecyl, and R' is ethylene or propylene. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein R is stearyl. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein R is dodecyl. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein R' is ethylene. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein R' is propylene. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein R is methyl and R' is ethylene. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein R is methyl and R' is propylene. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein said alkyl contains from 1 to about 50 carbon atoms. ### Claim 28 (depends on 1) An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein said alkyl contains from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms. ### Claim 29 (depends on 1) An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein said alkylene contains from 2 to about 50 carbon atoms. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein said alkylene contains from 2 to about 20 carbon atoms, and said ink possesses a viscosity of from about 1 to about 10. ### Claim 31 (depends on 1) An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein said arylene contains from 7 to about 24 carbon atoms. ### Claim 32 (depends on 1) An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein said arylene is phenylene. ### Claim 33 (depends on 5) An ink composition in accordance with claim 5 wherein said vehicle is present in an amount of from about 85 to about 97 percent by weight of the ink, and said ink possesses a viscosity of from about 9 to about 15 at from about130.degree. C. to about 165.degree. C. ### Claim 34 (depends on 6) An ink composition in accordance with claim 6 wherein said vehicle is present in an amount of from about 85 to about 97 percent by weight of the ink. ### Claim 35 (depends on 7) An ink composition in accordance with claim 7 wherein said vehicle is present in an amount of from about 85 to about 97 percent by weight of the ink, and said ink possesses a viscosity of from about 9 to about 15 at from about130.degree. C. to about 165.degree. C. ### Claim 36 (depends on 8) An ink composition in accordance with claim 8 wherein said vehicle is present in an amount of from about 85 to about 97 percent by weight of the ink. ### Claim 37 (depends on 1) An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein alkyl is alkyleneoxy. ### Claim 38 (depends on 1) An ink composition in accordance with claim 1 wherein said viscosity is about 5 to 9 centipoise at 140.degree. C.