Phase change ink formulation using an isocyanate-derived wax and a clear ink carrier base
AssigneeTektronix, Inc.
InventorsDonald R. Titterington, Jeffery H. Banning, Clifford R. King
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Colored waxes are made by reacting selected nucleophiles, including alcohol containing colorants with an isocyanate are disclosed. A phase change ink is made by blending the colored wax with a clear ink carrier composition. The clear ink carrier composition can be a fatty amide-based material and/or a combination of isocyanate-derived resins in which the order of addition of the isocyanate and the different nucleophiles can tailor the distribution of di-urethane, mixed urethane/urea, and/or di-urea molecules in the final resin product. The colored wax materials are useful as ingredients with phase change ink carrier compositions to make phase change ink jet inks.
Claims44
A phase change ink composition comprising in combination:
- (a) a colored urethane wax that is the reaction product of at least one hydroxyl-containing colorant and an isocyanate;
- and
- (b) a clear ink carrier composition.
A method for producing a layer of a phase change ink on a surface of a substrate, which comprises:
- (1) forming a phase change ink composition in the solid phase, comprising an admixture of (a) a clear phase change carrier composition and (b) a colored urethane wax material;
- said colored urethane wax material being the reaction product of an isocyanate and a hydroxyl-containing colorant;
- (2) transferring said solid phase, phase change ink composition to a phase change ink application means;
- (3) raising the operating temperature of said application means to a level whereby a liquid phase, phase change ink composition is formed;
- (4) providing a substrate in proximity to said application means;
- (5) applying a predetermined pattern of said liquid phase, phase change ink composition to at least one surface of said substrate;
- (6) lowering the temperature of said applied ink composition to form a solid phase, phase change ink pattern on the substrate.
A method for producing a layer of a phase change ink on the surface of a substrate, which comprises:
- (1) employing in a printing apparatus a phase change ink composition in the solid phase comprising an admixture of (a) a clear phase change carrier composition and (b) a colored urethane wax material;
- said colored urethane wax material being the reaction product of an isocyanate and a hydroxyl-containing colorant;
- (2) applying the phase change ink composition in a desired pattern to an intermediate transfer surface;
- (3) transferring the desired pattern of the phase change ink composition to the surface of the substrate.
A colored urethane wax usable in a phase change ink formulation as a colorant, the colored urethane wax being the reaction product of at least one hydroxyl-containing colorant and an isocyanate, the colored urethane wax being free of any polyester polyol and being undiluted and uncut.
A phase change ink composition comprising in combination:
- (a) a colored urethane wax that is the reaction product of at least one hydroxyl-containing colorant and an isocyanate;
- and
- (b) a clear ink carrier composition comprising in combination a mixed urethane/urea resin, a diurethane resin, and a fatty amide.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.