# US 9,751,326 B2 · Hyperbranched ink compositions for controlled dimensional change and low energy curing > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,751,326 B2 - Document ID: US9751326B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/620,945 - Filed: 2015-02-12 - Published: 2016-08-18 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-12 - Assignees: Xerox Corporation - Applicants: Xerox Corporation - Inventors: Carolyn Moorlag; C. Geoffrey Allen; Marcel P. Breton; Mihaela Maria Birau - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751326B2 ## CPC - B41J 2/2107: {characterised by the ink properties (supplying ink in a solid state B41J2/17593)} - C09D 11/037: characterised by the pigment - C09D 11/101: Inks specially adapted for printing processes involving curing by wave energy or particle radiation, e.g. with UV-curing following the printing - C09D 135/02: Homopolymers or copolymers of esters (C09D135/06, C09D135/08 take precedence) - B41J: TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS - 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 Disclosed herein are ink compositions including at least one hyperbranched oligomer present in an amount ranging from about 3% to about 20% and having a functionality ranging from about 6 to about 40; at least one pigment present in an amount of at least about 10%; and at least one photoinitiator present in an amount ranging from 5% to 10%. Further provided herein are methods of printing using a variable data digital lithographic printing device. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An ink composition comprising: at least one hyperbranched oligomer present in an amount ranging from about 3 wt % to about 20 wt % and having a functionality ranging from about 10 to about 20; at least one pigment present in an amount of at least 10%; at least one photoinitiator present in an amount ranging from about 5% to about 10%; and at least one rheology modifier chosen from organoclays, attapulgite clays and bentonite clays, wherein the ink composition has a viscosity ranging from about 5,000 cP to about 300,000 cP at 25° C. and a shear rate of 5 sec−1, and wherein the ink is a digital offset ink. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The ink composition of claim 1, further comprising at least one ingredient chosen from acrylate monomers, dispersants, and UV stabilizers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The ink composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one pigment is present in an amount of at least 15% based on the total weight of the ink composition. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The ink composition of claim 1, wherein at least one pigment is a black pigment. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The ink composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one hyperbranched oligomer is chosen from polyester acrylates. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The ink composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one hyperbranched oligomer has a functionality of 16. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The ink composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one hyperbranched oligomer is chosen from polymers of Formulae I and II: wherein A is an acrylate group or a methacrylate group and the linear and branched segments are chosen from alkyl, ether, branched ether, ester, branched ester, amide, azine, triazine, isocyanurate, and tris-isocyanurate groups. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The ink composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one hyperbranched oligomer is present in the ink composition in an amount of about 5 wt % to about 10 wt %. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The ink composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one pigment is chosen from black pigments, red pigments, blue pigments, cyan pigments, magenta pigments and yellow pigments. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The ink composition of claim 1, wherein the at least one pigment is not a white pigment. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The ink composition of claim 1, wherein the ink composition has a double methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) rub test value of at least 70 rubs. ### Claim 12 An ink composition comprising: at least one hyperbranched oligomer present in an amount ranging from about 3 wt % to about 20 wt % and having a functionality ranging from about 10 to about 20; at least one pigment present in an amount of at least 10%; at least one photoinitiator present in an amount ranging from about 5% to about 10%; and at least one rheology modifier chosen from organoclays, attapulgite clays, bentonite clays, and modified hydrogenated castor oils, wherein the ink composition has a viscosity ranging from about 5,000 cP to about 300,000 cP at 25° C. and a shear rate of 5 sec−1, and wherein the ink is a digital offset ink. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The ink composition of claim 12, wherein the at least one pigment is chosen from black pigments, red pigments, blue pigments, cyan pigments, magenta pigments and yellow pigments. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The ink composition of claim 12, wherein the at least one pigment is not a white pigment.