Ink-Jet Printing Process

Abstract

A process for printing on a textile substrate comprising the steps of: (I) preparing an ink comprising the following components: (a) from 1 to 8 parts of a self-dispersible pigment which comprises a carboxy-functional dispersant crosslinked around a pigment core by a crosslinking agent having at least two groups selected from oxetane, carbodiimide, hydrazide, oxazoline, aziridine, isocyanate, N-methylol, keteneimine, isocyanurate and epoxy groups; (b) from 0 to 16 parts of a binder selected from one or more of an acrylic latex binder, a styrene acrylic latex binder and a styrene butadiene latex binder wherein the binder has a Tg in the range of from 25 C. to 35 C.; (c) from 1 to 30 parts of one or more water-miscible organic solvents (d) from 0.1 to 3 parts of a surfactant; (e) from 0 to 5 parts of biocide; (f) from 0 to 10 parts of a viscosity modifier; (g) from 0 to 10 parts of a polyurethane latex binder with a Tg in the range of from 25 C. to 35 C.; (h) from 0 to 6 parts of a cross linking agent; and (i) the balance to 100 parts water: (II) optionally preparing a latex binders solution comprising; i) from 1 to 16 parts of one or more latex binders selected from an acrylic latex binder, a styrene acrylic latex binder and a styrene butadiene latex binder where the latex binder(s) have a Tg in the range of from 25 C. to 35 C.; ii) from 0 to 6 parts of a polyurethane latex binder; and iii) from 0 to 5 parts of a cross linking agent: (III) printing the ink prepared in step (I) on to a textile substrate using a ink jet printer with a single pass print head and optionally pre-printing or overprinting with the latex binder solution from step (II) (IV) curing the printed textile substrate from step (III): provided that if component (b) in the ink prepared in step (a) is 0 then optional step (II) is compulsory. Also inks, ink-sets, ink containers and ink-jet printers.

Claims

1. A process for printing on a textile substrate comprising the steps of: (I) preparing an ink comprising the following components: (a) from 1 to 8 parts of a self-dispersible pigment which comprises a carboxy-functional dispersant crosslinked around a pigment core by a crosslinking agent having at least two groups selected from oxetane, carbodiimide, hydrazide, oxazoline, aziridine, isocyanate, N-methylol, keteneimine, isocyanurate and epoxy groups; (b) from 0 to 16 parts of a binder selected from one or more of an acrylic latex binder, a styrene acrylic latex binder and a styrene butadiene latex binder wherein the binder has a Tg in the range of from 25 C. to 35 C.; (c) from 1 to 30 parts of one or more water-miscible organic solvents (d) from 0.1 to 3 parts of a surfactant; (e) from 0 to 5 parts of biocide; (f) from 0 to 10 parts of a viscosity modifier; (g) from 0 to 10 parts of a polyurethane latex binder with a Tg in the range of from 25 C. to 35 C.; (h) from 0 to 6 parts of a cross linking agent; and (i) the balance to 100 parts water: (II) optionally preparing a latex binders solution comprising; i) from 1 to 16 parts of one or more latex binders selected from an acrylic latex binder, a styrene acrylic latex binder and a styrene butadiene latex binder where the latex binder(s) have a Tg in the range of from 25 C. to 35 C.; ii) from 0 to 6 parts of a polyurethane latex binder; and iii) from 0 to 5 parts of a cross linking agent: (III) printing the ink prepared in step (I) on to a textile substrate using a ink jet printer with a single pass print head and optionally pre-printing or overprinting with the latex binder solution from step (II) (IV) curing the printed textile substrate from step (III): provided that if component (b) in the ink prepared in step (a) is 0 then optional step (II) is compulsory.

2. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein component (b) is a styrene butadiene latex binder.

3. The process as claimed in claim 2 wherein component (b) is a carboxylated styrene butadiene latex binder.

4. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein component (b) is present in the range of 4 to 12 parts.

5. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein optional components (g) and (h) are absent.

6. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the viscosity of the ink prepared in step 1 at 32 C. is in the range of from 10 to 14 mPas when measured using a Brookfield DV2T with the SC4-18 spindle at 150 rpm.

7. The process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the viscosity of the ink prepared in step 1 at 32 C. is in the range of from 4 to 8 mPas when measured using a Brookfield DV2T with the SC4-18 spindle at 150 rpm.

8. The process as claimed in any one of claim 1 wherein in step (III) the ink prepared in step (I) is printed on to a textile substrate using a ink jet printer with an ink re-circulating print-head.

9. The process as claimed in claim 1 which comprises one of more drying steps prior to curing.

10. An ink comprising (a) from 2 to 6 parts of a self-dispersible pigment which comprises a carboxy-functional dispersant crosslinked around a pigment core by a crosslinking agent having at least two groups selected from oxetane, carbodiimide, hydrazide, oxazoline, aziridine, isocyanate, N-methylol, keteneimine, isocyanurate and epoxy groups; (b) from 0 to 16 parts of a binder selected from one or more of an acrylic latex binder, a styrene acrylic latex binder and a styrene butadiene latex binder wherein the binder has a Tg in the range of from 25 C. to 35 C.; (c) from 5 to 15 parts of one or more water-miscible organic solvents (d) from 0.1 to 0.5 parts of a surfactant; (e) from 0.01 to 1 parts of biocide; (f) from 3 to 8 parts of a viscosity modifier; (g) the balance to 100 parts water: and wherein the ink has a viscosity at 30 C. in the range of from 10 to 14 mPa s when measured using a Brookfield DV2T with the SC4-18 spindle at 150 rpm.

11. An ink comprising (a) from 2 to 6 parts of a self-dispersible pigment which comprises a carboxy-functional dispersant crosslinked around a pigment core by a crosslinking agent having at least two groups selected from oxetane, carbodiimide, hydrazide, oxazoline, aziridine, isocyanate, N-methylol, keteneimine, isocyanurate and epoxy groups; (b) from 0 to 16 parts of a binder selected from one or more of an acrylic latex binder, a styrene acrylic latex binder and a styrene butadiene latex binder wherein the binder has a Tg in the range of from 25 C. to 35 C.; (c) from 5 to 15 parts of one or more water-miscible organic solvents (d) from 0.1 to 0.5 parts of a surfactant; (e) from 0.01 to 1 parts of biocide; (f) from 0 to 5 parts of a viscosity modifier; (g) the balance to 100 parts water: and wherein the ink has a viscosity at 30 C. in the range of from 4 to 8 mPa s when measured using a Brookfield DV2T with the SC4-18 spindle at 150 rpm.

12. A textile substrate printed by a process as described in claim 1.

13. An ink-jet printer ink container comprising an ink as described in claim 10.

14. An ink-jet printer with a re-circulating printer head containing an ink-jet printer ink container as described in claim 13.

15. An ink-set comprising two or more different coloured inks as described in claim 10.

16. A textile substrate printed with an ink as described in claim 10.

Description

EXAMPLES

[0223] The present invention will now be illustrated by the following examples in which all parts are by weight unless stated to the contrary.

Example 1

[0224] The present invention will now be illustrated by the following examples in which all parts are by weight unless stated to the contrary.

[0225] The self-dispersible pigment used was Pro-Jet APD 1000 Black. Identical inks may be prepared using Pro-Jet APD 1000 Cyan, Magenta and Yellow. The Pro-Jet APD 1000 pigment dispersions are available from FUJIFILM Imaging Colorants Limited.

[0226] Surfynol 440 is an acetylenic surfactant from Air Products.

[0227] Rovene 4170 is a styrene butadiene dispersion from Mallard Creek Polymers. The Tg of Rovene 4170 is 4 C. and the acid number is 50 mgKOH/g.

[0228] 1,2-Benzisothazolin-3-one was obtained as Proxel GXL (20% solution) from Lonza.

Example 1Black Ink

[0229]

TABLE-US-00001 Component Formulation At 100% Active (Wt %) Pro-Jet Black ADP 4000 4.00 Glycerol 3.75 Ethylene glycol 1.25 2 Pyrrolidone 95% 5.00 Surfynol 440 0.33 1,2-Benzisothazolin-3-one 0.02 Rovene 4170 8.00 PEG 20K 5.20 DI Water to 100 Properties pH 8.51 Viscosity at 32 C. mPs 12.46 Surface Tension D/cm 35.68

Example 2Cyan Ink

[0230]

TABLE-US-00002 Component Formulation At 100% Active (Wt %) Pro-Jet Cyan ADP 4000 4.00 Glycerol 3.75 Ethylene glycol 1.25 2 Pyrrolidone 95% 5.00 Surfynol 440 0.32 1,2-Benzisothazolin-3-one 0.02 Rovene 4170 8.00 PEG 20K 6.30 DI Water to 100 Properties pH 8.56 Viscosity at 32 C. mPs 12.26 Surface Tension D/cm 36.05

Example 3Magenta Ink

[0231]

TABLE-US-00003 Component Formulation At 100% Active (Wt %) Pro-Jet Magenta ADP 4000 4.00 Glycerol 3.75 Ethylene glycol 1.25 2 Pyrrolidone 95% 5.00 Surfynol 440 0.32 1,2-Benzisothazolin-3-one 0.02 Rovene 4170 8.00 PEG 20K 6.40 DI Water to 100 Properties pH 8.67 Viscosity at 32 C. mPs 12.98 Surface Tension D/cm 35.82

Example 4Yellow Ink

[0232]

TABLE-US-00004 Component Formulation At 100% Active (Wt %) Pro-Jet Yellow ADP 1000 4.00 Glycerol 3.75 Ethylene glycol 1.25 2 Pyrrolidone 95% 5.00 Surfynol 440 0.33 1,2-Benzisothazolin-3-one 0.02 Rovene 4170 8.00 PEG 20K 6.00 DI Water to 100 Properties pH 8.67 Viscosity at 32 C. mPs 12.68 Surface Tension D/cm 35.87

Example 5Red Ink

[0233]

TABLE-US-00005 Component Formulation At 100% Active (Wt %) Pro-Jet Red ADP 1000 4.00 Glycerol 3.75 Ethylene glycol 1.25 2 Pyrrolidone 95% 5.00 Surfynol 440 0.35 1,2-Benzisothazolin-3-one 0.02 Rovene 4170 8.00 PEG 20K 6.00 DI Water to 100 Properties pH 8.67 Viscosity at 32 C. mPs 12.82 Surface Tension D/cm 35.71

Example 6Blue Ink

[0234]

TABLE-US-00006 Component Formulation At 100% Active (Wt %) Pro-Jet Black ADP 4000 4.00 Glycerol 3.75 Ethylene glycol 1.25 2 Pyrrolidone 95% 5.00 Surfynol 440 0.32 1,2-Benzisothazolin-3-one 0.02 Rovene 4170 8.00 PEG 20K 6.40 DI Water to 100 Properties pH 8.66 Viscosity at 32 C. mPs 12.88 Surface Tension D/cm 35.41

[0235] The ink was printed through a StarFire SG1024 re-circulating print head from FUJIFILM Dimatix. The StarFire SG1024 re-circulating print head is commonly only used with non-aqueous inks due to a tendency of its face plate to wet when used with aqueous inks, thus adversely effecting printer performance.

[0236] However the example inks printed without any problems. The print head was photographed with a JetXpert drop watcher. There was no evidence of any face plate wetting with the ink of the present invention.

[0237] The inks described above were also printed onto a range of textile substrates including acetate, cotton, nylon, polyester, acrylic and wool and assessed by the following American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) Standards. [0238] Colorfastness to laundering/washingAATCC 61 [0239] Colorfastness to lightAATCC 16 [0240] Colorfastness to crockingAATCC 116 [0241] Colorfastness to dry-cleaningAATCC 132

[0242] Cotton and a cotton polyester blend were printed by a process according to the present invention and assessed using the AATCC tests outlined above. The results are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

[0243] In Table 1 and 2 colorfastness to laundering/washing, colorfastness to crocking and colorfastness to dry-cleaning were all scored on a relative scale of 1 to 5 where 1 was poor and 5 excellent. Colorfastness to light was assessed on a relative scale of 1 to 8 where 1 was poor and 8 excellent.

[0244] In all of these tests substrates printed by a process of the present invention showed outstanding properties.

[0245] In all of these tests the textile substrates printed with inks, described above, by a process according to the present invention displayed excellent properties.

TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 1 Ink Name Black Cyan Magenta Yellow Blue Red Cotton Washfastness Shade 4 4 4 4 4 4 AATCC 61 Change (ISO105-C06) Color (49 C.-2A) Transfer Acetate 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 5 4-5 Cotton 4-5 4 4 4 4 4-5 Nylon 5 4-5 5 4-5 4-5 4-5 Polyester 5 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 Acrylic 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 Wool 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 Colorfastness to Shade 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 drycleaning Change AATCC 132 Color (ISO105-D01) Transfer Acetate 5 4 5 4-5 4 4-5 Cotton 5 4-5 5 4-5 4-5 4-5 Nylon 5 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 Polyester 5 4-5 5 4-5 4-5 4-5 Acrylic 5 4 5 4 3 4 Wool 5 4-5 5 4-5 4-5 4-5 Crockfastness Dry 4-5 4-5 4 4-5 4-5 4-5 (AATCC 116) Wet 3-4 3 3 3-4 3-4 3 (ISO105-X16) Lightfastness AATC Blue Scale 7 7 7 7 7 7 16 (ISO 105-B02) Grading 1-8

TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 2 Ink Name Black Cyan Magenta Yellow Blue Red Cotton- Washfastness Shade 4 4 4 4 4 4 Polyester AATCC 61 Change Blend (ISO105-C06) Color (49 C.-2A) Transfer Acetate 4-5 5 5 5 5 4-5 Cotton 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 Nylon 5 4-5 5 5 4-5 4-5 Polyester 4-5 4-5 5 5 5 4-5 Acrylic 4-5 4-5 4-5 5 5 4-5 Wool 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 Colorfastness to Shade 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 drycleaning Change AATCC 132 Color (ISO105-D01) Transfer Acetate 5 5 4-5 4-5 4-5 5 Cotton 5 5 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 Nylon 5 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 Polyester 5 5 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 Acrylic 5 5 4-5 4-5 4-5 4 Wool 5 5 5 4-5 4-5 4-5 Crockfastness Dry 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 4-5 (AATCC 116) Wet 3 3-4 3 3-4 3-4 3-4 (ISO105-X16) Lightfastness AATC Blue Scale 7 7 7 7 7 7 16 (ISO 105-B02) Grading 1-8