Ink and method of using the ink

Abstract

A pigmented ink for printing on untreated vinyl foils or substrates coated with vinyl by means of piezoelectric printing systems which include at least one heating device, wherein the ink is composed of a liquid carrier substance, water insoluble coloring agents, polymeric binding agents, drying decelerators, as well as additional additives, wherein the liquid carrier substance is composed of water and drying decelerators which are mixable in water. The liquid carrier substance has a content of at least 80% by weight water and the content of drying decelerators is composed of at least butyldiglycol and 1-metaxipropanol-2, and the ink has a pH-value of greater than 8.5.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an aqueous ink or set of inks for printing uncoated vinyl foils or substrates which are coated with vinyl. The present invention also relates to a method of using the ink. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] Inks for printing foils are known in principle. [0005] When printing vinyl foils, it is necessary to distinguish between the coatings of coated and uncoated foils. [0006] For printing uncoated foils, special inks on a non-aqueous basis are known, wherein these inks are also referred to as so-called solvent inks. [0007] These inks have the disadvantage that they have a strong and unpleasant odor, are damaging to health and are flammable. This is also partially true for so-called ECO-solvent inks or light-solvent inks. Another disadvantage is to be seen in the fact that solvent inks can only be used in so-called solvent printers which are very expensive. There is no dou...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0013] Therefore, it is the primary object of the present invention to provide an aqueous ink for printing uncoated or untreated vinyl substrates which does not have the above-discussed disadvantages and which dries quickly after printing and ensures a high resistance to scratching. Another object of the invention is to provide an ink which is waterproof after drying.

Problems solved by technology

These inks have the disadvantage that they have a strong and unpleasant odor, are damaging to health and are flammable.

Another disadvantage is to be seen in the fact that solvent inks can only be used in so-called solvent printers which are very expensive.

The use of solvent printers has the disadvantage that these printers have a large structural size because due to the use of organic solvents, such as butylglycol acetate, suction installations or encapsulations must be provided for protecting the operating personnel.

In addition, solvent printers are more expensive than printers for aqueous systems because the components used in the systems, such as hoses, must be resistant to organic solvents.

However, the decisive disadvantage is the fact that the foils having special coatings are always extremely expensive.

Such ink has the disadvantage that it does not dry well because of the high proportion of drying decelerator on the basis of glycols.

In addition, after printing, the inks have the tendency to blur or even smudge.

Moreover, it has been found to be disadvantageous that these inks are only resistant to scratching after a complicated drying process at temperatures of about 200° C.

The disadvantage of printers constructed in this manner is the fact that two heating zones are necessary for safely drying the ink on the substrate.