Inkjet inks containing crosslinked polyurethanes

Abstract

Inkjet inks are described that have, as a principal component, a crosslinked polyurethane dispersoid binder additive. These inks can be used for printing on different media, and are particularly suitable for printing on textiles.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 537,880 (filed Jan. 21, 2004), the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes as if fully set forth. [0002] This application is related to commonly owned U.S. application Ser. No. __ / ___,___, concurrently filed herewith, entitled “Inkjet Inks Containing Crosslinked Polyurethanes”, which also claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60 / 537,880 (filed Jan. 21, 2004).BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] This invention pertains to inkjet inks, more specifically to pigmented inkjet inks containing crosslinked polyurethane dispersoid binders, which are particularly suitable for textile printing. [0004] Inkjet recording is a printing method wherein droplets of ink are ejected through fine nozzles to form letters or figures on the surface of recording media. Inks used in such reco...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0024] It was found that the washfastness and stain rating of an inkjet printed textile can be improved to a commercially acceptable level by using a crosslinked polyurethane dispersoid binder in aqueous inkjet inks. The instant invention is particularly advantageous for improving the durability of textiles printed with colorants in inkjet inks, and allows the achievement of commercially acceptable durability for inkjet ink printed textiles.

[0034] The printed textile can optionally be subject to a fusing process after printing. The fusing process requires exposing the printed textile to a combination of heat and pressure, which has been found to generally improve the durability of the textile, particularly when the colorant is a pigment. In particular, the post treatment combination of heat and pressure has been found to improve wash fastness and stain rating.

Problems solved by technology

While dyes typically offer superior color properties compared to pigments, they tend to fade quickly and are more prone to rub off.

Even as inkjet hardware improvements are made to increase printing speeds, adoption of inkjet printing in the textile industry will be impeded if methods to also improve colorfastness are not found.

A disadvantage of inkjet printing, in particular inkjet printing with pigmented ink, is inkjet printed fabrics are particularly susceptible to color removal by abrasion and thus have poor durability.

Furthermore, another disadvantage of inkjet printing, in particular inkjet printing with pigmented ink is that inkjet printed fabrics do not tolerate washing conditions required for textiles.

The printed colors both fade upon washing and during the wash the colors can be undesirably transferred to other fabrics in the wash or to the washing machine parts.

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