Heat-sensitive ink and heat-sensitive label

Abstract

The invention discloses time thermosensitive ink and a thermosensitive label. The thermosensitive ink is prepared from the following raw materials in parts by weight: 20-50 parts of film-forming resin, 30-90 parts of a solvent, 3-8 parts of a nutrient component, 1-10 parts of a reaction component and 0.05-0.2 part of reducing microorganisms. The thermosensitive ink comprises the nutrition component, the reaction component and the reducing microorganisms, the nutrition component can provide a necessary environment for growth and metabolism of the reducing microorganisms, the reaction component can be subjected to discoloration reaction under the action of the reducing microorganisms, and the rate of the discoloration reaction is positively correlated with the temperature, so that the discoloration effect is improved. And the color changing process can indicate the accumulated heating quantity of the product. The thermosensitive label comprises an indicating layer, and the indicating layer is obtained by printing and drying thermosensitive ink.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of inks, and in particular to a thermosensitive ink and a thermosensitive label. Background Art

[0002] The thermal ink of the prior art is usually dark in color, whether before or after the color change, such as white to black, white to brown, etc. The dark color is not easy to attract the attention of users. Summary of the Invention

[0003] Based on this, it is necessary to provide a thermal ink and a thermal label to solve the above problems.

[0004] A thermosensitive ink, wherein the raw materials for preparing the thermosensitive ink include, in parts by mass:

[0005]

[0006] In one embodiment, the nutritional components include a nitrogen source and a phosphorus source.

[0007] In one embodiment, the nitrogen source is an inorganic nitrogen salt, an organic nitrogen salt or nitrogen gas.

[0008] In one embodiment, the phosphorus source is a phosphate or an organophosphorus compound.

[0009] In one embodiment, the reaction components include a tin source and a sulfur source.

[0010] In one embodiment, the tin source is selected from at least one of SnCl2, SnCl4, SnSO4 or Na2SnO2.

[0011] In one embodiment, the sulfur source is selected from at least one of sulfate, sulfite, thiosulfate, elemental sulfur or an organic sulfur compound.

[0012] In one embodiment, the reducing microorganism is a sulfur-reducing bacterium.

[0013] In one embodiment, the sulfur-reducing bacteria is selected from at least one of Desulfovibrio, Geobacter sulfurreducens, Geobacter sulfurreducens, Enterobacter desulfuricans, Desulfobacterium or Desulfococcus.

[0014] The above-mentioned thermal-sensitive ink contains nutritional components, reactive components and reducing microorganisms. The nutritional components can provide the necessary environment for the growth and metabolism of reducing microorganisms. The reactive components can undergo a color change reaction under the action of reducing microorganisms, and the rate of the color change reaction is positively correlated with the temperature. The color change process can indicate the cumulative heat received by the product.

[0015] A thermal label comprises a laminated substrate layer, an indicator layer and a barrier layer, wherein the indicator layer is printed by any one of the thermal inks described above. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of a thermal label according to one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] To make the above-mentioned objects, features, and advantages of the present invention more readily apparent, specific embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The following description sets forth numerous specific details to facilitate a full understanding of the present invention. However, the present invention can be implemented in many other ways than those described herein, and those skilled in the art may make similar modifications without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed below.

[0018] It should be noted that when an element is referred to as being "fixed to" another element, it may be directly on the other element or there may be an intermediate element. When an element is considered to be "connected" or "communicating" with another element, it may be directly connected to the other element or there may be an intermediate element. The terms "upper," "lower," "vertical," "horizontal," "left," "right," and similar expressions used herein are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the only implementation methods.

[0019] The following is a further detailed description of the thermal ink and thermal label mainly in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0020] The thermal ink of one embodiment includes 20 to 50 parts of a film-forming resin, 30 to 90 parts of a solvent, 3 to 8 parts of a nutrient component, 1 to 10 parts of a reaction component, and 0.05 to 0.2 parts of a reducing microorganism.

[0021] The film-forming resin has a mass fraction of 20 to 50 parts. The film-forming resin is used to make the thermal ink have the characteristics of drying and forming a film, so that the thermal ink can adhere to the surface of the substrate.

[0022] In this embodiment, the film-forming resin is a water-based film-forming resin, which can be dissolved in solvent water, has good environmental performance, and can significantly reduce the emission of pollutants such as VOCs.

[0023] Optionally, the aqueous film-forming substance is selected from any one of aqueous polyurethane resin, aqueous polyurethane acrylate resin, aqueous acrylic copolymer resin, modified acrylic resin, aqueous epoxy resin, aqueous epoxy acrylate resin, aqueous polyester resin or polyvinyl pyrrolidone.

[0024] It should be understood that other materials that are soluble in solvents and have film-forming properties after drying can also be used as the film-forming resin of the present invention.

[0025] The solvent has a mass fraction of 30 to 90 parts, and is used to dissolve the film-forming resin, so that the thermal ink is in a colloidal state, thereby making the thermal ink printable.

[0026] In this embodiment, the solvent is water, which is non-toxic to reducing microorganisms and does not inhibit the survival of reducing microorganisms.

[0027] It should be understood that other materials that can dissolve the film-forming resin and do not inhibit the growth of reducing microorganisms can also be used as solvents in the present invention.

[0028] Nutrient components, including nitrogen and phosphorus sources, can provide the necessary environment for the growth and metabolism of reducing microorganisms.

[0029] Specifically, nitrogen, contained in the nitrogen source, plays three roles in thermal inks. First, nitrogen is essential for the growth of reducing microorganisms and is a key component of proteins, nucleic acids, and other cellular components. Second, the metabolic processes of reducing microorganisms rely on a variety of enzymes, and the synthesis of these enzymes requires nitrogen. Third, nitrogen participates in the synthesis of enzymes and components of the electron transport chain, affecting the energy metabolism of sulfur-reducing bacteria. In short, a lack of nitrogen in the thermal ink environment restricts the growth and metabolism of reducing microorganisms, thereby affecting the formation of sulfides and tin disulfide.

[0030] Optionally, the nitrogen source is selected from an inorganic nitrogen salt, an organic nitrogen salt or nitrogen gas.

[0031] Furthermore, the inorganic nitrogen salt is selected from at least one of ammonium salts, nitrates, and nitrites. The organic nitrogen salt is selected from organic substances such as amino acids, urea, proteins, nucleic acids, or amines.

[0032] Furthermore, ammonium salts include but are not limited to ammonium chloride and ammonium sulfate, nitrates include but are not limited to sodium nitrate and potassium nitrate, and nitrites include but are not limited to sodium nitrite. Amino acids include but are not limited to glutamic acid and aspartic acid.

[0033] It is worth noting that reducing microorganisms have the following priorities in the utilization of nitrogen sources:

[0034] (1) Ammonium salts can be used directly without consuming additional energy;

[0035] (2) Nitrates and nitrites need to be reduced to ammonium ions first, and this process consumes energy;

[0036] (3) Organic nitrogen source, which needs to be decomposed into ammonium ions or other nitrogen-containing compounds, and this process consumes energy;

[0037] (4) Nitrogen, which initiates the nitrogen fixation process only when there is a lack of other nitrogen sources.

[0038] Therefore, the activity of reducing microorganisms and thus the rate of color change reaction can be controlled by selecting different nitrogen sources.

[0039] Phosphorus, contained in the phosphorus source, plays three roles in thermal inks: First, it acts as an energy carrier. Phosphorus is a key component of ATP (adenosine triphosphate), a core molecule in the energy metabolism of reducing microorganisms. Second, phosphorus is essential for DNA, RNA, and cell membrane phospholipids, forming the nucleic acid and cell membrane structure of reducing microorganisms. Third, it maintains enzyme activity, and the activity of many enzymes depends on phosphorus or phosphorus-containing compounds (such as phosphates). In short, phosphorus deficiency directly affects the energy metabolism and growth of sulfur-reducing bacteria, thereby affecting the efficiency of sulfide (S2-) production.

[0040] Optionally, the phosphorus source is phosphate (PO4 3- ) or organophosphorus compounds.

[0041] Furthermore, phosphates include but are not limited to dihydrogen phosphate, hydrogen phosphate and orthophosphate.

[0042] Furthermore, dihydrogen phosphates include but are not limited to sodium dihydrogen phosphate and potassium dihydrogen phosphate. Hydrogen phosphates include but are not limited to disodium phosphate and dipotassium phosphate. Orthophosphates include but are not limited to trisodium phosphate, tripotassium phosphate, calcium phosphate, and ammonium phosphate.

[0043] The reaction components include a tin source and a sulfur source. The reaction components can undergo a chemical color change reaction under the action of reducing microorganisms.

[0044] Tin source, providing tin ions (Sn 2+ or Sn 4+ ).

[0045] Optionally, the tin source includes, but is not limited to, SnCl2, SnCl4, SnSO4 or Na2SnO2, which can be dissolved in the solvent, thereby allowing the thermal ink to have a balanced color.

[0046] The sulfur source provides the key substance sulfur element S in the chemical color change reaction of the reaction components.

[0047] Optionally, the sulfur source is selected from at least one of sulfate, sulfite, thiosulfate, elemental sulfur or sulfide.

[0048] Furthermore, sulfates include but are not limited to sodium sulfate and magnesium sulfate. Sulfites include but are not limited to sodium sulfite and potassium sulfite. Thiosulfates include but are not limited to sodium thiosulfate. Sulfides include but are not limited to sodium sulfide, potassium sulfide, and ammonium sulfide.

[0049] It should be pointed out that in the color change reaction of reducing microorganisms, the reaction rates of different sulfur sources are different. Therefore, choosing different sulfur sources can obtain thermal inks with different thermal sensitivities and different color change rates.

[0050] Specifically, in the color change reaction of reducing microorganisms, the reaction rates of the sulfur sources are arranged from large to small, namely: sulfide, thiosulfate, sulfite, sulfate and elemental sulfur.

[0051] Reducing microorganisms can metabolize sulfur sources to produce sulfide (S 2- ), and then with tin ions (Sn 4+ ) combine to form golden SnS2.

[0052] Specifically, sulfur-reducing bacteria use a sulfur source as an electron acceptor under anaerobic conditions and reduce it to sulfide (S2-).

[0053] Table 1 Reaction equations of sulfur-reducing bacteria to different sulfur sources

[0054]

[0055]

[0056] Optionally, the reducing microorganisms include but are not limited to: Desulfovibrio, Geobacter sulfurreducens, Geobacter sulfurreducens, Enterobacter desulfuricans, Desulfobacterium and Desulfococcus.

[0057] Preferably, the thermal ink further comprises 0.1 to 0.5 parts of acid. The hydrogen ions provided by the weakly acidic environment are beneficial to the metabolism of the sulfur source by reducing microorganisms.

[0058] Optionally, the acid includes, but is not limited to, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, citric acid, lactic acid, oxalic acid, and tartaric acid.

[0059] Preferably, the acid is phosphoric acid, acetic acid, citric acid and lactic acid. These acids are weak acids with low toxicity to reducing microorganisms and are suitable for maintaining a weakly acidic environment.

[0060] The above-mentioned thermal-sensitive ink contains nutritional components, reactive components and reducing microorganisms. The nutritional components can provide the necessary environment for the growth and metabolism of reducing microorganisms. The reactive components can undergo a color change reaction under the action of reducing microorganisms, and the rate of the color change reaction is positively correlated with the temperature. The color change process can indicate the cumulative heat received by the product.

[0061] For a thermal label of one embodiment, please refer to Figure 1 The thermal label includes a laminated substrate layer, an indicator layer 20 and a barrier layer 30, wherein the indicator layer 20 is printed by any one of the above-mentioned thermal inks.

[0062] The base layer 10 is used to carry the indicator layer 20 . Optionally, the material of the base layer 10 includes but is not limited to: PVC film, PET film, and PP film.

[0063] The barrier layer 30 has good density and can prevent oxygen from passing through, thereby providing an anaerobic environment for the indicator layer 20. The material of the barrier layer 30 includes, but is not limited to, PVC film, PET film, and PP film.

[0064] The following are specific examples.

[0065] Example 1

[0066] This embodiment provides a thermosensitive ink, which includes, by mass, 20 parts of a film-forming resin, 30 parts of a solvent, 3 parts of a nutrient component, 1 part of a reaction component, and 0.05 parts of a reducing microorganism.

[0067] In this embodiment, the film-forming resin is Delun brand water-based acrylic resin, provided by Dongguan Delun New Materials Co., Ltd., model 207A, the solvent is deionized water, the nutrient components include nitrogen source and phosphorus source, wherein the nitrogen source is ammonium chloride, and the phosphorus source is sodium dihydrogen phosphate, the reaction components include tin source and sulfur source, wherein the tin source is SnCl2, and the sulfur source is potassium sulfide, and the reducing microorganism is Geobacter sulfurreducens, provided by Wuhan Gray Algae Biotechnology Co., Ltd., item number HZB510955.

[0068] The above-mentioned thermal-sensitive ink contains nutritional components, reactive components and reducing microorganisms. The nutritional components can provide the necessary environment for the growth and metabolism of reducing microorganisms. The reactive components can undergo a color change reaction under the action of reducing microorganisms, and the rate of the color change reaction is positively correlated with the temperature. The color change process can indicate the cumulative heat received by the product.

[0069] This embodiment further provides a thermal label, comprising a base layer 10, an indicator layer 20, and a barrier layer 30 that are stacked. The indicator layer 20 is obtained by printing and drying the thermal ink provided in this embodiment.

[0070] In this embodiment, the indication period of the thermal label in a 5° C. environment is 10 days, and the indication period in a 10° C. environment is 5 days.

[0071] Example 2

[0072] This embodiment provides a thermosensitive ink, which includes, by mass, 35 parts of a film-forming resin, 60 parts of a solvent, 5 parts of a nutrient component, 5 parts of a reaction component, and 0.1 parts of a reducing microorganism.

[0073] In this embodiment, the film-forming resin is a Yoshida brand water-based polyurethane resin, provided by Shenzhen Yoshida Chemical Co., Ltd., model 1624, the solvent is deionized water, the nutrient components include a nitrogen source and a phosphorus source, wherein the nitrogen source is sodium nitrate, and the phosphorus source is disodium phosphate, the reaction components include a tin source and a sulfur source, wherein the tin source is SnCl4, and the sulfur source is sodium thiosulfate, and the reducing microorganism is Geobacillus sulfurreducens, provided by Shanghai Biowind Technology Co., Ltd., product catalog number ATCC 51573.

[0074] This embodiment further provides a thermal label, comprising a base layer 10, an indicator layer 20, and a barrier layer 30 that are stacked. The indicator layer 20 is obtained by printing and drying the thermal ink provided in this embodiment.

[0075] In this embodiment, the indication period of the thermal label in a 5° C. environment is 20 days, and the indication period in a 10° C. environment is 15 days.

[0076] Example 3

[0077] This embodiment provides a thermosensitive ink, which includes, by mass, 50 parts of a film-forming resin, 90 parts of a solvent, 8 parts of a nutrient component, 10 parts of a reaction component, and 0.2 parts of a reducing microorganism.

[0078] In this embodiment, the film-forming resin is Yoshida brand water-based polyurethane resin, provided by Shenzhen Yoshida Chemical Co., Ltd., model 1624, the solvent is deionized water, the nutrient components include nitrogen source and phosphorus source, wherein the nitrogen source is urea, the phosphorus source is ammonium phosphate, the reaction components include tin source and sulfur source, wherein the tin source is SnSO4, the sulfur source is sodium sulfide, and the reducing microorganism is desulfurized Microspira, provided by Shanghai Enzyme Research Biotechnology Co., Ltd., item number A0693.

[0079] This embodiment further provides a thermal label, comprising a base layer 10, an indicator layer 20, and a barrier layer 30 that are stacked. The indicator layer 20 is obtained by printing and drying the thermal ink provided in this embodiment.

[0080] In this embodiment, the indication period of the thermal label in a 5° C. environment is 30 days, and the indication period in a 10° C. environment is 20 days.

[0081] The above-described embodiments merely illustrate several implementations of the present invention, and while their descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the patent. It should be noted that a person skilled in the art would be able to make numerous variations and improvements without departing from the spirit of the present invention, all of which fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the patent for this invention shall be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A thermal ink, characterized in that: The raw materials for preparing the thermal ink include, by parts by mass:

2. The thermal ink according to claim 1, characterized in that: The nutrient components include a nitrogen source and a phosphorus source.

3. The thermal ink according to claim 2, characterized in that: The nitrogen source is an inorganic nitrogen salt, an organic nitrogen salt or nitrogen gas.

4. The thermal ink according to claim 2, characterized in that: The phosphorus source is phosphate or an organic phosphorus compound.

5. The thermal ink according to claim 1, characterized in that: The reaction components include a tin source and a sulfur source.

6. The thermal ink according to claim 5, characterized in that: The tin source is selected from at least one of SnCl2, SnCl4, SnSO4 or Na2SnO2.

7. The thermal ink according to claim 5, characterized in that: The sulfur source is selected from at least one of sulfate, sulfite, thiosulfate, elemental sulfur or organic sulfur compounds.

8. The thermal ink according to claim 1, characterized in that: The reducing microorganism is sulfur-reducing bacteria.

9. The thermal ink according to claim 8, characterized in that: The sulfur-reducing bacteria is selected from at least one of Desulfovibrio, Geobacter sulfurreducens, Geobacter sulfurreducens, Enterobacter desulfuricans, Desulfobacterium or Desulfococcus.

10. A thermal label, characterized in that: The invention comprises a substrate layer, an indicator layer and a barrier layer which are stacked together, wherein the indicator layer is obtained by printing the heat-sensitive ink according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

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