UV Curable Inkjet Ink with Fluorescent Security Features
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current UV curable inks lack security features when used on non-porous substrates and textiles, despite the need for inks that combine UV curable properties with covert and overt security features.
Innovation Solution
Development of UV curable inkjet inks using UV or IR reactive materials processed in acrylate monomers or oligomers, incorporating UV fluorescent dyes or pigments, photoinitiators, and additives to create security features that are either colorless or multicolored, providing excellent adhesion and visibility under UV or IR light.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If aqueous-based or solvent-based security inkjet inks are used, then security features (covert and overt UV/IR reactive) are provided, but adhesion and durability on non-porous substrates deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite ink formulation by integrating UV fluorescent pigments or dyes into a UV curable ink matrix containing acrylate monomers, acrylate oligomers, and photoinitiators. This composite structure combines the security features of UV reactive materials with the adhesion and durability properties of UV curable polymers, allowing the ink to simultaneously provide covert/overt security features while maintaining strong adhesion on non-porous substrates like plastics, glass, and metal
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the ink by replacing aqueous or solvent-based carriers with UV curable components (acrylate monomers and oligomers). This parameter change transforms the ink from a traditional security ink that lacks adhesion to a UV curable security ink that cures to form a durable, adherent coating while retaining UV fluorescent security properties
2Strength
If UV curable inks are used, then adhesion and scratch resistance on non-porous substrates are improved, but security features are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two previously separate ink types into a single unified formulation: UV curable ink (providing adhesion and durability) and UV fluorescent security ink (providing covert and overt security features). The merged formulation contains both the polymeric components necessary for adhesion (acrylate monomers, oligomers, photoinitiators) and the UV reactive fluorescent materials, allowing the ink to deliver both functional performance and security properties simultaneously
3Stability of the object's composition
If UV fluorescent pigments are used instead of dyes, then colorfastness and stability are improved, but processing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses UV curable resin components (acrylate monomers and oligomers) as intermediaries to disperse and stabilize UV fluorescent pigments. These resin intermediaries provide a compatible medium that allows pigment particles to be uniformly distributed and stably suspended in the ink formulation, reducing aggregation and improving colorfastness while maintaining processability through standard inkjet printing equipment
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The resulting inks demonstrate good print quality, instant drying, and strong adhesion on various substrates, with security features visible under UV or IR illumination, addressing the need for secure printing on non-porous surfaces.
Implementation Method 1
UV curable inks have important industrial applications for printing on textiles, labels and packaging, for example. Although covert (colorless) and overt (colored) ultraviolet and infrared reactive inkjet inks are known to provide security features
Implementation Method 2
The UV reactive or fluorescent materials used can be colorless (covert) or one of a multiple of colors (overt) under ambient light
Implementation Method 3
UV curable inks are a preferred printing technology because it produces a high-quality color image that can be printed on non-porous substrates, such as plastics, glass, ceramic or metal
Data Source
AI summary
A UV curable inkjet ink containing covert or overt ultraviolet or infrared reactive material. The ultraviolet or infrared reactive materials are processed in acrylate monomer or combination of acrylate monomer and acrylate oligomer media, along with photoinitiators and surfactants to produce an inkjet ink for printing on non-porous substrates such as plastic, glass, ceramic or metal with high adhesion, scratch and chemical resistance and providing a security feature responsive to ultraviolet or infrared radiation.