Printed packaging and method of printing packaging with electron beam curable inks

• Main Authors: CHATTERJEE SUBHANKAR, LAKSIN MIKHAIL
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 16.12.2014
• Subjects: ADHESIVES; CHEMICAL PAINT OR INK REMOVERS; CHEMISTRY; COATING COMPOSITIONS, e.g. PAINTS, VARNISHES ORLACQUERS; COLOUR PRINTING; CORRECTING FLUIDS; DYES; FILLING PASTES; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; INKS; LAYERED PRODUCTS; LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT ORNON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM; LINING MACHINES; METALLURGY; MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS; MISCELLANEOUS COMPOSITIONS; NATURAL RESINS; PAINTS; PASTES OR SOLIDS FOR COLOURING OR PRINTING; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; POLISHES; PRINTING; PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; STAMPS; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS; TRANSPORTING; TYPEWRITERS; USE OF MATERIALS THEREFOR; WOODSTAINS

Provided are a printed packaging and a method for printing and decorating packaging materials, such as paper, paper board, metals, and various flexible and rigid polymer films by electron beam exposure of plural layers of curable inks, which do not substantially change viscosity during the printing process. The inks are essentially free of volatile components such as organic solvents, inorganic solvents, water and low molecular weight fractions before, during and after exposure to electron beam irradiation. The method involves applying multiple layers of ink and an optional coating onto a substrate. The ink is an admixture of a colorant, and an unsaturated component such that the inks have a maximum of 10% volatile components. Thereafter these layers are simultaneously exposed with electron beam radiation to cause the ethylenically unsaturated components to polymerize or crosslink such that they become dried.