EP3749529A1 - Method for laser-induced forward transfer using effect pigments - Google Patents
Method for laser-induced forward transfer using effect pigmentsInfo
- Publication number
- EP3749529A1 EP3749529A1 EP19702646.1A EP19702646A EP3749529A1 EP 3749529 A1 EP3749529 A1 EP 3749529A1 EP 19702646 A EP19702646 A EP 19702646A EP 3749529 A1 EP3749529 A1 EP 3749529A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- laser
- printing ink
- effect pigments
- substrate
- platelets
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 94
- 239000000049 pigment Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 86
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 title claims abstract description 77
- 238000012546 transfer Methods 0.000 title claims abstract description 17
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 111
- 238000007639 printing Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 110
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 86
- 230000008569 process Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 73
- 239000006096 absorbing agent Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 33
- 230000001747 exhibiting effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 17
- 239000000976 ink Substances 0.000 claims description 82
- 239000010410 layer Substances 0.000 claims description 38
- 229910044991 metal oxide Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 18
- 150000004706 metal oxides Chemical class 0.000 claims description 18
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 claims description 14
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 claims description 13
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 claims description 12
- 239000003086 colorant Substances 0.000 claims description 12
- 239000000123 paper Substances 0.000 claims description 11
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 7
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000010445 mica Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 229910052618 mica group Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 6
- VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N silicon dioxide Inorganic materials O=[Si]=O VYPSYNLAJGMNEJ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000011247 coating layer Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- RJDOZRNNYVAULJ-UHFFFAOYSA-L [O--].[O--].[O--].[O--].[O--].[O--].[O--].[O--].[O--].[O--].[F-].[F-].[Mg++].[Mg++].[Mg++].[Al+3].[Si+4].[Si+4].[Si+4].[K+] Chemical compound [O--].[O--].[O--].[O--].[O--].[O--].[O--].[O--].[O--].[O--].[F-].[F-].[Mg++].[Mg++].[Mg++].[Al+3].[Si+4].[Si+4].[Si+4].[K+] RJDOZRNNYVAULJ-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 claims description 4
- PNEYBMLMFCGWSK-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium oxide Inorganic materials [O-2].[O-2].[O-2].[Al+3].[Al+3] PNEYBMLMFCGWSK-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000005022 packaging material Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 239000005995 Aluminium silicate Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 235000012211 aluminium silicate Nutrition 0.000 claims description 2
- 210000003850 cellular structure Anatomy 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000000919 ceramic Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- NLYAJNPCOHFWQQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N kaolin Chemical compound O.O.O=[Al]O[Si](=O)O[Si](=O)O[Al]=O NLYAJNPCOHFWQQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000010985 leather Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000002985 plastic film Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 229920006255 plastic film Polymers 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000000454 talc Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910052623 talc Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000004753 textile Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000006103 coloring component Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 13
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 6
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 description 6
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 description 6
- 230000008901 benefit Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000004040 coloring Methods 0.000 description 5
- 239000004615 ingredient Substances 0.000 description 4
- LYCAIKOWRPUZTN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethylene glycol Chemical compound OCCO LYCAIKOWRPUZTN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 3
- 239000011230 binding agent Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000006229 carbon black Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 description 3
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- 229910003455 mixed metal oxide Inorganic materials 0.000 description 3
- 239000002904 solvent Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000006978 adaptation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000002518 antifoaming agent Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000003292 diminished effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000010419 fine particle Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000007641 inkjet printing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000001788 irregular Effects 0.000 description 2
- RYZCLUQMCYZBJQ-UHFFFAOYSA-H lead(2+);dicarbonate;dihydroxide Chemical compound [OH-].[OH-].[Pb+2].[Pb+2].[Pb+2].[O-]C([O-])=O.[O-]C([O-])=O RYZCLUQMCYZBJQ-UHFFFAOYSA-H 0.000 description 2
- 239000013528 metallic particle Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000007650 screen-printing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000010561 standard procedure Methods 0.000 description 2
- MCSXGCZMEPXKIW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 3-hydroxy-4-[(4-methyl-2-nitrophenyl)diazenyl]-N-(3-nitrophenyl)naphthalene-2-carboxamide Chemical compound Cc1ccc(N=Nc2c(O)c(cc3ccccc23)C(=O)Nc2cccc(c2)[N+]([O-])=O)c(c1)[N+]([O-])=O MCSXGCZMEPXKIW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052779 Neodymium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- BQCADISMDOOEFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Silver Chemical compound [Ag] BQCADISMDOOEFD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000009471 action Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004480 active ingredient Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000001154 acute effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000004411 aluminium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000012620 biological material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000003054 catalyst Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910010293 ceramic material Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000006243 chemical reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000005260 corrosion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007797 corrosion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000007822 coupling agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002270 dispersing agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 1
- -1 fire redundants Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011888 foil Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002223 garnet Substances 0.000 description 1
- PCHJSUWPFVWCPO-UHFFFAOYSA-N gold Chemical compound [Au] PCHJSUWPFVWCPO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000010931 gold Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052737 gold Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 238000007646 gravure printing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005286 illumination Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000003112 inhibitor Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000005923 long-lasting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000873 masking effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000691 measurement method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007246 mechanism Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000004377 microelectronic Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000002156 mixing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002105 nanoparticle Substances 0.000 description 1
- QEFYFXOXNSNQGX-UHFFFAOYSA-N neodymium atom Chemical compound [Nd] QEFYFXOXNSNQGX-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229920000642 polymer Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000002861 polymer material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002360 preparation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000010453 quartz Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000002441 reversible effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000006254 rheological additive Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000007665 sagging Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052709 silver Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000004332 silver Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002356 single layer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000007711 solidification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008023 solidification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000003381 stabilizer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004575 stone Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002344 surface layer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920002994 synthetic fiber Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000007704 transition Effects 0.000 description 1
- QWVYNEUUYROOSZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N trioxido(oxo)vanadium;yttrium(3+) Chemical compound [Y+3].[O-][V]([O-])([O-])=O QWVYNEUUYROOSZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000009834 vaporization Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000008016 vaporization Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000080 wetting agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000002023 wood Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052727 yttrium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- VWQVUPCCIRVNHF-UHFFFAOYSA-N yttrium atom Chemical compound [Y] VWQVUPCCIRVNHF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
- B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
- B41M5/26—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used
- B41M5/382—Contact thermal transfer or sublimation processes
- B41M5/392—Additives, other than colour forming substances, dyes or pigments, e.g. sensitisers, transfer promoting agents
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
- C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
- C23C14/00—Coating by vacuum evaporation, by sputtering or by ion implantation of the coating forming material
- C23C14/04—Coating on selected surface areas, e.g. using masks
- C23C14/048—Coating on selected surface areas, e.g. using masks using irradiation by energy or particles
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C23—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; CHEMICAL SURFACE TREATMENT; DIFFUSION TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL; INHIBITING CORROSION OF METALLIC MATERIAL OR INCRUSTATION IN GENERAL
- C23C—COATING METALLIC MATERIAL; COATING MATERIAL WITH METALLIC MATERIAL; SURFACE TREATMENT OF METALLIC MATERIAL BY DIFFUSION INTO THE SURFACE, BY CHEMICAL CONVERSION OR SUBSTITUTION; COATING BY VACUUM EVAPORATION, BY SPUTTERING, BY ION IMPLANTATION OR BY CHEMICAL VAPOUR DEPOSITION, IN GENERAL
- C23C14/00—Coating by vacuum evaporation, by sputtering or by ion implantation of the coating forming material
- C23C14/22—Coating by vacuum evaporation, by sputtering or by ion implantation of the coating forming material characterised by the process of coating
- C23C14/24—Vacuum evaporation
- C23C14/28—Vacuum evaporation by wave energy or particle radiation
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
- B41M2205/00—Printing methods or features related to printing methods; Location or type of the layers
- B41M2205/08—Ablative thermal transfer, i.e. the exposed transfer medium is propelled from the donor to a receptor by generation of a gas
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41M—PRINTING, DUPLICATING, MARKING, OR COPYING PROCESSES; COLOUR PRINTING
- B41M5/00—Duplicating or marking methods; Sheet materials for use therein
- B41M5/26—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used
- B41M5/40—Thermography ; Marking by high energetic means, e.g. laser otherwise than by burning, and characterised by the material used characterised by the base backcoat, intermediate, or covering layers, e.g. for thermal transfer dye-donor or dye-receiver sheets; Heat, radiation filtering or absorbing means or layers; combined with other image registration layers or compositions; Special originals for reproduction by thermography
- B41M5/41—Base layers supports or substrates
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a method for transferring a printing ink from a donor substrate to a receiving substrate by a laser-induced forward transfer process, wherein the printing ink contains flaky effect pigments, to the use of those flaky effect pigments as laser absorber particles in such a process as well as to a product exhibiting a printed colored image on a substrate which is produced by said process.
- the laser-induced forward transfer (LIFT) process is a direct-write process which has particular advantages when compared to traditional printing processes such as silk-screen printing processes or gravure printing processes. Contrary to the latter, the laser-induced forward transfer process, similar to an inkjet printing process, allows versatile use without expensive equipment and, in particular, personalized adaptations of the printing motif are easily available. In addition, improvements in printing speed, scale and resolution of the printing process and product are highly welcome.
- LIFT processes have been used in particular for the production of electronic, optical and sensor elements, especially for microelectronic components such as antennas, sensors and embedded circuits, but also for transferring biological materials from one substrate to another.
- the LIFT process may be performed in several variants.
- a printing ink layer containing laser absorbing particles is applied onto a surface of a laser transparent substrate.
- the transparent substrate (the donor substrate) is then irradiated by a laser beam from the reverse side which does not carry the printing ink.
- the incident laser beam propagates through the transparent carrier before the light is absorbed by the back surface of the printing ink layer.
- the printing ink is ejected in form of a droplet from the coated surface of the laser transparent substrate and catapulted towards a receiving substrate that is arranged in close proximity to the inked donor substrate surface.
- the energy conversion process causing the ink ejection as well as the phase transitions involved in the LIFT process is complex and affected by a large number of diverse parameters.
- the absorber particles are contained in the printing ink, these absorber particles absorb laser energy as well and are transferred to the receiving substrate too in a certain amount.
- a printed ink spot is available at the receiving substrate, containing at least the solidified components of the printing ink droplet containing a certain amount of the absorber particles.
- nano-sized carbon black particles are used in the first variant as absorber particles.
- a separate absorbing layer is arranged between the transparent donor substrate and the printing ink layer.
- the separate layer which is called a dynamic release layer (DRL)
- DRL dynamic release layer
- the laser beam may be directed either through the transparent donor substrate as in variant 1 , or may be directed to the absorber layer from the printing ink coated side of the donor substrate in an acute angle relative to the inked substrate surface.
- the components of the printing ink are transferred to the receiving substrate upon exposure of the absorbing layer to the laser beam.
- none of the components in the printing ink need to absorb laser light and, therefore, the choice of the ink components is fundamentally unlimited.
- this method has also a major disadvantage, which is transfer of traces of the absorber material from the DRL to the receiving substrate together with the printing ink. This leads to unwanted material or optical effects in the resulting printed image on the receiving substrate.
- a partly destroyed or worn-out absorber layer has to be removed from the donor substrate as well as the printing ink layer when a new printing cycle run has to be started, leading to additional material and processual efforts.
- a technically useful process and apparatus to perform the LIFT process according to the second variant is disclosed in EP 1 268 211 B1.
- the object of the present invention is to provide a digital printing process being applicable for printing inks pigmented with flaky effect pigments exhibiting a particle size up to more than 200 pm, where the process may be executed in a simple manner at low cost, leading to printed images exhibiting intense colors and/or gloss with high resolution.
- the object of the present invention is to provide a particular use for common flaky effect pigments.
- a further object of the present invention is to provide a product comprising a printed colored image exhibiting a high resolution on a substrate, where the printed colored image contains flaky effect pigments exhibiting a particle size of up to more than 200 pm, being printed in a digital printing process.
- the object of the present invention is solved by a method for transferring a printing ink from a laser transparent donor substrate to a receiving substrate by a laser-induced forward transfer process, whereby
- the donor substrate exhibits a front surface coated with the printing ink and a back surface facing away from the front surface;
- the printing ink forms a coating which has an upper side being
- the printing ink contains absorber particles and at least one
- the donor substrate is irradiated by laser energy of a particular
- the laser energy is absorbed by absorber particles in the ink and a volume expansion of the at least one component surrounding the absorber particles is caused, and - said component is transferred to the receiving substrate along with the absorber particles, leading to a printed spot on the receiving substrate, wherein
- the absorber particles are non-metallic flaky effect pigments.
- the object of the present invention is solved by the use of non- metallic flaky effect pigments in a laser-induced forward transfer process as absorber particles in an ink coating on a donor substrate.
- the object of the present invention is also solved by a product comprising a printed colored image on a substrate, wherein the printed colored image is composed of printed spots containing non-metallic flaky effect pigments, the printed spots being produced by the method according to the process mentioned above.
- the printing method according to the present invention is based on a standard laser-induced forward printing process (LIFT) according to the first variant as described before.
- LIFT laser-induced forward printing process
- a laser transparent donor substrate is coated on one of its major surfaces with a printing ink which is subject to being transferred to a receiving substrate in form of a printed image composed of printed spots.
- the present inventors revealed that if non-metallic flaky effect pigments are used as absorber particles in the printing ink, these flaky effect pigments may be transferred together with the vaporizable part of the printing ink to a receiving substrate although they exhibit particle sizes of up to 200 pm and beyond.
- the particle size of the non-metallic flaky effect pigments may be in the range of from 2-350 pm.
- the given range is the broadest range of the nominal particle size of the flaky effect pigments.
- flaky effect pigments which are usually used in different application media exhibit particle sizes which belong to different particle size ranges in the broad range mentioned above.
- the effect pigments are usually sieved in order to fit in several particle size fractions. For instance, very fine particles exhibit a particle size of ⁇ 15 pm, fine particles exhibit sizes of 5-20 pm, the sizes useful for most applications are those of 10-60 pm, large particles exhibit sizes of 10-130 pm and extra large particles belong to the range of from 40-350 pm (where, in each case, at least 90% by vol. of the particles fit in the named range).
- the particle size is regarded as being the length of the longest axis of the pigments.
- the particle size can in principle be determined using any method for particle-size determination that is familiar to the person skilled in the art.
- the particle size determina- tion can be carried out in a simple manner, depending on the size of the laser sensitive pigments, for example by direct observation and measure- ment of a number of individual particles in high-resolution light micros- copes, but better in electron microscopes, such as the scanning electron microscope (SEM) or the high-resolution electron microscope (FIRTEM), but also in the atomic force microscope (AFM), the latter in each case with appropriate image analysis software.
- SEM scanning electron microscope
- FIRTEM high-resolution electron microscope
- AFM atomic force microscope
- the determination of the particle size can advantageously also be carried out using measuring instruments (for example Malvern Mastersizer 3000, APA300, Malvern Instruments Ltd., UK), which operate on the principle of laser diffraction.
- measuring instruments for example Malvern Mastersizer 3000, APA300, Malvern Instruments Ltd., UK
- SOP standard method
- the non-metallic flaky effect pigments which are used as absorber particles in the printing ink layer on the laser transparent donor substrate are composed of a flaky, transparent, dielectric carrier particle having at least one metal oxide layer thereon.
- the term“flaky” is taken to mean a flat structure which, with its top and bottom side, has two surfaces approxi- mately parallel to one another whose length and width dimension repre- sents the largest dimension of the pigment.
- the separation between the said surfaces, which represents the thickness of the flake, has, by contrast, a smaller dimension.
- the length and width dimension of all said carrier particles for the pigments according to the invention is in the range from 2 to 350 pm, as disclosed for the flaky effect pigments already. It also represents the value which is usually referred to as particle size of the carrier particles.
- the thickness of the carrier particles is generally between 0.05 and 5 pm, preferably from 0.1 to 4.5 pm and particularly preferably from 0.2 to 1 pm.
- the carrier particles have an aspect ratio (ratio of length to thickness) of at least 2, preferably of at least 10 and particularly preferably of at least 50.
- Thickness and aspect ratio mentioned for the carrier particles are also valid for the flaky non-metallic effect pigments according to the present invention, since the coating layer(s) on the carrier particles measure merely some hundreds of nanometers and do, thus, not alter the respective values to a big extent.
- the flaky, transparent, dielectric carrier particle is advantageously selected from the group consisting of natural mica platelets, synthetic mica platelets, talc platelets, kaolin platelets, Si0 2 -platelets, AhOs-platelets, glass platelets, borosilicate platelets and mixtures of at least two of them.
- natural mica platelets, synthetic mica platelets, Si0 2 -platelets, A Os-platelets and borosilicate platelets are useful, in particular natural mica platelets, synthetic mica platelets and Si0 2 -platelets.
- the flaky, transparent, dielectric carrier particles are coated with at least one layer being composed of a metal oxide, a mixed metal oxide or a metal oxide mixture. According to the present invention, all of these layers are named metal oxide layer. Two or more metal oxide layers may also be present on the transparent, dielectric carrier particles. Preferably, these metal oxide layers surround the carrier particles, leading to a continuous metal oxide outer surface layer of the flaky effect pigments.
- the metal oxides, mixed metal oxides or metal oxide mixtures may be composed of materials exhibiting a high refractive index n or a low refractive index n.
- at least one of the metal oxide layers is composed of a metal oxide, mixed metal oxide or metal oxide mixture exhibiting a high refractive index.
- the material for the at least one metal oxide layer is selected from the group consisting of T1O2, Fe203, Fe30 4 , Cr203, CuO, Sn02, ZnO, Zr02, Sb 2 0 3 , S1O2, AI2O3, and mixtures or mixed oxides of at least two of them.
- flaky effect pigments comprising layers of T1O2, Fe 2 03, Fe30 4 or of mixed oxides or oxide mixtures of T1O2 and Fe203, for example FeTi03 or Fe2TiOs, are particularly preferred, which may be present in combination with one or more layers of Sn02 and/or S1O2.
- Pigments comprising at least one layer of Fe 2 03, Fe30 4 or of mixed oxides or oxide mixtures of T1O2 and Fe 2 03 are most preferred.
- the flaky effect pigments according to the present invention exhibit interference colors and, in some cases, also absorption colors which mix with the interference colors, leading to interesting color characteristics.
- the flaky effect pigments may also exhibit color flops, i.e. color characteristics which depend on the viewing angle.
- the color flops i.e. color characteristics which depend on the viewing angle.
- the flaky effect pigments are transferred to the receiving substrate when the process according to the present invention is carried out, since the flaky effect pigments are transferred to the receiving substrate despite of their large particle sizes in comparison to the transfer of submicron sized carbon black particles or submicron sized metallic particles according to the prior art LIFT processes.
- the flaky non-metallic effect pigments used in the present invention are available in the market in a great variety.
- the laser energy absorbed by the flaky effect pigments according to the process of the present invention is strong enough in order to transfer energy to the fluid contained in the printing ink to be readily evaporized in the contact zone of the laser beam, and the transferred laser energy is also strong enough for detaching the large flaky effect pigments themselves from the inked donor substrate surface and being transferred together with the vaporized fluids to the receiving substrate, forming a printed spot thereon.
- the laser energy provided by the laser source must be strong and focussed enough in order to being able to provide the requested energy from the back side of the donor substrate, passing the donor substrate and being capable to be absorbed by the absorber particles in the printing ink containing layer on the inked surface of the donor substrate.
- the non-metallic flaky effect pigments are contained in the printing ink in an amount of 0.25 to 75% by weight, based on the weight of the printing ink.
- effect pigment concentrations in the range of from 5 to 40% by weight, especially 12.5 to 30% by weight, and most preferred in the range of from 15 to 20% by weight, based on the weight of the printing ink in each case, are useful.
- the printing ink which is coated onto the front surface of the donor substrate may contain all ingredients commonly used in usual printing inks, namely binders, solvents, antifoaming agents, surface active ingredients, anti-sagging agents, dispersing agents, levelling agents, coupling agents, corrosion inhibitors, rheology modifiers, fire redundants, stabilizers, catalysts or masking agents.
- the printing ink contains the non-metallic flaky effect pigments as the sole coloring means and does, especially, not contain any other coloring pigment or dye.
- the viscosity of the printing ink has to be adapted to the kind of the donor substrate and the coating process which is used for coating the donor substrate front surface with the printing ink.
- the adjustment of the viscosity of the printing ink does also play a role with respect to the vaporization of the fluids in the present LIFT process.
- the coating process of the donor substrate surface all commonly used coating or printing processes may be used which are known from the prior art to be capable to successfully coat the respective substrate surface with the printing ink in the desired thickness. Therefore, the skilled person may choose the coating or printing process which seems to fit best to the technical appliances used in the present process according to his or her common skills.
- the coating layer formed by the printing ink on the front surface of the donor substrate exhibits a thickness in the range of from 20 to 90 pm, especially in the range of from 30 to 80 pm, and in particular of from 40 to 70 pm.
- the front face of the donor substrate is coated with the printing ink containing the non-metallic flaky effect pigments as absorber particles and at least one component which is capable of rapidly enlarging its volume upon exposure to laser- generated energy, which is in most cases a solvent in the printing ink or the binder component or parts thereof. Therefore, the use of donor substrates carrying printing ink layers which are still in a wet, non-solidified stage, is highly preferred. At least, some of the ingredients of the printing ink convert to fluids upon transfer of the laser energy.
- the back surface of the donor substrate facing away from the front face is irradiated by laser energy of a particular wavelength at a certain point of the back surface, whereupon the laser energy is transferred through the laser-transparent donor substrate and absorbed by the absorber particles in the ink being located at the area on the inked surface where the laser beam hits the donor substrate at the back surface.
- the absorber particles transfer the laser energy (or at least parts thereof) to the component being capable of rapidly enlarging its volume and a volume expansion of a certain amount of this component surrounding the absorber particles takes place, so that small droplets containing a certain volume of liquid printing ink components and some non-metallic flaky effect pigments are detached from the front face of the donor substrate.
- the receiving substrate of the printing apparatus Adjacent to the printed front face of the donor substrate, but not in physical contact therewith, the receiving substrate of the printing apparatus is arranged.
- the gap between the upper side of the printing ink coating and the surface of the receiving substrate is as narrow as possible and is in the range of from 1 to 100 pm, preferably in the range of from 5 to 20 pm.
- the droplets being detached from the front face of the donor substrate hit the receiving substrate, forming a printed spot here.
- the printed spot contains the solidified fluids as well as the non- metallic flaky effect pigments.
- a printed image may be received on the receiving substrate which is composed of a plurality of the printed spots described above.
- a colored printed image may be provided on the receiving substrate which exhibits interference colors and/or absorption colors and/or color flops and may also exhibit glossy and sparkling effects, depending on the optical characteristics of the non-metallic flaky effect pigments used in the printing ink layer on the donor substrate.
- the front face of the donor substrate is fully covered by the printing ink and the printing ink coating exhibits the same physical thickness at each point of the front face of the donor substrate.
- the donor substrate is composed of a material which is highly transparent at least to the laser wavelength emitted by the laser source. Such a substrate will be named“transparent” or“laser transparent” in the following.
- the donor substrate may be composed of glass, quartz or any synthetic material, e.g. any polymeric material, fulfilling the said requirement. Often, these materials are transparent to visible light too.
- the donor substrate may be in form of a plate, a sheet or a flexible film or ribbon and may be arranged on or around a printing plate or printing cylinder or be part of any other printing assembly known in the art.
- the receiving substrate may be composed of several materials and may be in form of a plate, a sheet, a flexible film or a compact shaped body, as the case may be. Contrary to the donor substrate, the receiving substrate may be composed of paper, wall paper, metal, glass, wood, stone, ceramic materials, polymer materials, etc.
- the receiving substrate is not necessarily transparent. To the contrary, it is of advantage if the receiving substrate is semi-transparent or even opaque and may be colored as well. The diminished transparency of the receiving substrate as well as a color, if present, enlarge the visibility of the coloring effects of the non-metallic flaky effect pigments contained in the printed spots on the receiving substrate.
- the receiving substrate is coated with a colored primer layer or is intrin- sically colored by color pigments distributed in the receiving color surface material is not of importance.
- Nd:YAG lasers neodymium doped yttrium aluminium garnet lasers
- YV04 lasers yttrium vanadate lasers
- 1064 nm fibre lasers are preferably those which emit light of
- a Nd:YAG laser emitting at 1064 nm is the most preferred laser apparatus type in the process according to the present invention.
- the laser is a pulsed near infrared laser.
- the fibre laser, the Nd:YAG laser and the YV04 laser mentioned above belong to this class of lasers.
- the laser shall be pulsed with a pulse duration ranging from nano to femto seconds.
- Corresponding lasers which can be used in the process according to the invention are commercially available. It goes without saying that the lasers are advantageously steered by computer software programs.
- the present invention does also relate to the use of non-metallic flaky effect pigments in a laser-induced forward transfer process as absorber particles in an ink coating on a donor substrate.
- the present invention does also relate to a product exhibiting a printed image on a substrate, wherein the printed image is composed of printed spots produced by the method as described before.
- the printed image is composed of only one or of a plurality of printed spots, whereby the printed spots contain at least the non- metallic flaky effect pigments and the solidified compounds obtained by solidification of the fluid compounds of the printing ink on the receiving substrate.
- the printed spots advantageously contain solely the non-metallic flaky effect pigments as coloring means. All other compounds in the printed spot should be colorless. In this way, the optical characteristics of the non-metallic flaky effect pigments may be transferred in a pure manner to the receiving substrate. Nevertheless, in case that color adaptions are desired, other coloring means may be part of the printing ink.
- the non-metallic flaky effect pigments may exhibit a particle size of up to 350 pm. Gloss and glittering effects on the printed spots depend on the particle size of the non-metallic flaky effect pigments, i.e. the larger the pigment size, the more impressive are these effects.
- non-metallic flaky effect pigments provide, depending on their material composition and number and kind of metal oxide layers on the carrier particles, interference colors and/or absorption colors to the printed spots and may also provide optically variable color characteristics (color flops depending on the viewing or illumination angle).
- the printed spots exhibit in most cases the shape of a regular or irregular dot having some micrometers diameter each. Regularly, a plurality of these spots forms the respective printed image, like in usual printing processes.
- the shape of the printed image does not play any role in the present invention and might be any desired shape, ranging from figures, numbers, lines, regular or irregular patterns to all kinds of motifs being printable with common printing processes.
- printing of fine lines of merely some micrometers line width as well as of more complex patterns is possible.
- the substrate being part of the product of the present invention is advantageously selected from the group consisting of paper, wall paper, glass, plastic films, plastic bodies, metal films, metal bodies, ceramic bodies and sheets or bodies being composed of at least two different of these materials.
- the substrate being printed with the printed image corresponds to the receiving substrate in the printing process explained above. It may be printed while being part of the product already (e.g. for packaging materials) or may be assembled with different parts of the products at any time after the printing process is executed (e.g. a printed insert of an automotive part).
- the respective product is a decorative element or a functional element in a commercial printing product, a part of a vehicle, a part of a plane, a part of a train, an architectural part, a consumer electronics product, a solar cell component, a packaging material, a security product, a textile product or a leather product.
- a commercial printing product is to mean e.g. a magazine, a flyer, a poster, a brochure, a newspaper, a furniture decorative paper, a floor covering, a wall covering, a gift wrapping paper, a carrier bag or a decorative foil, to name only a few.
- the present printing process is the first digital printing process allowing printing inks containing flaky effect pigments exhibiting a particle size of up to more than 200 pm to be printed in an industrial scale in a LIFT process without the need for a dynamic release layer.
- the optical character- ristics of flaky effect pigments exhibiting interference colors, color flops, gloss and glitter may be used in a very fast and versatile printing process without the need for costly equipment and long lasting preparation efforts and without the fear to be diminished by components stemming from the DRL.
- the present printing process thus, allows the use of printing inks containing flaky effect pigments to a much greater extent for personal and industrial use as being possible up to now.
- Fig .1 shows the working mechanism of the process according to the
- Fig.3 shows the test pattern applied to the printing tests of all kinds of non-metallic flaky effect pigments used in the examples according to the present invention
- Fig. 4 shows the result of a printed test pattern using a golden effect
- Example 1 A printing ink comprising 17.5 % of the corresponding non-metallic flaky effect pigment, 78.2 % of a commercially available printing ink binder (Follmann FS-10 931 ), 1.5% of an antifoaming agent (Follmann
- Entschaumer 5280 0.8% of a wetting agent (Follmann Netzsch 5293) and 2% of a solvent (ethylene glycol) is prepared by mixing the ingredients.
- a glass plate having a thickness of about 1 mm is fully coated with the printing ink using a silk-screen printing process on a surface area of 100x70 mm.
- the screen (36 L/cm or 27 L/cm) is chosen depending on the particle size of the flaky effect pigments.
- the thickness of the printing ink layer is about 45 pm.
- the glass plate coated with the printing ink is arranged onto a red colored paper sheet (Papyrus Chromolux-Color 250 g/m 2 ) or onto a white colored paper sheet (Papyrus LuxoSatin 250 g/m 2 white) with metal shims of 50 pm, forming a 5 pm gap between the surface of the printing ink and the receiving paper surface.
- the color of the receiving substrate enlarges the contrast between the flaky effect pigments transferred and the substrate and is chosen accordingly.
- Each pigment is printed with two different patterns (*. bmp-format, 95x65 mm, 300 ppi).
- the corresponding laser (Trumpf VectorMark VMC-5) is used in several different frequency and power modes, see Fig. 2.
- the laser mode exhibiting the best result is used for printing a second pattern according to Fig. 3. According to the latter, line width and accuracy of patterned shapes including text fields may be easily observed.
- Tested are 13 different non-metallic effect pigments exhibiting silver white, golden, red, green and black interference and/or absorption colors.
- the particle sizes vary in the range of from 1 to 200 pm with fractions in the range of from 1 -15 mm, 5-25 pm, 5-40 pm, 5-50 pm, 10-60 pm, 10-100 pm and 2-200 pm.
- All effect pigments are products of Merck KGaA based on natural or synthetical mica platelets, S1O 2 platelets, AI 2 O3 platelets or borosilicate platelets.
- the metal oxide layer(s) on the substrate carrier particles is/are of T1O2, Fe203, Fe30 4 , S1O2, Sn02, either as a single layer, as several layers or as a layer containing a mixed oxide or an oxide mixture. All of the tested flaky effect pigments turned out to be transferable by the process
- Pigments exhibiting a non-white interference color exhibit better optical results than those with silver-white interference color. Best results are achieved with flaky effect pigments exhibiting a non-white interference color as well as an absorption color.
- the test pattern for a golden colored pigment (Iriodin® 305, T1O2 and Fe 2 03 on mica, particle size 10-60 pm) is shown in Fig. 4.
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Abstract
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EP18155973 | 2018-02-09 | ||
PCT/EP2019/053118 WO2019154980A1 (en) | 2018-02-09 | 2019-02-08 | Method for laser-induced forward transfer using effect pigments |
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JP7403473B2 (en) | 2018-01-27 | 2023-12-22 | ヘリオソニック ゲーエムベーハー | laser printing process |
WO2019175056A1 (en) | 2018-03-12 | 2019-09-19 | Altana Ag | Laser printing process |
US11999181B2 (en) | 2019-09-10 | 2024-06-04 | Heliosonic Gmbh | Laser induced transfer printing process |
KR20240019860A (en) | 2021-07-02 | 2024-02-14 | 헬리오소닉 게엠베하 | Radiation-induced printing method using effect pigment mixtures |
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US5278023A (en) * | 1992-11-16 | 1994-01-11 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Propellant-containing thermal transfer donor elements |
JP2001150822A (en) * | 1999-12-01 | 2001-06-05 | Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd | Thermal transfer sheet |
JP2001158177A (en) * | 1999-12-03 | 2001-06-12 | Fuji Photo Film Co Ltd | Thermal transfer recording material |
ATE350220T1 (en) | 2000-03-30 | 2007-01-15 | Aurentum Innovationstechnologi | PRINTING METHOD AND PRINTING MACHINE THEREFOR |
DE10210146A1 (en) | 2002-03-07 | 2003-09-25 | Aurentum Innovationstechnologi | Quality printing process and printing machine, as well as a print audit for this |
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