JP2005089552A - Active ray curable composition, active ray curable ink, and image forming method and inkjet recording apparatus using it - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an active ray curable composition which has a low viscosity and an excellent jetting nature as an ink and which gives a high quality image and is capable of forming a coating film high in hardness and adhesion; and to provide an active ray curable ink, an image forming method and an inkjet recording apparatus using it. <P>SOLUTION: The active ray curable composition contains a radically polymerizable monomer as a photopolymerizable compound and contains at least one from lactate, pyruvate or α-hydroxyisobutyrate. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an actinic ray curable composition, an actinic ray curable ink using the same, an image forming method, and an ink jet recording apparatus.

  Conventionally, curable compositions that are cured by active energy rays such as ultraviolet rays and electron beams or heat are various kinds of paints such as plastics, paper, woodwork and inorganic materials, adhesives, printing inks, printed circuit boards, and electrical insulation relations. It has been put to practical use. In recent years, printing inks, paints, adhesives and the like have been desired to further improve weather resistance and adhesion. Ink jet inks using these include ultraviolet curable jet inks that are cured by ultraviolet rays. The inkjet system using this ultraviolet curable ink has been attracting attention in recent years because it has a relatively low odor, and can be recorded on a recording medium having no quick drying and no ink absorption. For example, JP-A-6-200204 Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-504778 discloses an ultraviolet curable inkjet ink. In this field, in addition to low viscosity, the formed film is required to be stronger and have better adhesion.

  Further, when these inks are used, the curing sensitivity tends to vary depending on the type of recording material and the working environment.

Inks using radically polymerizable monomers are subject to an oxygen inhibition action, so that when the amount of ink droplets is small, inhibition of curing tends to occur. Ink using a cationically polymerizable compound (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 to 4) is not affected by oxygen, but has a problem of being easily affected by moisture (humidity) at the molecular level.
JP 2001-220526 A (Claims, Examples) JP 2002-188025 A (claims, examples) JP-A-2002-317139 (Claims, Examples) JP 2003-55449 A (claims, examples)

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and its purpose is an activity capable of forming a coating film having low viscosity, excellent ejection properties, high image quality, high hardness and high adhesion as an ink. A photocurable composition, an actinic ray curable ink using the composition, an image forming method, and an ink jet recording apparatus are provided.

The above object of the present invention has been achieved by the following constitution.
(Claim 1)
An actinic ray curable composition containing a radical polymerizable monomer as a photopolymerizable compound and containing at least one of lactic acid ester, pyruvic acid ester and α-hydroxyisobutyric acid ester.
(Claim 2)
An actinic ray curable composition containing a compound having an oxetane ring and an epoxy compound as a photopolymerizable compound, and containing at least one of a lactic acid ester, a pyruvic acid ester and an α-hydroxyisobutyric acid ester.
(Claim 3)
The actinic ray curable composition according to claim 2, wherein the compound having an oxetane ring is a disubstituted oxetane compound.
(Claim 4)
The actinic ray curable composition according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the epoxy compound is an epoxidized fatty acid ester, an epoxidized fatty acid glyceride, or an alicyclic epoxy compound.
(Claim 5)
The actinic ray curable composition according to claim 4, wherein the alicyclic epoxy compound is a compound represented by the following general formula (A).

(Wherein, R ₁₀₀ represents a substituent, m0 is .L ₀ is r0 + 1 oxygen atom or 1 to 15 carbon atoms which may contain a sulfur atom in the main chain that represents a 1-3 .r0 representing 0-2 Represents a valent linking group or a single bond.)
(Claim 6)
The alicyclic epoxy compound represented by the general formula (A) is selected from at least one of the alicyclic epoxy compounds represented by the following general formulas (I), (II), (III), and (IV). The actinic ray curable composition according to claim 5, wherein

(Wherein, R ₁₀₁ represents a substituent, m1 is .L ₁ is r1 + 1 oxygen atom or 1 to 15 carbon atoms which may contain a sulfur atom in the main chain that represents a 1-3 .r1 representing 0-2 Represents a valent linking group or a single bond.)

(Wherein, R ₁₀₂ represents a substituent, m2 is .L ₂ is r2 + 1 oxygen atom or 1 to 15 carbon atoms which may contain a sulfur atom in the main chain that represents a 1-3 .r2 representing 0-2 Represents a valent linking group or a single bond.)

(In the formula, R ₂₀₀ represents an aliphatic group other than α and β positions of the oxirane ring, m3 represents 0 to 2. X ₁ represents — (CH ₂ ) _n0 — or — (O) _n0 —, n0 represents 0 or 1 .p1, q1 .L ₃ representing a is .r3 never 0 simultaneously represent 0 or 1, respectively 1-3 may contain an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom in the main chain carbon This represents a linking group or a single bond having an r3 + 1 valent branched structure of formulas 1 to 15.)

(In the formula, R ₂₀₁ represents an aliphatic group other than the α and β positions of the oxirane ring, m4 represents 0 to _2. X ₂ represents — (CH ₂ ) _n1 — or — (O) _n1 —, n1 represents 0 or 1. p2 and q2 each represent 0 or 1 and are not simultaneously 0. r4 represents 1 to 3. L ₄ is a carbon that may contain an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom in the main chain. This represents a linking group or a single bond having an r4 + 1 valent branched structure of formulas 1 to 15.)
(Claim 7)
The actinic ray curable composition according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the viscosity at 25 ° C is 7 to 40 mPa · s.
(Claim 8)
The actinic radiation curable ink according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the actinic radiation curable composition contains a pigment.
(Claim 9)
An image forming method in which the actinic ray curable ink according to claim 8 is jetted onto a recording material from an ink jet recording head to perform printing on the recording material, and after the actinic ray curable ink has landed, An image forming method, wherein actinic rays are irradiated for 0.001 to 1.0 seconds.
(Claim 10)
An image forming method in which the actinic ray curable ink according to claim 8 is jetted onto a recording material from an ink jet recording head, and printing is performed on the recording material. An image forming method, wherein the ink droplet amount is 2 to 15 pl.
(Claim 11)
11. An ink jet recording apparatus used in the image forming method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the actinic ray curable ink and the recording head are heated to 35 to 100 [deg.] C. and then discharged.
(Claim 12)
11. An ink jet recording apparatus used in the image forming method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus discharges onto a recording material heated to 35 to 60 [deg.] C.

  According to the present invention, it was possible to form a coating film having a low viscosity as an ink, an excellent injection property, a high image quality when ink jet recording was performed, a high hardness and a high adhesion.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail.

  Examples of the lactic acid ester of the present invention include methyl lactate, ethyl lactate, n-propyl lactate, i-propyl lactate, n-butyl lactate, t-butyl lactate and sec-butyl lactate. You may use these individually or in mixture of 2 or more types. The addition amount is preferably 0.5 to 50% by mass, more preferably 1 to 20% by mass. If the amount is less than 0.5% by mass, the effect of the present invention cannot be sufficiently obtained. If the amount exceeds 50% by mass, the film strength becomes weak.

  Pyruvate is an important intermediate in the metabolism pathway in the body, and it is produced anaerobically by Emden-Meyerhof and Parnas pathways involved in glycolysis and alcohol fermentation, and then aerobically complete via the citric acid cycle. Known to be oxidized and non-toxic to human body. The pyruvate of the present invention is a keto and enol tautomer shown below.

  Examples of the pyruvic acid ester shown above include compounds having a linear, cyclic or branched alkyl group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group, a phenyl group, an alkylphenyl group, a benzyl group or an alkylbenzyl group. More specifically, R is methyl group, ethyl group, propyl group, isopropyl group, butyl group, isobutyl group, amyl group, isoamyl group, hexyl group, cyclohexyl group, heptyl group, octyl group, nonyl group, Decyl group, benzyl group, phenylethyl group, phenylpropyl group, methylbenzyl group, dimethylbenzyl group, trimethylbenzyl group, p-isopropylbenzyl group, p-ethylbenzyl group, citronellyl group, geranyl group, etc. In use, it can be used alone or as a mixture.

  In order to prepare pyruvic acid ester, it can obtain by the method of esterifying pyruvic acid by a well-known method, the method of oxidizing a lactate ester, etc.

  Specific examples include ethyl pyruvate, isoamyl pyruvate, benzyl pyruvate, phenylethyl pyruvate or citronellyl pyruvate, and the addition amount is preferably 0.5 to 50% by mass, more preferably 1 to 20% by mass. is there. If the amount is less than 0.5% by mass, the effect of the present invention cannot be sufficiently obtained. If the amount exceeds 50% by mass, the film strength becomes weak.

  Examples of the α-hydroxyisobutyric acid ester of the present invention include methyl α-hydroxyisobutyrate, ethyl α-hydroxyisobutyrate, isopropyl α-hydroxyisobutyrate and butyl α-hydroxyisobutyrate. The addition amount is preferably 0.5 to 50% by mass, more preferably 1 to 20% by mass. If the amount is less than 0.5% by mass, the effect of the present invention cannot be sufficiently obtained. If the amount exceeds 50% by mass, the film strength becomes weak.

  The radical polymerizable monomer is a compound having an ethylenically unsaturated bond capable of radical polymerization, and any compound having at least one ethylenically unsaturated bond capable of radical polymerization in the molecule may be used. , Oligomers, polymers and the like having a chemical form. Only one type of radically polymerizable monomer may be used, or two or more types may be used in combination at an arbitrary ratio in order to improve the desired properties.

  Examples of compounds having an ethylenically unsaturated bond capable of radical polymerization include unsaturated carboxylic acids such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, itaconic acid, crotonic acid, isocrotonic acid, maleic acid and their salts, esters, urethanes, amides. And radically polymerizable monomers such as various anhydrides, acrylonitrile, styrene, various unsaturated polyesters, unsaturated polyethers, unsaturated polyamides, and unsaturated urethanes. Specifically, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, butoxyethyl acrylate, carbitol acrylate, cyclohexyl acrylate, tetrahydrofurfuryl acrylate, benzyl acrylate, bis (4-acryloxypolyethoxyphenyl) propane, neopentyl glycol Diacrylate, 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate, ethylene glycol diacrylate, diethylene glycol diacrylate, triethylene glycol diacrylate, tetraethylene glycol diacrylate, polyethylene glycol diacrylate, polypropylene glycol diacrylate, pentaerythritol triacrylate, pentaerythritol Tetraacrylate, dipentaery Acrylic acid derivatives such as lithol tetraacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, tetramethylolmethane tetraacrylate, oligoester acrylate, N-methylol acrylamide, diacetone acrylamide, epoxy acrylate, methyl methacrylate, n-butyl methacrylate, 2-ethylhexyl methacrylate , Lauryl methacrylate, allyl methacrylate, glycidyl methacrylate, benzyl methacrylate, dimethylaminomethyl methacrylate, 1,6-hexanediol dimethacrylate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, triethylene glycol dimethacrylate, polyethylene glycol dimethacrylate, polypropylene glycol dimethacrylate, trimethylol Methacryl derivatives such as tan trimethacrylate, trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, 2,2-bis (4-methacryloxypolyethoxyphenyl) propane, and other derivatives of allyl compounds such as allyl glycidyl ether, diallyl phthalate, triallyl trimellitate More specifically, Shinzo Yamashita, “Cross-linking agent handbook”, (1981 Taiseisha); Kato Kiyomi, “UV / EB curing handbook (raw material)” (1985, Polymer publication) ); Radtech Study Group, “Application and Market of UV / EB Curing Technology”, 79 pages, (1989, CMC); Eiichiro Takiyama, “Polyester Resin Handbook”, (1988, Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun) Commercially available products described in the above, or radically polymerizable or crosslinkable monomers known in the industry -Oligomers and polymers can be used. The amount of the radical polymerizable monomer added is preferably 1 to 97% by mass, more preferably 30 to 95% by mass.

  Examples of the radical polymerization initiator include triazine derivatives described in JP-B-59-1281, JP-B-61-9621, JP-A-60-60104, JP-A-59-1504 and JP-A-61. No. 243807, etc., Japanese Patent Publication No. 43-23684, Japanese Examined Publication No. 44-6413, Japanese Examined Publication No. 44-6413, Japanese Examined Publication No. 47-1604, etc. Diazonium compounds described in US Pat. No. 3,567,453, organic azide compounds described in US Pat. Nos. 2,848,328, 2,852,379 and 2,940,853, Ortho-quinonediazides described in JP-B 36-22062, JP-B 37-13109, JP-B 38-18015, JP-B 45-9610, and the like; -39162, various publications such as JP-A-59-14023 and various onium compounds described in "Macromolecules, Vol. 10, page 1307 (1977), JP-A-59-142205" Azo compounds described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1-54440, European Patent No. 109,851, European Patent No. 126,712, etc., “Journal of Imaging Science” (J. Imag. Sci.) ”, Vol. 30, page 174 (1986), (oxo) sulfonium organic compounds described in Japanese Patent Application No. 4-56831 and Japanese Patent Application No. 4-89535. Boron complexes, titanocenes described in JP-A No. 61-151197, “Coordination Chemistry” A transition metal complex containing a transition metal such as ruthenium described in “Review (Coordination Chemistry Review)”, Vol. 84, pages 85 to 277 (1988) and JP-A-2-182701, JP-A-3-209477 No. 2,4,5-triarylimidazole dimer, carbon tetrabromide, and organic halogen compounds described in JP-A-59-107344. These polymerization initiators are preferably contained in the range of 0.01 to 10 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the compound having an ethylenically unsaturated bond capable of radical polymerization.

  As the oxetane compound, a compound having at least one oxetane ring represented by the following general formula (1) in the molecule is preferably used.

In the formula, R _{1 to} R ₆ each represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent. However, at least one of the groups represented by R _{3 to} R ₆ is a substituent.

In the general formula (1), examples of the substituent represented by R _{1 to} R ₆ include a fluorine atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms (for example, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, or a butyl group). Etc.), a C1-C6 fluoroalkyl group, an allyl group, an aryl group (for example, a phenyl group, a naphthyl group, etc.), a furyl group, or a thienyl group. Moreover, these groups may further have a substituent.

  Furthermore, among the general formula (1), compounds having an oxetane ring represented by the following general formulas (2) to (5) are preferably used.

In the formula, R _{1 to} R ₆ represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, R ₇ and R ₈ each represent a substituent, and Z each independently represents an oxygen or sulfur atom, or oxygen or sulfur in the main chain. The divalent hydrocarbon group which may contain an atom is represented.

In the general formula (2) to (5), the substituent represented by each of R ₁ to R ₆ are the same as the substituents each represented by a R ₁ to R ₆ in the general formula (1).

In the general formulas (2) to (5), the substituents represented by R ₇ and R ₈ are each an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms (for example, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, or a butyl group). ), An alkenyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms (for example, 1-propenyl group, 2-propenyl group, 2-methyl-1-propenyl group, 2-methyl-2-propenyl group, 1-butenyl group, 2-butenyl group) Group or 3-butenyl group), aryl group (for example, phenyl group, naphthyl group, etc.), aralkyl group (for example, benzyl group, fluorobenzyl group, methoxybenzyl group, etc.), acyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms ( For example, a propylcarbonyl group, a butylcarbonyl group, a pentylcarbonyl group, etc.), an alkoxycarbonyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms (for example, an ethoxycarbonyl group, a propoxycarbonyl group). Group, butoxycarbonyl group etc.), represents the number 1-6 alkylcarbamoyl group having a carbon (e.g., propylcarbamoyl group, butyl pentylcarbamoyl group), alkoxy carbamoyl group (e.g., such as ethoxy carbamoyl group).

  In the general formulas (2) to (5), an oxygen or sulfur atom represented by Z or a divalent hydrocarbon group which may contain an oxygen or sulfur atom in the main chain is an alkylene group (for example, Ethylene group, trimethylene group, tetramethylene group, propylene group, ethylethylene group, pentamethylene group, hexamethylene group, heptamethylene group, octamethylene group, nonamethylene group, decamethylene group, etc.), alkenylene group (for example, vinylene group, propenylene) Group), alkynylene group (for example, ethynylene group, 3-pentynylene group, etc.), and the carbon atom of the aforementioned alkylene group, alkenylene group, alkynylene group may be replaced by an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom. .

Among the above substituents, R ₁ is preferably a lower alkyl group (eg, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, etc.), and an ethyl group is particularly preferably used. R ₇ and R ₈ are preferably a propyl group, a butyl group, a phenyl group or a benzyl group, and Z is preferably a hydrocarbon group containing no oxygen or sulfur atom (an alkylene group, an alkenylene group, an alkynylene group, etc.). .

  Moreover, in this invention, the compound which has a 2 or more oxetane ring in a molecule | numerator as represented by following General formula (6), (7) can be used.

In formula, Z is synonymous with the group used in the said General formula (2)-(5), m represents 2, 3 or 4. R _{1 to} R ₆ are a hydrogen atom, a fluorine atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms (for example, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, a butyl group), a fluoroalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, An allyl group, an aryl group (for example, a phenyl group, a naphthyl group, etc.) or a furyl group is represented. However, in General formula (6), at least one of R < ₃ > -R < ₆ > is a substituent.

In the formula, R ₉ is selected from the group consisting of a linear or branched alkylene group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, a linear or branched poly (alkyleneoxy) group, or the following general formulas (9), (10) and (11). Represents a divalent group.

  As an example of the branched alkylene group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms, an alkylene group represented by the following general formula (8) is preferably used.

In the formula, R ₁₀ represents a lower alkyl group (for example, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, etc.).

In the formula, n represents 0 or an integer of 1 to 2000, and R ₁₂ represents an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms (for example, methyl group, ethyl group, propyl group, butyl group, pentyl group, hexyl group, heptyl group). R ₁₁ represents an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms (eg, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, a butyl group, a pentyl group, a hexyl group, a heptyl group, an octyl group). Group, nonyl group, etc.) or a group represented by the following general formula (12).

In the formula, j represents 0 or an integer of 1 to 100, and R ₁₃ represents an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms (for example, methyl group, ethyl group, propyl group, butyl group, pentyl group, hexyl group, heptyl group). Group, octyl group, nonyl group, etc.).

In the formula, R ₁₄ is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms (for example, methyl group, ethyl group, propyl group, butyl group, pentyl group, hexyl group, heptyl group, octyl group, nonyl group, etc.), C1-C10 alkoxy group (for example, methoxy group, ethoxy group, propoxy group, butoxy group, pentoxy group, etc.), halogen atom (for example, fluorine atom, chlorine atom, bromine atom, iodine atom, etc.), nitro group , A cyano group, a mercapto group, an alkoxycarbonyl group (for example, a methyloxycarbonyl group, an ethyloxycarbonyl group, a butyloxycarbonyl group, etc.) or a carboxyl group.

In the formula, R ₁₅ represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, —NH—, —SO—, —SO ₂ —, —CH ₂ —, —C (CH ₃ ) ₂ —, or —C (CF ₃ ) ₂ —. Represent.

Preferred embodiments of the partial structure of the compound having an oxetane ring used in the present invention include, for example, in the above general formulas (6) and (7), R ₁ is a lower alkyl group (for example, methyl group, ethyl group, propyl group). Group) and the like, and particularly preferably an ethyl group. As R ₉ , a hexamethylene group or one in which R ₁₄ is a hydrogen atom in the general formula (10) is preferably used.

In the general formula (8), R ₁₀ is preferably an ethyl group, and in general formulas (9) and (12), R ₁₂ and R ₁₃ are each preferably a methyl group.

  Furthermore, as an example of the preferable aspect of the compound which has an oxetane ring based on this invention, the compound represented by following General formula (13) is mentioned.

In the formula, r is an integer of 25 to 200, and R ₁₆ represents an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms (for example, a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, a butyl group, etc.) or a trialkylsilyl group. R ₁ , R ₃ , R ₄ , R ₅ , and R ₆ each have the same meaning as the substituent represented by R _{1 to} R ₆ in the general formula (1). However, at least one of R _{3 to} R ₆ is a substituent.

  Hereinafter, although the specific example of the compound which has the oxetane ring substituted by 2-position which concerns on this invention is shown as the exemplary compounds 1-15, this invention is not limited to these.

1: trans-3-tert-butyl-2-phenyloxetane 2: 3,3,4,4-tetramethyl-2,2-diphenyloxetane 3: di [3-ethyl (2-methoxy-3-oxetanyl)] Methyl ether 4: 1,4-bis (2,3,4,4-tetramethyl-3-ethyl-oxetanyl) butane 5: 1,4-bis (3-methyl-3-ethyloxetanyl) butane 6: di ( 3,4,4-trimethyl-3-ethyloxetanyl) methyl ether 7: 3- (2-ethyl-hexyloxymethyl) -2,2,3,4-tetramethyloxetane 8: 2- (2-ethyl-hexyl) Oxy) -2,3,3,4,4-pentamethyl-oxetane 9: 4,4'-bis [(2,4-dimethyl-3-ethyl-3-oxetanyl) methoxy] biphenyl 1 : 1,7-bis (2,3,3,4,4-pentamethyl-oxetanyl) heptane 11: oxetanylsilsesquioxane 12: 2-methoxy-3,3-dimethyloxetane 13: 2, 2, 3, 3 -Tetramethyloxetane 14: 2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -3,3-dimethyloxetane 15: Di (2- (4-methoxyphenyl) -3-methyloxetane-3-yl) ether.

  The compound having an oxetane ring substituted at least at the 2-position according to the present invention can be synthesized with reference to the following literature.

(1) Hu Xianming, Richard M. et al. Kellogg, Synthesis, 533-538, May (1995)
(2) A. O. Fitton, J .; Hill, D.C. Ejan, R.A. Miller, Synth. , 12, 1140 (1987)
(3) Toshiro Imai and Shinya Nishida, Can. J. et al. Chem. Vol. 59, 2503-2509 (1981)
(4) Nobujiro Shimizu, Shintaro Yamaoka, and Yuho Tsuno, Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn. 56, 3853-3854 (1983)
(5) Walter Fisher and Cyril A.M. Grob, Helv. Chim. Acta. , 61, 2336 (1978)
(6) Chem. Ber. 101, 1850 (1968)
(7) “Heterocyclic Compounds with Three- and Four-membered Rings”, Part Two, Chapter IX, Interscience Publishers, John Wiley & Sons, New York, 1964.
(8) Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn. 61, 1653 (1988)
(9) Pure Appl. Chem. , A29 (10), 915 (1992)
(10) Pure Appl. Chem. , A30 (2 &amp; 3), 189 (1993)
(11) JP-A-6-16804 (12) German Patent No. 1,021,858.

  The content of the compound having an oxetane ring substituted at least at the 2-position according to the present invention in the photocurable ink is preferably 1 to 97% by mass, more preferably 30 to 95% by mass.

  In the present invention, the oxetane compound having a substituent at the 2-position and a conventionally known oxetane compound can be used in combination, and among them, an oxetane compound having a substituent only at the 3-position can be preferably used together.

  Here, as the oxetane compound having a substituent only at the 3-position, for example, known compounds as introduced in JP-A Nos. 2001-220526 and 2001-310937 can be used.

  Examples of the compound having a substituent only at the 3-position include compounds represented by the following general formula (14).

In the general formula (14), R ¹ is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms such as a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, or a butyl group, a fluoroalkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms, an allyl group, or an aryl group. , Furyl group or thienyl group. R ² is an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms such as methyl group, ethyl group, propyl group, butyl group, 1-propenyl group, 2-propenyl group, 2-methyl-1-propenyl group, 2-methyl-2. -Alkenyl groups having 2 to 6 carbon atoms such as propenyl group, 1-butenyl group, 2-butenyl group and 3-butenyl group, aromatic groups such as phenyl group, benzyl group, fluorobenzyl group, methoxybenzyl group and phenoxyethyl group A group having a ring, an alkylcarbonyl group having 2 to 6 carbon atoms such as an ethylcarbonyl group, a propylcarbonyl group and a butylcarbonyl group, an alkoxy having 2 to 6 carbon atoms such as an ethoxycarbonyl group, a propoxycarbonyl group and a butoxycarbonyl group Carbonyl group, ethylcarbamoyl group, propylcarbamoyl group, butylcarbamoyl group, pentylcarbamoyl group Number 2-6 carbons of an N- alkylcarbamoyl group. As the oxetane compound used in the present invention, it is particularly preferable to use a compound having one oxetane ring because it has excellent tackiness, low viscosity and excellent workability.

  An example of a compound having two oxetane rings includes a compound represented by the following general formula (15).

In the general formula (15), R ¹ is the same group as that in the general formula (14). R ³ is, for example, a linear or branched alkylene group such as an ethylene group, a propylene group or a butylene group, a linear or branched poly (alkyleneoxy) such as a poly (ethyleneoxy) group or a poly (propyleneoxy) group. ) Group, propenylene group, methylpropenylene group, butenylene group or other linear or branched unsaturated hydrocarbon group, alkylene group containing carbonyl group or carbonyl group, alkylene group containing carboxyl group, alkylene containing carbamoyl group Group.

Moreover, as R < ³ >, the polyvalent group selected from the group shown by the following general formula (16), (17) and (18) can also be mentioned.

In the general formula (16), R ⁴ represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms such as a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, or a butyl group, a methoxy group, an ethoxy group, a propoxy group, or a butoxy group. An alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, a halogen atom such as a chlorine atom or a bromine atom, a nitro group, a cyano group, a mercapto group, a lower alkoxycarbonyl group, a carboxyl group, or a carbamoyl group.

In the general formula (17), R ⁵ represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, a methylene group, NH, SO, SO ₂ , C (CF ₃ ) ₂ , or C (CH ₃ ) ₂ .

In General formula (18), R < ⁶ > is a C1-C4 alkyl group, such as a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, a butyl group, or an aryl group. n is an integer of 0-2000. R ⁷ is a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, a butyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or an aryl group. R ⁷ may further include a group selected from the group represented by the following general formula (19).

In General formula (19), R < ⁸ > is a C1-C4 alkyl group, such as a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group, a butyl group, or an aryl group. m is an integer of 0-100.

  Specific examples of the compound having two oxetane rings include the following compounds.

Exemplary compound 1 is a compound in which R ¹ is an ethyl group and R ³ is a carboxyl group in the general formula (15). Exemplary compound 2 is a compound in which, in the general formula (15), R ¹ is an ethyl group, R ³ is the general formula (18), R ⁶ and R ⁷ are methyl groups, and n is 1.

In the compound having two oxetane rings, a preferred example other than the above compound is a compound represented by the following general formula (20). In the general formula (20), R ¹ has the same meaning as R ¹ in the general formula (14).

  An example of a compound having 3 to 4 oxetane rings is a compound represented by the following general formula (21).

In the general formula (21), R ¹ has the same meaning as R ¹ in the general formula (14). As R ⁹ , for example, a branched alkylene group having 1 to 12 carbon atoms such as groups represented by the following A to C, a branched poly (alkyleneoxy) group such as a group represented by the following D, or the following E And branched polysiloxy groups such as those shown. j is 3 or 4.

In the above A, R ¹⁰ is a lower alkyl group such as a methyl group, an ethyl group or a propyl group. Moreover, in said D, p is an integer of 1-10.

  Illustrative compound 3 is an example of a compound having 3 to 4 oxetane rings.

  Further, examples of the compound having 1 to 4 oxetane rings other than those described above include compounds represented by the following general formula (22).

In the general formula (22), R ⁸ has the same meaning as R ⁸ in the general formula (19). R ¹¹ is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms such as a methyl group, an ethyl group, a propyl group or a butyl group or a trialkylsilyl group, and r is 1 to 4.

  Preferable specific examples of the oxetane compound according to the present invention include exemplified compounds 4, 5, and 6 shown below.

  The production method of each compound having an oxetane ring described above is not particularly limited, and may be a conventionally known method, for example, Pattisson (DB Pattison, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 3455, 79). (1957)) discloses a method for synthesizing an oxetane ring from a diol. In addition to these, compounds having 1 to 4 oxetane rings having a high molecular weight of about 1000 to 5000 are also included. Specific examples of these compounds include the following exemplified compounds 7, 8, and 9.

  As the epoxy compound of the present invention, any of a monomer having an epoxy group and an oligomer thereof can be used. Specific examples include conventionally known aromatic epoxy compounds, alicyclic epoxy compounds, and aliphatic epoxy compounds.

  A preferable aromatic epoxy compound is a di- or polyglycidyl ether produced by the reaction of a polyhydric phenol having at least one aromatic nucleus or an alkylene oxide adduct thereof and epichlorohydrin, for example, bisphenol A or its Examples thereof include di- or polyglycidyl ethers of alkylene oxide adducts, hydrogenated bisphenol A or di- or polyglycidyl ethers of alkylene oxide adducts thereof, and novolak-type epoxy resins. Here, examples of the alkylene oxide include ethylene oxide and propylene oxide.

  As the alicyclic epoxy compound, cyclohexene oxide obtained by epoxidizing a compound having at least one cycloalkane ring such as cyclohexene or cyclopentene ring with a suitable oxidizing agent such as hydrogen peroxide or peracid. Alternatively, a cyclopentene oxide-containing compound is preferable, and specific examples include the compounds shown below.

  Preferred examples of the aliphatic epoxy compound include di- or polyglycidyl ethers of aliphatic polyhydric alcohols or alkylene oxide adducts thereof, and typical examples thereof include diglycidyl ether of ethylene glycol and diglycidyl ether of propylene glycol. Or polyglycidyl ether of polyhydric alcohol such as diglycidyl ether of alkylene glycol such as diglycidyl ether of 1,6-hexanediol, glycerin or alkylene oxide adduct thereof, polyethylene glycol or alkylene oxide thereof Diglycidyl ether, poly (alkylene glycol) such as polypropylene glycol or diglycidyl ether of alkylene oxide adducts thereof Include diglycidyl ether of. Here, examples of the alkylene oxide include ethylene oxide and propylene oxide.

  In addition to these compounds, monoglycidyl ethers of aliphatic higher alcohols and phenols and monoglycidyl ethers of cresol, which are monomers having one oxirane ring in the molecule, can also be used. Among these epoxy compounds, aromatic epoxides and alicyclic epoxides are preferable, and alicyclic epoxy compounds are particularly preferable in consideration of fast curability. In the present invention, one of the above epoxy compounds may be used alone, but two or more may be used in appropriate combination.

  The alicyclic epoxy compound represented by the general formula (A), (I) or (II) will be described.

In the general formula (A), (I) or (II), R ₁₀₀ , R ₁₀₁ , R ₁₀₂ represent a substituent. Examples of the substituent include a halogen atom (for example, chlorine atom, bromine atom, fluorine atom). Etc.), an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms (for example, methyl group, ethyl group, propyl group, isopropyl group, butyl group, etc.), an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms (for example, methoxy group, ethoxy group, n-propoxy group, iso-propoxy group, n-butoxy group, tert-butoxy group etc.), acyl group (eg acetyl group, propionyl group, trifluoroacetyl group etc.), acyloxy group (eg acetoxy group, propionyloxy) Group, trifluoroacetoxy group, etc.), alkoxycarbonyl group (for example, methoxycarbonyl group, ethoxycarbonyl group, tert-butoxycarbonyl) Group). As the substituent, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, and an alkoxycarbonyl group are preferable.

  m0, m1, and m2 represent an integer of 0 to 2, and 0 or 1 is preferable.

L ₀ represents an r0 + 1 valent linking group or single bond having 1 to 15 carbon atoms which may contain an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom in the main chain, and L ₁ represents 1 to carbon atoms which may contain an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom in the main chain. 15 represents an r1 + 1 valent linking group or a single bond, and L ₂ represents an R2 + 1 valent linking group or a single bond having 1 to 15 carbon atoms which may contain an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom in the main chain.

  Examples of the divalent linking group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms which may contain an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom in the main chain include the following groups, and these groups and —O— group, —S— group, —CO— group. , A group formed by combining a plurality of —CS— groups.

Methylene group [—CH ₂ —]
Ethylidene group [> CHCH ₃ ]
Isopropylidene [> C (CH ₃ ) ₂ ]
1,2-ethylene group [—CH ₂ CH ₂ —]
1,2-propylene group [—CH (CH ₃ ) CH ₂ —]
1,3-propanediyl group [—CH ₂ CH ₂ CH ₂ —]
2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediyl group [—CH ₂ C (CH ₃ ) ₂ CH ₂ —]
2,2-dimethoxy-1,3-propanediyl group [—CH ₂ C (OCH ₃ ) ₂ CH ₂ —]
2,2-dimethoxymethyl-1,3-propanediyl group [—CH ₂ C (CH ₂ OCH ₃ ) ₂ CH ₂ —]
1-methyl-1,3-propanediyl group [—CH (CH ₃ ) CH ₂ CH ₂ —]
1,4-butanediyl group [—CH ₂ CH ₂ CH ₂ CH ₂ —]
1,5-pentanediyl group [—CH ₂ CH ₂ CH ₂ CH ₂ CH ₂ —]
Oxydiethylene group [—CH ₂ CH ₂ OCH ₂ CH ₂ —]
Thiodiethylene group [—CH ₂ CH ₂ SCH ₂ CH ₂ —]
3-oxothiodiethylene group [—CH ₂ CH ₂ SOCH ₂ CH ₂ —]
3,3-dioxothiodiethylene group [—CH ₂ CH ₂ SO ₂ CH ₂ CH ₂ —]
1,4-dimethyl-3-oxa-1,5-pentanediyl group [—CH (CH ₃ ) CH ₂ O—CH (CH ₃ ) CH ₂ —]
3-oxopentanediyl group [—CH ₂ CH ₂ COCH ₂ CH ₂ —]
1,5-dioxo-3-oxapentanediyl group [—COCH ₂ OCH ₂ CO—]
4-Oxa-1,7-heptanediyl group [—CH ₂ CH ₂ CH ₂ OCH ₂ CH ₂ CH ₂ —]
3,6-dioxa-1,8-octanediyl group [—CH ₂ CH ₂ OCH ₂ CH ₂ OCH ₂ CH ₂ —]
1,4,7-trimethyl-3,6-dioxa-1,8-octanediyl group [—CH (CH ₃ ) CH ₂ O—CH (CH ₃ ) CH ₂ OCH (CH ₃ ) CH ₂ —]
5,5-dimethyl-3,7-dioxa-1,9-nonanediyl group [—CH ₂ CH ₂ OCH ₂ C (CH ₃ ) ₂ CH ₂ OCH ₂ CH ₂ —],
5,5-dimethoxy-3,7-dioxa-1,9-nonanediyl group [—CH ₂ CH ₂ OCH ₂ C (OCH ₃ ) ₂ CH ₂ OCH ₂ CH ₂ —]
5,5-dimethoxymethyl-3,7-dioxa-1,9-nonanediyl group [—CH ₂ CH ₂ OCH ₂ C (CH ₂ OCH ₃ ) ₂ CH ₂ OCH ₂ CH ₂ —]
4,7-dioxo-3,8-dioxa-1,10-decandiyl group [—CH ₂ CH ₂ O—COCH ₂ CH ₂ CO—OCH ₂ CH ₂ —]
3,8-dioxo-4,7-dioxa-1,10-decandiyl group [—CH ₂ CH ₂ CO—OCH ₂ CH ₂ O—COCH ₂ CH ₂ —]
1,3-cyclopentanediyl group [-1,3-C ₅ H ₈ —]
1,2-cyclohexanediyl group [-1,2-C ₆ H _10- ]
1,3-cyclohexanediyl group [-1,3-C ₆ H _10- ]
1,4-cyclohexanediyl group [-1,4-C ₆ H _10- ]
2,5-tetrahydrofurandiyl group [2,5-C ₄ H ₆ O—]
p- phenylene _{[-p-C 6 H 4 -} ]
m- phenylene group _{[-m-C 6 H 4 -} ]
α, α′-o-xylylene group [—o—CH ₂ —C ₆ H ₄ —CH ₂ —]
α, α'-m- xylylene group _{[-m-CH 2 -C 6 H} 4 -CH 2 -]
α, α'-p- xylylene group _{[-p-CH 2 -C 6 H} 4 -CH 2 -]
Furan-2,5-diyl - bismethylene group _{[2,5-CH 2 -C 4 H} 2 O-CH 2 -]
Thiophene-2,5-diyl-bismethylene group [2,5-CH ₂ —C ₄ H ₂ S—CH ₂ —]
Isopropylidenebis -p- phenylene group _{[-p-C 6 H 4 -C} (CH 3) 2 -p-C 6 H 4 -].

  Examples of the trivalent or higher linking group include groups formed by removing as many hydrogen atoms as necessary from the divalent linking groups listed above, and an —O— group, —S— group, —CO— group, Examples include groups formed by combining a plurality of —CS— groups.

L ₀ , L ₁ and L ₂ may each have a substituent. Examples of the substituent include a halogen atom (for example, chlorine atom, bromine atom, fluorine atom, etc.), an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms (for example, methyl group, ethyl group, propyl group, isopropyl group, butyl group, etc.) ), An alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms (for example, methoxy group, ethoxy group, n-propoxy group, iso-propoxy group, n-butoxy group, tert-butoxy group, etc.), acyl group (for example, acetyl group, Propionyl group, trifluoroacetyl group, etc.), acyloxy group (eg, acetoxy group, propionyloxy group, trifluoroacetoxy group, etc.), alkoxycarbonyl group (methoxycarbonyl group, ethoxycarbonyl group, tert-butoxycarbonyl group, etc.), etc. Can be mentioned. As the substituent, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, and an alkoxycarbonyl group are preferable.

L ₀ , L ₁ and L ₂ are each preferably a divalent linking group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms which may contain an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom in the main chain, and the main chain having 1 to 5 carbon atoms consisting only of carbon. The divalent linking group is more preferable.

  Specific examples of the alicyclic epoxy compound represented by the general formula (A), (I) or (II) are shown below, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

  In the present invention, a photopolymerizable compound includes a compound having an oxetane ring and an alicyclic epoxy compound having two or more ester bonds. A compound represented by any one of the general formulas (III) and (IV) is preferable.

In the above formula, R ₂₀₀ and R ₂₀₁ each represents an aliphatic group. The aliphatic group is an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms (for example, methyl group, ethyl group, propyl group, isopropyl group, butyl group, etc. ), A cycloalkyl group having 3 to 6 carbon atoms (for example, cyclopropyl group, cyclobutyl group, cyclopentyl group, cyclohexyl group, etc.), an alkenyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms (for example, vinyl group, 1-propenyl group). , 2-propenyl group, 2-butenyl group, etc.) and alkynyl groups having 1 to 6 carbon atoms (for example, acetylenyl group, 1-propynyl group, 2-propynyl group, 2-butynyl group, etc.). It is done. Preferably, it is a C1-C3 alkyl group, and a methyl group and an ethyl group are more preferable.

  m3 and m4 represent 0 to 2, and preferably 1 or more.

X ₁ represents — (CH ₂ ) _n0 — or — (O) _n0 —, and X ₂ represents — (CH ₂ ) _n1 — or — (O) _n1 —. n0 and n1 represent 0 or 1, and when n0 and n1 are 0, it represents that X ₁ and X ₂ do not exist.

  m3 + n0 or m4 + n1 is preferably 1 or more.

L ₃ may contain a linking group or a single bond having an R3 + 1 valent branched structure having 1 to 15 carbon atoms which may contain an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom in the main chain, and L ₄ may contain an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom in the main chain A linking group or a single bond having an r4 + 1 valent branched structure having 1 to 15 carbon atoms is represented. Examples of the divalent linking group having 1 to 15 carbon atoms which may contain an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom in the main chain include the following groups, and these groups and —O— group, —S— group, —CO— group, Examples include groups formed by combining a plurality of —CS— groups.

Ethylidene group [> CHCH ₃ ]
Isopropylidene [> C (CH ₃ ) ₂ ]
2,2-dimethyl-1,3-propanediyl group [—CH ₂ C (CH ₃ ) ₂ CH ₂ —]
2,2-dimethoxy-1,3-propanediyl group [—CH ₂ C (OCH ₃ ) ₂ CH ₂ —]
2,2-dimethoxymethyl-1,3-propanediyl group [—CH ₂ C (CH ₂ OCH ₃ ) ₂ CH ₂ —]
1-methyl-1,3-propanediyl group [—CH (CH ₃ ) CH ₂ CH ₂ —]
1,4-dimethyl-3-oxa-1,5-pentanediyl group [—CH (CH ₃ ) CH ₂ OCH (CH ₃ ) CH ₂ —]
1,4,7-trimethyl-3,6-dioxa-1,8-octanediyl group [—CH (CH ₃ ) CH ₂ OCH (CH ₃ ) CH ₂ OCH (CH ₃ ) CH ₂ —]
5,5-dimethyl-3,7-dioxa-1,9-nonanediyl group [—CH ₂ CH ₂ OCH ₂ C (CH ₃ ) ₂ CH ₂ OCH ₂ CH ₂ —]
5,5-dimethoxy-3,7-dioxa-1,9-nonanediyl group [—CH ₂ CH ₂ OCH ₂ C (OCH ₃ ) —],
5,5-dimethoxymethyl-3,7-dioxa-1,9-nonanediyl group [—CH ₂ CH ₂ OCH ₂ C (CH ₂ OCH ₃ ) ₂ CH ₂ OCH ₂ CH ₂ —]
Isopropylidenebis -p- phenylene group _{[-p-C 6 H 4 -C} (CH 3) 2 -p-C 6 H 4 -].

  Examples of the trivalent or higher linking group include groups formed by removing as many hydrogen atoms as necessary from the divalent linking groups listed above, and an —O— group, —S— group, —CO— group, Examples include groups formed by combining a plurality of —CS— groups.

L ₃ and L ₄ may have a substituent. Examples of the substituent include a halogen atom (eg, chlorine atom, bromine atom, fluorine atom, etc.), an alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms (eg, methyl group, ethyl group, propyl group, isopropyl group, butyl group). Etc.), an alkoxy group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms (for example, methoxy group, ethoxy group, n-propoxy group, iso-propoxy group, n-butoxy group, tert-butoxy group, etc.), acyl group (for example, Acetyl group, propionyl group, trifluoroacetyl group, etc.), acyloxy group (for example, acetoxy group, propionyloxy group, trifluoroacetoxy group, etc.), alkoxycarbonyl group (for example, methoxycarbonyl group, ethoxycarbonyl group, tert- Butoxycarbonyl group, etc.). As the substituent, a halogen atom, an alkyl group, and an alkoxy group are preferable.

  Examples of the compounds represented by the general formulas (III) and (IV) are shown below.

  As addition amount of an alicyclic epoxy compound, it is preferable to contain 10-80 mass%. If it is less than 10% by mass, the curability changes significantly depending on the curing environment (temperature, humidity) and cannot be used. If it exceeds 80% by mass, the film properties after curing are weak and cannot be used. In the present invention, one type of alicyclic epoxy compound may be used alone, or two or more types may be used in appropriate combination.

  These alicyclic epoxy compounds may be produced by any method, for example, see Maruzen KK Publishing, 4th Edition Experimental Chemistry Course 20 Organic Synthesis II, 213, 1992, Ed. by Alfred Hasfner, The Chemistry of Heterocyclic compounds, Vol. 30, Advertisement, Small Ring Heterocycles part3, Oxilanes, John & Wiley and Sons, An Inc. No. 5, 42, 1986, Yoshimura, Adhesion, Vol. 30, No. 7, 42, 1986, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-100308, Japanese Patent No. 2906245, Japanese Patent No. 2926262, and the like.

  The actinic ray curable composition of the present invention contains an epoxidized fatty acid ester or an epoxidized fatty acid glyceride as an epoxy compound.

  By using epoxidized fatty acid ester or epoxidized fatty acid glyceride in combination with oxetane compound / alicyclic epoxy compound system, it is not only preferable from the viewpoint of safety / environment such as AMES and sensitization, skin irritation, odor, etc. Conventional problems such as generation of wrinkles due to curing shrinkage and poor curability and dischargeability can be solved depending on the curing environment (temperature, humidity).

  The epoxidized fatty acid ester and epoxidized fatty acid glyceride that can be used in the present invention are not particularly limited as long as an epoxy group is introduced into the fatty acid ester or fatty acid glyceride.

  The epoxidized fatty acid ester is produced by epoxidizing an oleic acid ester, and examples thereof include methyl epoxy stearate, butyl epoxy stearate, octyl epoxy stearate and the like. Similarly, the epoxidized fatty acid glyceride is produced by epoxidizing soybean oil, linseed oil, castor oil and the like, and epoxidized soybean oil, epoxidized linseed oil, epoxidized castor oil and the like are used.

  In the composition of the present invention, it is preferable to use a basic compound in addition to the above structure. By containing the basic compound, not only the ejection stability becomes good, but also the generation of wrinkles due to curing shrinkage is suppressed even under low humidity.

  As the basic compound, any known compounds can be used, and typical examples include basic alkali metal compounds, basic alkaline earth metal compounds, and basic organic compounds such as amines.

  Examples of the basic alkali metal compound include alkali metal hydroxides (for example, lithium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, etc.), alkali metal carbonates (for example, lithium carbonate, sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate, etc.). ), Alkali metal alcoholates (for example, sodium methoxide, sodium ethoxide, potassium methoxide, potassium ethoxide, etc.).

  Similarly, the basic alkaline earth metal compound includes an alkaline earth metal hydroxide (eg, magnesium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide, etc.), an alkali metal carbonate (eg, magnesium carbonate, calcium carbonate, etc.). ), Alkali metal alcoholates (eg, magnesium methoxide, etc.).

  Examples of the basic organic compound include amines and nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds such as quinoline and quinolidine. Among these, amines are preferable from the viewpoint of compatibility with the photopolymerization monomer, for example, octylamine, naphthylamine, Xylenediamine, dibenzylamine, diphenylamine, dibutylamine, dioctylamine, dimethylaniline, quinuclidine, tributylamine, trioctylamine, tetramethylethylenediamine, tetramethyl-1,6-hexamethylenediamine, hexamethylenetetramine and triethanolamine, etc. Is mentioned.

  The concentration in the presence of the basic compound is preferably in the range of 10 to 1000 ppm by mass, particularly 20 to 500 ppm by mass with respect to the total amount of the photopolymerizable monomer. In addition, a basic compound may be used individually or may be used in combination of multiple.

  Any known photopolymerization initiator can be used in the actinic ray curable composition of the present invention. As the photopolymerization initiator, a photoacid generator or a photoradical generator is used depending on the photopolymerizable compound.

  As the photoacid generator, for example, a chemically amplified photoresist or a compound used for photocationic polymerization is used (edited by Organic Electronics Materials Research Group, “Organic Materials for Imaging”, Bunshin Publishing (1993), 187. To page 192). Examples of compounds suitable for the present invention are listed below.

First, B (C ₆ F ₅ ) ₄ ⁻ , PF ₆ ⁻ , AsF ₆ ⁻ , SbF ₆ ⁻ , CF ₃ SO ₃ ⁻ salt of aromatic onium compounds such as diazonium, ammonium, iodonium, sulfonium, phosphonium, etc. be able to.

  Specific examples of onium compounds that can be used in the present invention are shown below.

  Secondly, sulfonated substances that generate sulfonic acid can be mentioned, and specific compounds thereof are exemplified below.

  Thirdly, halides that generate hydrogen halide can also be used, and specific compounds thereof are exemplified below.

  Fourthly, an iron allene complex can be mentioned.

  In the present invention, a photo radical generator can also be used. As the photoradical generator, conventionally known photoradical generators such as aryl alkyl ketone, oxime ketone, S-phenyl thiobenzoate, titanocene, aromatic ketone, thioxanthone, benzyl and quinone derivatives, and ketocoumarins can be used. Details on “Application and Market of UV / EB Curing Technology” (CMC Publishing, supervised by Yoneho Tabata / edited by Radtech Study Group). Among them, acyl phosphine oxide and acyl phosphonate have high sensitivity, and absorption is reduced by photocleavage of the initiator, so that it is suitable for internal curing in an ink image having a thickness of 5 to 12 μm per color as in the ink jet method. It is particularly effective. Specifically, bis (2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl) -phenylphosphine oxide, bis (2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl) -2,4,4-trimethyl-pentylphosphine oxide, and the like are preferable. In addition, as in the case of the above-described monomer, in consideration of safety, 1-hydroxy-cyclohexyl-phenyl-ketone, 2-methyl-1 [4- (methylthio) phenyl] -2-morpholinopropan-1-one, Bis (2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl) -2,4,4-trimethyl-pentylphosphine oxide, 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenyl-propan-1-one (Darocur (R) 1173) is preferred. Used. A preferable addition amount is 1 to 6% by mass, preferably 2 to 5% by mass, based on the entire ink composition.

  The actinic ray curable ink of the present invention contains various known dyes or pigments together with the actinic ray curable composition described above, and preferably contains a pigment.

  The pigments that can be preferably used in the present invention are listed below, but the present invention is not limited thereto.

C. I Pigment Yellow-1, 3, 12, 13, 14, 17, 81, 83, 87, 95, 109, 42
C. I Pigment Orange-16, 36, 38
C. I Pigment Red-5, 22, 38, 48: 1, 48: 2, 48: 4, 49: 1, 53: 1, 57: 1, 63: 1, 144, 146, 185, 101
C. I Pigment Violet-19, 23
C. I Pigment Blue-15: 1, 15: 3, 15: 4, 18, 60, 27, 29
C. I Pigment Green-7, 36
C. I Pigment White-6, 18, 21
C. I Pigment Black-7.

  In the present invention, it is preferable to use white ink for the purpose of enhancing the color concealment property on a transparent substrate such as a plastic film. In particular, in soft packaging printing and label printing, it is preferable to use white ink, but since the discharge amount increases, there is a limit to the amount of use from the viewpoint of discharge stability and the occurrence of curling and wrinkling of the recording material. is there.

  For the dispersion of the pigment, for example, a ball mill, sand mill, attritor, roll mill, agitator, Henschel mixer, colloid mill, ultrasonic homogenizer, pearl mill, wet jet mill, paint shaker, or the like can be used. Further, a dispersing agent can be added when dispersing the pigment. As the dispersant, a polymer dispersant is preferably used, and examples of the polymer dispersant include Avecia's Solsperse series and Ajinomoto Fine-Techno's PB series. Moreover, it is also possible to use a synergist according to various pigments as a dispersion aid. These dispersants and dispersion aids are preferably added in an amount of 1 to 50 parts by mass with respect to 100 parts by mass of the pigment. The dispersion medium is used using a solvent or a polymerizable compound. However, the radiation curable ink used in the present invention is preferably solvent-free because it reacts and cures immediately after ink landing. If the solvent remains in the cured image, the solvent resistance deteriorates and the VOC of the remaining solvent arises. Therefore, it is preferable in view of dispersibility that the dispersion medium is not a solvent but a polymerizable compound, and among them, a monomer having the lowest viscosity is selected.

  The pigment is preferably dispersed so that the average particle diameter of the pigment particles is 0.08 to 0.5 μm, and the maximum particle diameter is 0.3 to 10 μm, preferably 0.3 to 3 μm. The selection of the dispersion medium, the dispersion conditions, and the filtration conditions are appropriately set. By controlling the particle size, clogging of the head nozzle can be suppressed, and ink storage stability, ink transparency, and curing sensitivity can be maintained.

  In the ink of the present invention, the color material concentration is preferably 1 to 10% by mass of the whole ink.

  Various additives other than those described above can be used in the actinic ray curable ink of the present invention. For example, surfactants, leveling additives, matting agents, polyester resins for adjusting film properties, polyurethane resins, vinyl resins, acrylic resins, rubber resins, and waxes can be added. In addition, for the purpose of improving storage stability, any known basic compound can be used, but representative examples include basic organic compounds such as basic alkali metal compounds, basic alkaline earth metal compounds, and amines. Compounds and the like. It is also possible to combine a radically polymerizable monomer and an initiator into a radical / cation hybrid type curable ink.

  In the ink of the present invention, it is preferable that the viscosity at 25 ° C. is 7 to 50 mPa · s in order to obtain stable discharge and good curability regardless of the curing environment (temperature / humidity).

  As a recording material that can be used in the present invention, in addition to ordinary uncoated paper, coated paper, etc., various non-absorbable plastics and films used for so-called soft packaging can be used. For example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film, stretched polystyrene (OPS) film, stretched polypropylene (OPP) film, stretched nylon (ONy) film, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) film, polyethylene (PE) film, triacetyl cellulose (TAC) ) A film can be mentioned. As other plastics, polycarbonate, acrylic resin, ABS, polyacetal, PVA, rubbers and the like can be used. Moreover, it is applicable also to metals and glass.

  The surface energy of these various plastic films varies greatly depending on the characteristics of the material, and it has conventionally been a problem that the dot diameter after ink landing varies depending on the recording material. With the configuration of the present invention, a good high-definition image can be formed on a wide range of recording materials having a surface energy of 35 to 60 mN / m, including OPP films having a low surface energy, OPS films, and PET having a relatively large surface energy. .

  In the present invention, it is more advantageous to use a long (web) recording material in terms of the cost of the recording material such as packaging cost and production cost, the production efficiency of the print, and the ability to cope with printing of various sizes. is there.

  Next, the image forming method of the present invention will be described.

  In the image forming method of the present invention, a method is preferred in which the ink is ejected and drawn on a recording material by an ink jet recording method, and then the ink is cured by irradiation with an actinic ray such as ultraviolet rays.

  In the present invention, the total ink film thickness after the ink has landed on the recording material and cured by irradiation with actinic rays is preferably 2 to 25 μm. In the actinic ray curable ink jet recording in the screen printing field, the total ink film thickness currently exceeds 25 μm, but in the flexible packaging printing field where the recording material is often a thin plastic material, the recording material described above is used. In addition to the problem of curling and wrinkles, there is a problem in that the entire printed material is changed in its strain and texture.

  Here, “total ink film thickness” means the maximum value of the film thickness of the ink drawn on the recording material, and even for a single color, other two colors are superimposed (secondary color), three colors are superimposed, four colors are used. Even when recording is performed by the overlapping (white ink base) inkjet recording method, the meaning of the total ink film thickness is the same.

  As the ink ejection conditions, it is preferable from the viewpoint of ejection stability that the recording head and ink are heated to 35 to 100 ° C. and ejected. Actinic radiation curable ink has a large viscosity fluctuation range due to temperature fluctuations, and the viscosity fluctuations directly affect the droplet size and droplet ejection speed, causing image quality degradation. It is necessary to keep. The control range of the ink temperature is set temperature ± 5 ° C., preferably set temperature ± 2 ° C., more preferably set temperature ± 1 ° C.

  Moreover, in this invention, it is preferable that the amount of droplets discharged from each nozzle is 2 to 15 pl. Originally, in order to form a high-definition image, it is necessary for the amount of droplets to be within this range, but when discharging with this amount of droplets, the above-described discharge stability becomes particularly severe. According to the present invention, even when ejection is performed with a small droplet amount such as 2 to 15 pl, the ejection stability is improved and a high-definition image can be stably formed.

  In the image forming method of the present invention, the actinic ray is preferably irradiated for 0.001 second to 1.0 second after the ink landing, more preferably 0.001 second to 0. .5 seconds. In order to form a high-definition image, it is particularly important that the irradiation timing is as early as possible.

  As a method for irradiating actinic rays, the basic method is disclosed in JP-A-60-132767. According to this, the light source is provided on both sides of the head unit, and the head and the light source are scanned by the shuttle method. Irradiation is performed after a certain period of time after ink landing. Further, the curing is completed by another light source that is not driven. In US Pat. No. 6,145,979, as an irradiation method, a method using an optical fiber or a method of irradiating a recording unit with UV light by applying a collimated light source to a mirror surface provided on the side surface of the head unit is disclosed. Has been. Any of these irradiation methods can be used in the image forming method of the present invention.

  Also, actinic light irradiation is divided into two stages. First, actinic light is irradiated by the above-described method within 0.001 to 2.0 seconds after ink landing, and then actinic light is further irradiated after all printing is completed. Is also a preferred embodiment. By dividing the irradiation of actinic rays into two stages, it is possible to further suppress the shrinkage of the recording material that occurs during ink curing.

  Conventionally, in the UV ink jet system, a light source with high illuminance in which the total power consumption of the light source exceeds 1 kW · hr is usually used in order to suppress dot spreading and bleeding after ink landing. However, when these light sources are used, particularly in printing on a shrink label or the like, the shrinkage of the recording material is so large that it cannot be used practically.

  In the present invention, it is preferable to use an actinic ray having the highest illuminance in the wavelength region of 254 nm, and even if a light source having a total power consumption of 1 kW · hr or more is used, a high-definition image can be formed and the recording material can be shrunk. Within practically acceptable level.

  In the present invention, it is preferable that the total power consumption of the light source for irradiating actinic rays is less than 1 kW · hr. Examples of the light source having a total power consumption of less than 1 kW · hr include, but are not limited to, a fluorescent tube, a cold cathode tube, a hot cathode tube, and an LED.

  Next, an ink jet recording apparatus (hereinafter simply referred to as a recording apparatus) of the present invention will be described.

  The recording apparatus of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings as appropriate. Note that the recording apparatus of the drawings is merely one aspect of the recording apparatus of the present invention, and the recording apparatus of the present invention is not limited to this drawing.

  FIG. 1 is a front view showing the configuration of the main part of the recording apparatus of the present invention. The recording apparatus 1 includes a head carriage 2, a recording head 3, an irradiation unit 4, a platen unit 5, and the like. In the recording apparatus 1, the platen unit 5 is installed under the recording material P. The platen unit 5 has a function of absorbing ultraviolet rays, and absorbs excess ultraviolet rays that have passed through the recording material P. As a result, a high-definition image can be reproduced very stably.

  The recording material P is guided by the guide member 6 and moves from the near side to the far side in FIG. 1 by the operation of the conveying means (not shown). A head scanning unit (not shown) scans the recording head 3 held by the head carriage 2 by reciprocating the head carriage 2 in the Y direction in FIG.

  The head carriage 2 is installed on the upper side of the recording material P, and stores a plurality of recording heads 3 to be described later according to the number of colors used for image printing on the recording material P, with the discharge ports arranged on the lower side. The head carriage 2 is installed with respect to the main body of the recording apparatus 1 in such a manner that it can reciprocate in the Y direction in FIG. 1, and reciprocates in the Y direction in FIG. 1 by driving the head scanning means.

  In FIG. 1, the head carriage 2 is white (W), yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (K), light yellow (Ly), light magenta (Lm), and light cyan (Lc). Although the drawing is carried out assuming that the recording heads 3 of light black (Lk) and white (W) are accommodated, the number of colors of the recording heads 3 accommodated in the head carriage 2 is determined as appropriate. Is.

  The recording head 3 has a discharge port by operating a discharge means (not shown) provided with a plurality of actinic ray curable inks (for example, UV curable ink) supplied by an ink supply means (not shown). To the recording material P. The UV ink ejected by the recording head 3 is composed of a coloring material, a polymerizable monomer, an initiator, and the like, and the monomer crosslinks when the initiator acts as a catalyst when irradiated with ultraviolet rays. It has the property of being cured by a polymerization reaction.

  During the scanning in which the recording head 3 moves from one end of the recording material P to the other end of the recording material P in the Y direction in FIG. 1 by driving the head scanning means, a certain area (landing possible area) in the recording material P On the other hand, UV ink is ejected as ink droplets, and ink droplets are landed on the landable area.

  The above scanning is performed as many times as necessary, and after UV ink is ejected toward one landable area, the recording material P is appropriately moved from the front to the back in FIG. 1, the recording head 3 discharges UV ink to the next landable area adjacent in the depth direction in FIG.

  By repeating the above operation and ejecting the UV ink from the recording head 3 in conjunction with the head scanning means and the conveying means, an image composed of an aggregate of UV ink droplets is formed on the recording material P.

  The irradiation unit 4 includes an ultraviolet lamp that emits ultraviolet light in a specific wavelength region with stable exposure energy and a filter that transmits ultraviolet light of a specific wavelength. Here, as the ultraviolet lamp, a mercury lamp, a metal halide lamp, an excimer laser, an ultraviolet laser, a cold cathode tube, a hot cathode tube, a black light, an LED (light emitting diode) and the like can be applied. A cathode tube, a hot cathode tube, a mercury lamp or black light is preferred. In particular, a low-pressure mercury lamp, a hot cathode tube, a cold cathode tube, and a germicidal lamp that emit ultraviolet light having a wavelength of 254 nm are preferable because they can prevent bleeding and control the dot diameter efficiently. By using black light as the radiation source of the irradiation means 4, the irradiation means 4 for curing the UV ink can be produced at low cost.

  The irradiating means 4 has substantially the same shape as the maximum one that can be set by the recording apparatus (UV inkjet printer) 1 among the landable areas in which the recording head 3 ejects UV ink by one scan driven by the head scanning means. , Having a shape larger than the landable area.

  The irradiation means 4 is fixed on both sides of the head carriage 2 so as to be substantially parallel to the recording material P.

  As described above, as a means for adjusting the illuminance of the ink discharge portion, not only the entire recording head 3 is shielded, but in addition, the ink discharge of the recording head 3 is determined from the distance h1 between the irradiation means 4 and the recording material P. It is effective to increase the distance h2 between the portion 31 and the recording material P (h1 <h2), or to increase the distance d between the recording head 3 and the irradiation means 4 (d is increased). Further, it is more preferable to provide a bellows structure 7 between the recording head 3 and the irradiation means 4.

  Here, the wavelength of the ultraviolet rays irradiated by the irradiation means 4 can be changed as appropriate by replacing the ultraviolet lamp or filter provided in the irradiation means 4.

  The ink of the present invention has excellent ejection stability and is particularly effective when an image is formed using a line head type recording apparatus.

  FIG. 2 is a top view illustrating another example of the configuration of the main part of the ink jet recording apparatus.

  The ink jet recording apparatus shown in FIG. 2 is called a line head system, and a plurality of ink jet recording heads 3 of each color are fixedly arranged on the head carriage 2 so as to cover the entire width of the recording material P. ing.

  On the other hand, on the downstream side of the head carriage 2, there is provided irradiation means 4 arranged so as to cover the entire width of the recording material P and cover the entire area of the ink printing surface. As the ultraviolet lamp used in the illuminating means 4, the same one as described in FIG. 1 can be used.

  In this line head system, the head carriage 2 and the irradiating means 4 are fixed, and only the recording material P is conveyed, and ink ejection and curing are performed to form an image. In the present invention, the recording material P is desirably heated to 35 to 60 ° C.

  Examples of the present invention will be specifically described below, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited to these examples.

Example 1
[Production of actinic ray curable composition]
An actinic ray curable composition was prepared by adding and dissolving a photopolymerizable compound, a photoacid generator, a compound of the present invention and other additives as shown in Tables 1, 2, 3, and 4.

  The compounds used in the table are as follows.

<< Photopolymerizable compound >>
<Alicyclic epoxy compound>
Celoxide 2021P: manufactured by Daicel Chemical Industries, Ltd. <Epoxidized fatty acid glyceride (epoxidized soybean oil)>
Vf7010: Vikoflex 7010 (manufactured by ATOFINA)
<Oxetane compound>
OXT-221: manufactured by Toagosei Co., Ltd. << photopolymerization initiator >>
<Photoacid generator>
I-250: Irgacure 250 Ciba Specialty Chemicals UVI6992: Dow Chemical Propion Carbonate 50% solution <Photoradical generator>
I-184: Irgacure 184, manufactured by Ciba Specialty Chemicals [curing of actinic ray curable composition]
The coating film was formed by the following method and then cured. The obtained cured composition was applied to synthetic paper (synthetic paper YUPO FGS manufactured by YUPO Corporation) so as to have a film thickness of 3 μm, and then an ultraviolet ray of 800 mJ / cm ² was applied within 1 second with a metal halide lamp. Irradiation gave a cured product.

(Measurement of viscosity)
The viscosity at 25 ° C. and a shear rate of 10001 / s was measured for the actinic ray curable composition before curing.

(Evaluation of cured product)
The physical properties of the obtained cured product were evaluated by the following tests.

  1) Pencil scratch test: The hardness of each cured product was measured according to JIS K5400.

  2) Substrate tape peeling residual adhesion rate test: After sticking an adhesive tape (Scotch # 250, manufactured by Sumitomo 3M) to the cured composition sample obtained in the cross-cut test of JIS K5400, one reciprocal pressing with a 2 kg roller, The number of grid-like samples that were peeled off at once and remained was investigated.

  The results are shown in Table 5.

  From Table 5, it can be seen that the sample of the present invention has a reduced liquid viscosity before curing, little deterioration in film hardness, and improved adhesion.

Example 2
[Preparation of actinic ray curable ink]
5 parts by mass of a dispersant (PB822: manufactured by Ajinomoto Fine Techno Co., Ltd.) and each photopolymerizable compound described in Tables 6, 7, and 8 were placed in a stainless steel beaker and heated for 1 hour while heating on a 65 ° C. hot plate. Stir and mix to dissolve. The solution is then mixed with pigment: C.I. I. After adding Pigment Blue 15: 3, it was put in a plastic bottle together with 200 g of zirconia beads having a diameter of 1 mm, and was dispersed in a paint shaker for 2 hours. Next, the zirconia beads were removed, and various additives such as photopolymerization initiators, basic compounds, and surfactants were added in combinations shown in Tables 6, 7, and 8 to prevent clogging of the printer. Actinic ray curable inks 1 to 27 were prepared by filtration through an 8 μm membrane filter.

  The compounds used in the table are as follows.

<Surfactant>
Megafax F178k: Perfluoroalkyl group-containing acrylic oligomer (manufactured by Dainippon Ink & Chemicals, Inc.)
Megafax F1405: Perfluoroalkyl group-containing ethylene oxide adduct (Dainippon Ink Chemical Co., Ltd.)
<Compatibilizer>
Haritac R100: Rosin-modified maleic resin (Harima Chemical Co., Ltd.)
Haritac 145P: Rosin-modified maleic resin (manufactured by Harima Chemical Co., Ltd.)
<Dispersant>
PB822: manufactured by Ajinomoto Fine Techno Co., Ltd.

[Inkjet image forming method]
Each of the inks prepared above is loaded into C of the recording head 3 of the ink jet recording apparatus having the structure shown in FIG. 1 having a piezo type ink jet nozzle, and each recording material (OPP having a width of 600 mm and a length of 20 m) is installed. And the following image recording was continuously performed to PVC).

  The ink supply system was composed of an ink tank, a supply pipe, a front chamber ink tank just before the head, a pipe with a filter, and a piezo head. The ink was insulated from the front chamber tank to the head portion and heated at 50 ° C. In addition, the head part is heated according to the viscosity of each actinic ray curable ink, and a multi-size dot having a droplet amount of 2 to 15 pl is 720 × 720 dpi (dpi is the number of dots per inch, that is, 2.54 cm. The actinic ray curable ink was continuously ejected by being driven so as to be ejected at a resolution of (shown).

  The recording material was heated to 50 ° C. by a surface heater. After landing, the irradiation light source A (high pressure mercury lamp VZero085: manufactured by INTEGRATION TECHNOLOGY) on both sides of the carriage or irradiation light source B (metal halide lamp: manufactured by Nippon Battery Co., Ltd. MAL400NL power = 3 kW · hr 120 W / cm) is instantaneous (0 after landing) (Less than 5 seconds). When the total ink film thickness was measured after image recording, it was in the range of 2.3 to 13 μm. The inkjet image was formed by printing in an environment of 30 ° C. and 80% RH according to the above method.

  In addition, the illumination intensity of each irradiation light source measured the integrated illumination intensity of 254 nm using UVPF-A1 by Iwasaki Electric Co., Ltd.

  The details of the abbreviations of each recording material described are as follows.

OPP: oriented polypropylene
PVC: polyvinyl chloride.

(Ejection evaluation)
After the ink was continuously ejected for 30 minutes, the condition of ink shortage was visually evaluated.

A: Good level without ink deficiency B: Slight ink deficit, but no problem level B: Ink deficiency, level that affects image quality ×: Unacceptable level due to frequent ink deficiency.

(Image evaluation)
Each image recorded by the above image forming method was subjected to the following evaluations. A 6-point MS Mincho type character was printed at the target density, and the character roughness was enlarged and evaluated with a loupe, and character quality was evaluated according to the following criteria.

◎: No rusting ○: Slight rustling is visible △: Gashesiness is visible, but it can be recognized as characters and can be used at the last minute ×: Levels that are harsh and characters are faint and cannot be used.

  The results are shown in Table 9.

  From the results in Table 9, it can be seen that the sample of the present invention has improved injection properties and improved image quality. Furthermore, it can be seen that the samples of the present invention exhibit good curability even in different environments.

It is a front view which shows an example of a structure of the principal part of the inkjet recording device of this invention. It is a top view which shows another example of a structure of the principal part of the inkjet recording device of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Inkjet recording device 2 Head carriage 3 Inkjet recording head 31 Ink ejection port 4 Irradiation means 5 Platen part 6 Guide member 7 Bellows structure P Recording material

Claims (12)

An actinic ray curable composition containing a radical polymerizable monomer as a photopolymerizable compound and containing at least one of lactic acid ester, pyruvic acid ester and α-hydroxyisobutyric acid ester. An actinic ray curable composition containing a compound having an oxetane ring and an epoxy compound as a photopolymerizable compound, and containing at least one of a lactic acid ester, a pyruvate ester and an α-hydroxyisobutyric acid ester. The actinic ray curable composition according to claim 2, wherein the compound having an oxetane ring is a disubstituted oxetane compound. The actinic ray curable composition according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the epoxy compound is an epoxidized fatty acid ester, an epoxidized fatty acid glyceride, or an alicyclic epoxy compound. The actinic ray curable composition according to claim 4, wherein the alicyclic epoxy compound is a compound represented by the following general formula (A).

(Wherein, R ₁₀₀ represents a substituent, m0 is .L ₀ is r0 + 1 oxygen atom or 1 to 15 carbon atoms which may contain a sulfur atom in the main chain that represents a 1-3 .r0 representing 0-2 Represents a valent linking group or a single bond.) The alicyclic epoxy compound represented by the general formula (A) is selected from at least one of the alicyclic epoxy compounds represented by the following general formulas (I), (II), (III), and (IV). The actinic ray curable composition according to claim 5, wherein

(Wherein, R ₁₀₁ represents a substituent, m1 is .L ₁ is r1 + 1 oxygen atom or 1 to 15 carbon atoms which may contain a sulfur atom in the main chain that represents a 1-3 .r1 representing 0-2 Represents a valent linking group or a single bond.)

(Wherein, R ₁₀₂ represents a substituent, m2 is .L ₂ is r2 + 1 oxygen atom or 1 to 15 carbon atoms which may contain a sulfur atom in the main chain that represents a 1-3 .r2 representing 0-2 Represents a valent linking group or a single bond.)

(In the formula, R ₂₀₀ represents an aliphatic group other than α and β positions of the oxirane ring, m3 represents 0 to 2. X ₁ represents — (CH ₂ ) _n0 — or — (O) _n0 —, n0 represents 0 or 1 .p1, q1 .L ₃ representing a is .r3 never 0 simultaneously represent 0 or 1, respectively 1-3 may contain an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom in the main chain carbon This represents a linking group or a single bond having an r3 + 1 valent branched structure of formulas 1 to 15.)

(In the formula, R ₂₀₁ represents an aliphatic group other than the α and β positions of the oxirane ring, m4 represents 0 to _2. X ₂ represents — (CH ₂ ) _n1 — or — (O) _n1 —, n1 represents 0 or 1. p2 and q2 each represent 0 or 1 and are not simultaneously 0. r4 represents 1 to 3. L ₄ is a carbon that may contain an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom in the main chain. This represents a linking group or a single bond having an r4 + 1 valent branched structure of formulas 1 to 15.) The actinic ray curable composition according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the viscosity at 25 ° C is 7 to 40 mPa · s. The actinic ray curable ink according to claim 1, wherein the actinic ray curable composition according to claim 1 contains a pigment. An image forming method in which the actinic ray curable ink according to claim 8 is jetted onto a recording material from an ink jet recording head to perform printing on the recording material, and after the actinic ray curable ink has landed, An image forming method, wherein actinic rays are irradiated for 0.001 to 1.0 seconds. An image forming method in which the actinic ray curable ink according to claim 8 is jetted onto a recording material from an ink jet recording head, and printing is performed on the recording material, the minimum being ejected from each nozzle of the ink jet recording head An image forming method, wherein the ink droplet amount is 2 to 15 pl. The ink jet recording apparatus used in the image forming method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the actinic ray curable ink and the recording head are heated to 35 to 100 ° C and then discharged. 11. An ink jet recording apparatus used in the image forming method according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the ink jet recording apparatus discharges onto a recording material heated to 35 to 60 [deg.] C.

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