JP2007070510A - Ink for inkjet recording - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide ink for inkjet recording, having excellent stability, highly developing the color on regular paper, exhibiting high gloss on glossy paper, and having excellent jetting stability of the ink from an inkjet head. <P>SOLUTION: The ink for inkjet recording contains a coloring material, water and a rutin subjected to an enzymic treatment. The rutin subjected to the enzymic treatment of ≥0.05 wt.% and ≤0.2 wt.% is preferably contained. The ink preferably contains at least one kind selected from a 1,2-alkylene glycol, an acetylene glycol-based surfactant and/or an acetylene alcohol-based surfactant, di(tri)ethylene glycol monobutyl ether and/or (di)propylene glycol monobutyl ether. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an ink for ink jet recording having excellent light resistance, high color development on plain paper, high gloss on glossy paper, and excellent ink ejection stability from an ink jet head.

  Inkjet recording is a method of recording characters and figures on the surface of a recording medium by ejecting ink as small droplets from fine nozzles. As an ink jet recording method, an electric signal is converted into a mechanical signal by using an electrostrictive element, and ink stored in the nozzle head portion is intermittently ejected to record characters and symbols on the surface of the recording medium. A method of recording characters and symbols on the surface of the recording medium, etc. by rapidly heating a part of the ink stored in the part and generating bubbles by rapidly heating a part very close to the ejection part. Has been put to practical use. The ink used for such ink jet recording has no bleeding, good drying properties, can be printed uniformly on various recording medium surfaces, and can be used for color printing. In color printing, characteristics such as that adjacent colors do not mix are required. Among conventional inks, many inks using dyes have poor light resistance, and there is a problem that they are decolored even when left indoors. Therefore, studies have been made to improve the light resistance of the dye itself. (See Patent Documents 1 to 5)

  Further, as described above, in order to solve such problems, attempts have been made to improve the coloring material, but it has not been possible to achieve both coloring properties and light resistance. Moreover, there are few examples which improve light resistance with an additive.

JP-A-10-130557 JP-A-10-329403 JP-A-11-140367 JP 2005-105261 A Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-66845

  However, conventional dye-based water-based inks have insufficient light resistance, and are often smeared when printed on plain paper such as PPC paper, and have insufficient color density and color developability. Ordinary water-based inks need a substance having a hydrophilic part and a hydrophobic part, such as a surfactant and glycol ether, in order to reduce bleeding on paper. Ink that does not use these substances has insufficient permeability to paper, and there is a problem that the type of paper is limited in order to perform uniform printing, which tends to cause a reduction in the printed image.

  Further, additives (acetylene glycol, acetylene alcohol and silicon-based surfactant, di (tri) ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, (di) propylene glycol monobutyl ether -When alkylene glycol or a mixture thereof is used, there is a problem that long-term storage stability cannot be obtained, and ink re-dissolvability is poor, so that the ink dries and easily clogs at the tip of the nozzle of the inkjet head. It was.

  Therefore, the present invention solves such problems, and the object is to have excellent light resistance, high color development on plain paper, high gloss on glossy paper, and ink from an inkjet head. It is in providing the ink for inkjet recording which is excellent in the discharge stability of this.

  The ink-jet ink of the present invention is characterized by comprising at least a coloring material, water, and rutin formed by an enzyme treatment.

  The present invention is required to have characteristics such as excellent light resistance, high color on plain paper, high gloss on special paper, and excellent ink ejection stability from an inkjet head. This is due to the result of earnest examination.

  The ink for ink-jet recording of the present invention is characterized by comprising at least a color material, water, and rutin obtained by enzyme treatment.

  Preferably, the amount of rutin added by the enzyme treatment is 0.05% by weight (hereinafter simply referred to as “%” means “% by weight”) or more and 0.2% by weight or less. The weight is preferably 1% or more and 20% or less of the color material. Rutin usually has low solubility in water, so even if it is used in water-based inks, the amount added is less than 0.05% by weight, and the effect of improving light resistance cannot be obtained. Therefore, by using a rutin that has been treated with an enzyme to improve hydrophilicity, the addition amount can be 0.05% or more, and an effect of improving light resistance can be obtained. As the enzyme treatment for improving the water solubility of rutin, a method of converting the sugar chain structure of rutin with a sugar converting enzyme is used. This enzyme-treated rutin is enzyme-treated isoquercitrin, which is commercially available from Kyria Chemical Co., Ltd. as enzyme-treated rutin. This enzyme-treated isoquercitrin consists of a glycoside mixture in which oligosaccharides such as maltose, maltotriose and maltotetraose are added to the 3rd position of quercetin. In the present invention, 1,2-alkylene glycol is preferably used. By using 1,2-alkylene glycol, the addition amount of the enzyme-treated rutin is improved, the light resistance is improved, and at the same time, the bleeding is reduced and the ejection stability from the ink jet head is obtained. Further, in the present invention, it is preferable to use an acetylene glycol surfactant or an acetylene alcohol surfactant, but this also improves the addition amount of the enzyme-treated rutin as in the case of 1,2-alkylene glycol, thereby improving light resistance. At the same time, it reduces blurring and improves the ejection stability from the inkjet head. In the present invention, it is more preferable to use 1,2-alkylene glycol in combination with an acetylene glycol surfactant or an acetylene alcohol surfactant. Furthermore, in the present invention, it is preferable to use a humectant from the viewpoint of improving clogging of the head.

  In this way, by preparing the ink for ink jet recording, the ink jet ink has high color on plain paper, high gloss on special paper, and excellent ink ejection stability and light resistance from the ink jet head. It can be.

  Color materials that can be used in the present invention include dyes and pigments. As the dye, there can be used general dyes that can be used for inkjet, and natural dyes such as indigo, shikonin, safflower pigment, turmeric pigment, gardenia pigment, and anato pigment. Examples include colorants classified as oil-soluble dyes, basic dyes, etc. in addition to those classified as acid dyes, direct dyes, reactive dyes, vat dyes, sulfur dyes or food dyes in the color index. You can also. Types of dyes include azo dyes, phthalocyanine dyes, azomethine dyes, quinone dyes (anthraquinone dyes, anthrapyridone dyes, etc.), carbonium dyes (triphenylmethane dyes, xanthene dyes, acridine dyes, etc.), and azine dyes (oxazines) , Thiazine, etc.). Preferred are azo dyes, phthalocyanine dyes, azomethine dyes, and anthrapyridone dyes, and most preferred are azo dyes and phthalocyanine dyes.

  In addition, as a pigment for black ink, carbon black (CI pigment black 7) such as furnace black, lamp black, acetylene black and channel black, or copper oxide, iron oxide (CI pigment) Examples include black 11), metals such as titanium oxide, and organic pigments such as aniline black (CI Pigment Black 1). However, carbon black is preferable because it has a relatively low density and does not easily settle in water.

  For color inks, C.I. I. Pigment Yellow 1 (Fast Yellow G), 3, 12 (Disazo Yellow AAA), 13, 14, 17, 24, 34, 35, 37, 42 (Yellow Iron Oxide), 53, 55, 74, 81, 83 (Disazo Yellow HR), 93, 94, 95, 97, 98, 100, 101, 104, 108, 109, 110, 117, 120, 128, 138, 153, 180, C.I. I. Pigment Red 1, 2, 3, 5, 17, 22 (Brilliant First Scarlet), 23, 31, 38, 48: 2 (Permanent Red 2B (Ba)), 48: 2 (Permanent Red 2B (Ca)), 48 : 3 (Permanent Red 2B (Sr)), 48: 4 (Permanent Red 2B (Mn)), 49: 1, 52: 2, 53: 1, 57: 1 (Brilliant Carmine 6B), 60: 1, 63: 1, 63: 2, 64: 1, 81 (Rhodamine 6G rake), 83, 88, 101 (Bengara), 104, 105, 106, 108 (Cadmium red), 112, 114, 122 (Quinacridone magenta), 123, 146, 149, 166, 168, 170, 172, 177, 178, 179, 185, 190, 193, 202, 206, 209, 219, . I. Pigment violet 19, 23, C.I. I. Pigment orange 36, C.I. I. Pigment Blue 1, 2, 15 (phthalocyanine blue R), 15: 1, 15: 2, 15: 3 (phthalocyanine blue G), 15: 4, 15: 6 (phthalocyanine blue E), 16, 17: 1, 56 , 60, 63, C.I. I. Pigment Green 1, 4, 7, 8, 10, 17, 18, 36, etc. can be used.

  The addition amount of the coloring material is preferably 0.5 to 30%, more preferably 1.0 to 15%. If the addition amount is less than this, the print density cannot be ensured, and if the addition amount is more than this, the viscosity of the ink increases or structural viscosity is generated in the viscosity characteristics, and the ejection stability of the ink from the ink jet head tends to deteriorate. .

  In addition, as a vehicle component of the ink for ink jet recording of the present invention, a surfactant, an organic solvent, a humectant, and the like are used. A surface tension of 20 mN / m or more and 40 mN / m or less is preferably added with at least a surfactant from the viewpoint of expanding the dot diameter printed with the ink jet to an optimum width.

  More preferably, the surfactant is at least one selected from acetylene alcohol surfactants, acetylene glycol surfactants and silicon surfactants. By using these surfactants, bleeding on plain paper is particularly reduced, and the dot diameter on the dedicated paper can be expanded to an optimum width.

  Further, it is preferable to add at least alkylene glycol monoalkyl ether and / or 1,2-alkylene glycol so that the surface tension of the inkjet pigment ink of the present invention is in the range of 20 mN / m to 40 mN / m. The alkylene glycol monoalkyl ether is preferably an alkylene glycol having 10 or less repeating units and an alkyl ether having 4 to 10 carbon atoms. Further, the above-mentioned alkylene glycol monoalkyl ether is preferably di (tri) ethylene glycol monobutyl ether and / or (di) propylene glycol monobutyl ether.

  The 1,2-alkylene glycol is preferably 1,2-hexanediol and / or 1,2-pentanediol. These additions improve the dryness of printing, and even if printing is performed continuously, the previous printing portion is not transferred to the back surface of the next medium, so that high-speed printing is possible.

  The amount of the acetylene glycol surfactant or acetylene alcohol surfactant described above is preferably 0.1% or more and 5% or less.

  Further, in the present invention, the acetylene glycol surfactant or acetylene alcohol surfactant described above and di (tri) ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, (di) propylene glycol monobutyl ether or 1,2-alkylene glycol are selected. It is preferable that 1 or more types are included. The addition amount of the aforementioned acetylene glycol surfactant or acetylene alcohol surfactant is 0.01% to 0.5%, and di (tri) ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, (di) propylene glycol monobutyl ether or 1, The amount of one or more selected from 2-alkylene glycol is preferably 1% or more. A silicon surfactant can also be used in place of the acetylene glycol surfactant or acetylene alcohol surfactant.

  Further, the ink-jet pigment ink of the present invention has a moisturizing agent and a dissolution aid for the purpose of ensuring its standing stability, stable ejection from the ink-jet head, improving clogging, or preventing ink deterioration, and the like. Various additives such as chelating agents for trapping metal ions that affect dispersion, penetration control agents, viscosity modifiers, pH adjusters, dissolution aids, antioxidants, antiseptics, antifungal agents, corrosion inhibitors, and dispersion agents Can also be added.

  Hereinafter, the present invention will be described based on more specific embodiments, but the present invention is not limited only to such examples.

(1) Production of dye ink 1 The dye ink 1 uses direct black 19 which is a black dye. The ink for inkjet recording of the present invention was prepared by using the above-mentioned dye and mixing with the vehicle components shown in Table 2. In the remaining amount of water in Table 2, 0.05% of the top side 240 (manufactured by Permachem Asia Co., Ltd.) is used to prevent ink corrosion, and 0.02 of benzotriazole is used to prevent ink jet head member corrosion. %, In order to reduce the influence of metal ions in the ink system, 0.04% each of EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) · 2Na salt was added to ion-exchanged water.

(2) Production of dye ink 2 The dye ink 2 uses direct blue 199 which is a cyan dye. The ink composition is as shown in Table 2.

(3) Production of dye ink 3 As the dye ink 3, Direct Red 9 which is a magenta dye is used. The ink composition is as shown in Table 2.

(4) Production of dye ink 4 The dye ink 4 uses direct yellow 86, which is a yellow dye. The ink composition is as shown in Table 2.

  Rutin-K2 manufactured by Kyria Chemical Co., Ltd. was used as the rutin obtained by the enzyme treatment used in the dye inks 1 to 4.

(1) Manufacture of Pigment Ink 1 Pigment ink 74, which is a yellow pigment, is used to manufacture pigment ink 1. The ink composition is as shown in Table 2.

(Reference Example 1)
As Reference Example 1, an ink in which the amount of rutin added to the dye inks 1 to 4 and the pigment ink 1 is changed is used. The ink composition is as shown in Table 3.

(Comparative Example 2)
As Reference Example 2, an ink in which the addition amount of 1,2-alkylene glycol added to the dye inks 1 to 4 and the pigment ink 1 is changed is used. The ink composition is as shown in Table 4.

(Comparative Example 3)
As Reference Example 3, an ink in which the addition amount of the acetylene glycol surfactant or the acetylene alcohol surfactant added to the dye inks 1 to 4 and the pigment ink 1 is changed is used. The ink composition is as shown in Table 5.

(Reference Example 4)
As Comparative Example 4, an ink in which the amount of the humectant added to the dye inks 1 to 4 and the pigment ink 1 is changed is used. The ink composition is as shown in Table 6.

(Light resistance test)
The light resistance test was performed by irradiating with 2Mlux · h using a Xenon weather meter XL75S manufactured by Suga Test Instruments. Using PMG800 manufactured by Seiko Epson Corporation, printing was performed using each ink, and the reduction rate (%) of OD was measured. The results are shown in Table 1.

(Evaluation of stability)
Table 1 shows the rate of change in viscosity (%) when each inkjet ink was allowed to stand at 60 ° C. for 30 days. The dispersion stability is shown as the rate of change in viscosity (%) when each water-based ink is left at 60 ° C. for 30 days. The change in viscosity is measured by an AMVn manufactured by Anton Paar, Germany, at an angle of 60 °, and is shown as 100-percentage (%) of 1- (value after 30 days) / (initial value). The results are shown in Table 1.

(Measurement of discharge stability)
Using PMG800 manufactured by Seiko Epson Corporation as an inkjet printer, 100 pages can be printed at 35 ° C and 35% atmosphere on a XeroxP paper A4 size manufactured by Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. at a character size of 11 standard with Microsoft Word and 4000 characters / page with MSP Gothic. And evaluated. AA when there is no printing disorder at all, A when there is printing disorder at two places, B when there is printing disorder at two or three places, C when there is printing disorder at four to five places, and six or more printing disorders. The thing was set to D. The results are shown in Table 1.

Claims (5)

  An ink for ink-jet recording comprising at least a colorant, water, and rutin obtained by enzyme treatment.   The ink according to claim 1, wherein the rutin is contained in an amount of 0.05 wt% to 0.2 wt%.   The ink according to claim 1 or 2, comprising 1,2-alkylene glycol.   The ink according to claim 1, comprising an acetylene glycol surfactant and / or an acetylene alcohol surfactant. The ink according to claim 1, comprising di (tri) ethylene glycol monobutyl ether and / or (di) propylene glycol monobutyl ether.