Stretchable Ink Composition

Abstract

Disclosed is a stretchable ink composition which comprises water, a colorant, a surfactant, and a fluoroelastomer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A patterned article comprising:
 ( 1 ) a deformable substrate, and   ( 2 ) an imagewise pattern thereon comprising:
 (a) a colorant, 
 (b) a surfactant, and 
 (c) a fluoroelastomer. 
   
     
     
         2 . An article according to  claim 1 , wherein the deformable substrate is plastic, rubber, or textile. 
     
     
         3 . An article according to  claim 1 , wherein the imagewise pattern can be stretched along one axis to at least 110% of the length of its original dimension at least about 50 times without exhibiting cracking or delamination from the substrate. 
     
     
         4 . An article according to  claim 1 , wherein the imagewise pattern exhibits a water contact angle of at least about 80°. 
     
     
         5 . An article according to  claim 1 , wherein the colorant is a pigment. 
     
     
         6 . An article according to  claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is a cationic surfactant. 
     
     
         7 . An article according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluoroelastomer is (a) a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene; (b) a terpolymer of vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropylene, and tetrafluoroethylene; (c) a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and (per)fluoromethoxyalkylvinylether (d) a terpolymer of vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropylene, and polyperfluoromethylvinylether; (e) a terpolymer of vinylidene fluoride, tetrafluoroethylene, and a fluorinated vinyl ether; (f) a terpolymer of vinylidene fluoride, tetrafluoroethylene, and propylene; (g) a tetrapolymer of vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropylene, tetrafluoroethylene, and polyperfluoromethylvinylether; (h) a terpolymer of tetrafluoroethylene, propylene, and vinylidene fluoride; (i) a pentapolymer of tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoroethylene, vinylidene fluoride, ethylene, and polyperfluoromethylvinylether; or (j) a mixture thereof. 
     
     
         8 . An article according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluoroelastomer has a fluorine content of from about 5 to about 76 weight %. 
     
     
         9 . An article according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluoroelastomer has a tensile strength of from about 3 to about 25 MPa. 
     
     
         10 . An article according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluoroelastomer has an elongation at break of from about 150 to about 1100%. 
     
     
         11 . An article according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluoroelastomer has a hardness (Shore A) value of from about 20 to about 90. 
     
     
         12 . An article according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluoroelastomer has a glass transition temperature of from about −70° C. to about 25° C. 
     
     
         13 . An article according to  claim 1 , wherein the image has been crosslinked with a crosslinker selected from the group consisting of a dihydroxy aromatic compound, a peroxide, a metal oxide, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         14 . An article according to  claim 1 , wherein the image has been crosslinked with a crosslinker selected from a dihydroxy aromatic compound or a metal oxide. 
     
     
         15 . A process which comprises applying an ink which comprises
 (a) water,   (b) a colorant,   (c) a surfactant, and   (d) a fluoroelastomer to a substrate in an imagewise pattern.   
     
     
         16 . A process according to  claim 15 , wherein the process comprises incorporating the ink into an ink jet printing apparatus and causing droplets of the ink to be ejected in the imagewise pattern onto the substrate. 
     
     
         17 . A process according to  claim 15 , wherein the ink further comprises a crosslinker selected from the group consisting of a dihydroxy aromatic compound, a peroxide, a metal oxide, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         18 . A process according to  claim 15 , wherein the ink has a viscosity of 2 centipoise to 20 centipoise at a jetting temperature of 20° C. to 90° C. 
     
     
         19 . A process according to  claim 15 , wherein the colorant is a pigment; and
 wherein the surfactant is a cationic surfactant.   
     
     
         20 . A process according to  claim 15 , wherein the fluoroelastomer is (a) a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene; (b) a terpolymer of vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropylene, and tetrafluoroethylene; (c) a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and (per)fluoromethoxyalkylvinylether (d) a terpolymer of vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropylene, and polyperfluoromethylvinylether; (e) a terpolymer of vinylidene fluoride, tetrafluoroethylene, and a fluorinated vinyl ether; (f) a terpolymer of vinylidene fluoride, tetrafluoroethylene, and propylene; (g) a tetrapolymer of vinylidene fluoride, hexafluoropropylene, tetrafluoroethylene, and polyperfluoromethylvinylether; (h) a terpolymer of tetrafluoroethylene, propylene, and vinylidene fluoride; (i) a pentapolymer of tetrafluoroethylene, hexafluoroethylene, vinylidene fluoride, ethylene, and polyperfluoromethylvinylether; or (j) a mixture thereof.