Non-sparking metallic inks and articles printed with same

Abstract

Described herein are metallic pigment-containing inks having a magnitude of exotherm <1200 J/g, or no observable exotherm at all. Also described are metallic pigment-containing inks that include 9.0 wt % or less nitrocellulose resin, or which are essentially free of nitrocellulose resin. Further described are articles printed with the described metallic pigment-containing inks, kits including such inks (and other inks), and methods of printing with such inks. The metallic pigment-containing ink described herein reduce, if not eliminate, the tendency of inks containing metallic pigments to spark and combust.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A metallic pigment-containing ink comprising a metallic pigment, wherein the ink exhibits a magnitude of exotherm less than 1200 J/g, or does not exhibit an observable exotherm, and wherein the ink is essentially free of nitrocellulose resin. 
     
     
         27 . The metallic pigment-containing ink of  claim 26 , wherein the metallic pigment is selected from aluminum, bronze, copper, brass, silver, gold, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         28 . The metallic pigment-containing ink of  claim 26 , wherein the metallic pigment is an aluminum pigment. 
     
     
         29 . The metallic pigment-containing ink of  claim 26 , wherein the metallic pigment is a non-leafing aluminum pigment. 
     
     
         30 . The metallic pigment-containing ink of  claim 26 , further comprising one or more resins selected from the group consisting of acrylates, methacrylates, polyurethanes, polyvinyl butyrals, polyesters, cellulose acetate propionates, polyamides, vinyls, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         31 . The metallic pigment-containing ink of  claim 26 , further comprising one or more solvents selected from aliphatic hydrocarbons, cyclic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, ketones, aldehydes, alcohols, ethers, esters, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         32 . The metallic pigment-containing ink of  claim 26 , further comprising a colorant. 
     
     
         33 . The metallic pigment-containing ink of  claim 26 , further comprising an additive selected from the group consisting of adhesion promoters, de-gassing additives, flow promoters, defoamers, antioxidants, surfactants, dispersants, plasticizers, rheological additives, anti-static agents, waxes, silicones, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         34 . The metallic pigment-containing ink of  claim 26 , further comprising an alcohol solvent, an acetate solvent, and a polyvinyl butyral resin. 
     
     
         35 . The metallic pigment-containing ink of  claim 26 , further comprising an alcohol solvent, an acetate solvent, and an acrylic resin. 
     
     
         36 . The metallic pigment-containing ink of  claim 26 , further comprising cellulose acetate propionate resin. 
     
     
         37 . The metallic pigment-containing ink of  claim 26 , further comprising an alcohol solvent, an acetate solvent, an ether alcohol solvent, a polyurethane resin, and a polyvinyl butyral resin. 
     
     
         38 . The metallic pigment-containing ink of  claim 26 , wherein the polyurethane resin is a polyether polyurethane resin 
     
     
         39 . The metallic pigment containing ink of  claim 26 , further comprising an alcohol solvent, an ether alcohol solvent, and a polyamide resin. 
     
     
         40 . A printed article comprising:
 a substrate; and   the metallic pigment-containing ink of  claim 26 , printed on the substrate.   
     
     
         41 . The printed article of  claim 40 , wherein the substrate is a material selected from polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, oriented polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate, and polylactic acid. 
     
     
         42 . A kit of inks for printing articles with a metallic pigment-containing ink comprising:
 one or more of the metallic pigment-containing inks of  claim 26 ; and   one or more inks that do not include a metallic pigment.   
     
     
         43 . A printed article comprising:
 a substrate;   at least one metallic pigment-containing ink provided in the kit of  claim 42  printed on the substrate; and   at least one ink that does not include a metallic pigment provided in the kit of  claim 42  printed on the substrate.   
     
     
         44 . The printed article of  claim 43 , wherein the substrate is a material selected from polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, oriented polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate, and polylactic acid. 
     
     
         45 . A method of printing an article, comprising:
 providing a substrate;   printing a metallic pigment-containing ink according to  claim 26 , on the substrate.   
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the substrate is a material selected from polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, oriented polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate, and polylactic acid. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the printing is selected from flexographic printing and gravure printing. 
     
     
         48 . A method of printing an article, comprising:
 providing a substrate; and   printing, in a selected series,
 at least one metallic pigment-containing ink provided in the kit of  claim 42  on the substrate; and 
 at least one ink that does not include a metallic pigment provided in the kit of  claim 42  printed on the substrate. 
   
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the substrate is a material selected from polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride, oriented polystyrene, polyethylene terephthalate, glycol-modified polyethylene terephthalate, and polylactic acid. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the printing is selected from flexographic printing and gravure printing. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein at least one metallic pigment-containing ink and the at least one ink that does not include a metallic pigment comprise resins that are different from each other.