Water-Based Coatings for Improved Print Performance with Multiple Print Technology

Abstract

Various aqueous coating formulations are described. The compositions include one or more UV curable polyurethane dispersions, and optionally one or more of the following: non-UV curable acrylic polymers, a polyester dispersion, a non-UV curable polyurethane dispersion, and one or more additives. The compositions can be used to form top coats that exhibit good resistance to scratches and solvents, and improved ink adhesion and image quality.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An aqueous coating formulation, comprising:
 water;   a UV curable polymer comprising a UV curable polyurethane, a UV curable acrylic polymer, a UV curable polyurethane/acrylic copolymer, or combinations thereof;   a non-UV curable acrylic polymer dispersion;   a polyester dispersion;   a non-UV curable polyurethane dispersion; and   optionally, one or more UV curable additives.   
     
     
         2 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the formulation is free of hard polyurethane. 
     
     
         3 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the formulation is free of cross-linker and photoinitiator. 
     
     
         5 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the formulation is free of hard polyurethane, crosslinker, and photoinitiator. 
     
     
         6 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the formulation contains less than about 0.5 wt. % surfactant. 
     
     
         7 . The formulation of  claim 6 , wherein the formulation contains less than about 0.3 wt. % surfactant. 
     
     
         8 . The formulation of  claim 6 , wherein the formulation contains less than about 0.1 wt. % surfactant. 
     
     
         9 . The formulation of  claim 1 , further comprising antiblocking agent. 
     
     
         10 . The formulation of  claim 9 , wherein the antiblocking agent comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of silica, PMMA, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The formulation of  claim 1 , wherein the UV curable polymer comprises a UV curable polyurethane in an amount from about 1 wt. % to about 25 wt. %; the non-UV curable polyurethane dispersion is present in an amount from about 10 wt. % to about 40 wt. %; the polyester dispersion is present in an amount from about 10 wt. % to about 40 wt. %, and the non-UV curable acrylic polymer dispersion is present in an amount from about 10 wt. % to about 40 wt. %. 
     
     
         12 . The formulation of  claim 11 , wherein the formulation is free of hard polyurethane. 
     
     
         13 . The formulation of  claim 11 , wherein the formulation is free of cross-linker. 
     
     
         14 . The formulation of  claim 11 , wherein the formulation is free of photoinitiator. 
     
     
         15 . The formulation of  claim 11 , wherein the formulation is free of hard polyurethane, crosslinker, and photoinitiator. 
     
     
         16 . The formulation of  claim 11 , wherein the formulation contains less than about 0.5 wt. % surfactant. 
     
     
         17 . The formulation of  claim 11 , wherein the formulation contains less than about 0.3% surfactant. 
     
     
         18 . The formulation of  claim 11 , wherein the formulation contains or less than about 0.1 wt. % surfactant. 
     
     
         19 . A method for improving the ink adhesion and/or image quality for UV inkjet printing, the method comprising coating a substrate with the formulation of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the substrate is a material selected from the group consisting of cellulosic material, polymeric film, and combinations thereof.