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BR-112013004888-B1 - Wax Mixtures, Printing Ink Compositions, Thermal Transfer Ribbon and Use of Wax Mixtures

BR112013004888B1BR 112013004888 B1BR112013004888 B1BR 112013004888B1BR-112013004888-B1

Abstract

Wax Mixtures, Printing Ink Compositions, Thermal Transfer Ribbon and Use of Wax Mixtures. The present invention relates to wax mixtures containing hydrocarbons and long-chain alcohols, to printing ink compositions and thermal transfer ribbons containing said wax mixtures, and to the use of said wax mixtures as additives in printing inks.

Inventors

  • Ulrich Schneider
  • Uwe Kurras
  • Thorsten Frick

Assignees

  • SASOL GERMANY GMBH

Dates

Publication Date
20260317
Application Date
20110902
Priority Date
20100903

Claims (17)

  1. 1 - Wax mixtures, characterized by comprising: (A) 5% to 95% by weight of long-chain hydrocarbons with 18 to 110 carbon atoms and (B) 5% to 95% by weight of long-chain alcohols with 12 to 36 carbon atoms, in relation, in each case, to the total of (A) and (B), wherein the freezing point of the long-chain hydrocarbon or mixture of long-chain hydrocarbons and the freezing point of the long-chain alcohol or mixture of long-chain alcohols do not differ by more than 10°C and wherein the hydrocarbons (A) and alcohols (B) total 80% to 100% by weight of the wax mixtures.
  2. 2 - Wax Mixtures, according to Claim 1, characterized in that the long-chain hydrocarbons are or contain Fischer-Tropsch waxes and, preferably: a) at least 50% by weight, especially 70% by weight, of the long-chain hydrocarbons are Fischer-Tropsch waxes, b) the long-chain hydrocarbons are a mixture of Fischer-Tropsch waxes and microcrystalline waxes, and/or c) at least some of the long-chain hydrocarbons or Fischer-Tropsch waxes are hydroisomerized Fischer-Tropsch waxes.
  3. 3 - Wax mixtures, according to Claim 2, characterized in that the Fischer-Tropsch waxes have solidification points of 50° to 105° C.
  4. 4 - Wax mixtures, according to Claim 2, characterized in that the Fischer-Tropsch waxes have a kinematic viscosity of less than 25 mm²/s, in particular less than 20 mm²/s, at a temperature at least 10°C above the solidification point (ASTM D445).
  5. 5 - Wax mixtures, according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the freezing point of the long-chain hydrocarbon or mixture of long-chain hydrocarbons and the freezing point of the long-chain alcohol or mixture of long-chain alcohols do not differ by more than 8°C.
  6. 6 - Wax mixtures, according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that their solidification point is from 45° to 80° C, optionally even from 45° to 90° C, more particularly from 50° to 78° C, optionally even from 50° to 85° C, particularly preferably from 55° to 75° C, optionally even from 55° to 80° C.
  7. 7 - Wax mixtures, according to at least any one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that their solidification point is between 55° and 90° C, in particular between 70° and 90° C.
  8. 8 - Wax mixtures, according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized by comprising: (A) 20% to 50% by weight or 20% to 40% by weight of hydrocarbons (A) and (B) 50% to 80% by weight or 60% to 80% by weight of alcohols (B) in relation, in each case, to the total of (A) and (B).
  9. 9 - Wax mixtures, according to at least any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that 40% to 80%, particularly 43% to 77% and particularly preferably 45% to 75%, of the melting energy are consumed in a temperature range of +/- 2.5°C around the maximum melting curve.
  10. 10 - Wax mixtures, according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the long-chain hydrocarbons are hydrocarbons with 18 to 100 carbon atoms, preferably 20 to 100 carbon atoms.
  11. 11 - Printing Ink Compositions, characterized by comprising wax mixtures as defined in at least one of the preceding Claims and further containing at least one dye and/or at least one resin and/or at least one adhesion promoter.
  12. 12 - Printing Ink Compositions, according to Claim 11, characterized in comprising from 5% to 20% by weight of dyes.
  13. 13 - Printing Ink Compositions, according to Claim 11, characterized by comprising from 0.5% to 10% by weight of resins.
  14. 14 - Printing Ink Compositions, according to Claim 11, characterized by comprising from 0.2% to 10% by weight of adhesion promoters.
  15. 15 - Thermal Transfer Tape, characterized by comprising a conductive film made of a polymeric plastic material and at least one layer that includes a wax mixture or printing ink composition as defined in at least one of Claims 1 to 14.
  16. 16 - Use of Wax Mixtures, as defined in at least any one of Claims 1 to 10, characterized by being a carrier for printing inks that are melted during the printing process.
  17. 17 - Use of Wax Mixtures, according to Claim 16, characterized by being a component of a thermal transfer tape coating.

Description

DESCRIPTIVE REPORT [001] The present invention relates to wax mixtures containing alcohols and long-chain hydrocarbons, to printing ink compositions and thermal transfer ribbons containing said wax mixtures, and to the use of wax mixtures as additives in printing inks. [002] The use of paraffin wax blends is well known in the printing industry. In some applications, wax blends with a very narrow distribution of cut carbon chains are used. These wax blends are obtained in the form of fractions by distilling natural or synthetic paraffins. Due to the very narrow distribution of cut carbon chains, the waxes melt quickly and completely during the printing process, and the printing ink solidifies quickly afterward. These waxes ensure clean application of the printing ink to the conductive medium thanks to their low viscosity and limited melting range. In addition, these waxes provide the printing ink with a corresponding sliding behavior, thus also performing a protective function after the printing process. [003] Specifically, finely cut paraffin waxes must be prepared by special distillation processes with equipment designed specifically for this purpose, of which there are very few in the world, as well as being quite expensive. [004] The problem that inspired the present invention was, therefore, the need to provide new wax mixtures with a limited and defined melting range. Unlike separately distilled wax fractions, the wax mixtures according to the present invention are provided by mixing certain more accessible and less expensive components. [005] In this context, the mixtures must be converted, as directly as possible, from a solid state to a liquid state with low viscosity. This behavior is necessary, especially in the case of printing inks that include wax mixtures as a conductive substance. These can be used in toner printing inks and as thermal transfer ribbons (TTR) or as wax-based printing inks for digital printing or powder inks. [006] Normally, it is not possible to use oleochemical-based materials that also have a limited melting range as a substitute for tightly cut waxes because of other properties of these substances, such as brittleness, crystallinity, and the like. [007] In wax mixtures according to the invention, it was found, to everyone's surprise, that a mixture of known waxes and long-chain alcohols, including aliphatic polyethers with hydroxyl function, results in products with a limited melting range that are equally practical in the industry. The molten material exhibits fluid characteristics and relatively low viscosity. [008] The wax mixtures according to the invention can be obtained by combining hydrocarbons (paraffin waxes), with carbon chains of different lengths, with long-chain alcohols. The individual components are adjusted in relation to each other as described below depending on the requirements for the melting point and rigidity of the product. [009] The following options may be considered for use as long-chain aliphatic alcohols with 12 to 26, preferably 18 to 28, carbon atoms: fatty alcohols (C12 to C22), wax alcohols (C24 to C36), polyethers with at least one free hydroxyl group such as polyethylene glycols, glycols, diols and/or polyols. Aliphatic fatty and wax alcohols with at least one hydroxyl group, preferably a single hydroxyl group, have proven to be particularly suitable. [0010] Long-chain hydrocarbons with 18 to 110, especially 20 to 100, carbon atoms, in a more preferred variation with 20 to 70 carbon atoms, may be selected from the alkane group. These may be mixtures of saturated linear and/or branched hydrocarbons obtained from mineral oils or by synthesis processes. The long-chain hydrocarbon group includes paraffin waxes, microcrystalline waxes, Fischer-Tropsch waxes and/or short-chain polyethylene waxes, particularly Fischer-Tropsch waxes with 18 to 110 carbon atoms, preferably 20 to 100. [0011] Fischer-Tropsch waxes (FT waxes) are linear hydrocarbons where 1% to 10% of the molecules have one or more methyl branches (determination of the isoalkane proportion according to the Standard Test Method for Analysis of Hydrocarbon Waxes by Gas Chromatography - Method EWF 001/03). FT waxes exhibit low kinematic viscosity, for example, less than 25 mm²/s at 120°C and about 21 mm²/s at 130°C. [0012] According to one embodiment, preferably at least 50% by weight, more particularly 70% by weight, of the long-chain hydrocarbons are Fischer-Tropsch waxes. The long-chain hydrocarbons may be a mixture of Fischer-Tropsch waxes and microcrystalline waxes; and/or the long-chain hydrocarbons and/or at least some of the Fischer-Tropsch waxes are hydroisomerized Fischer-Tropsch waxes. [0013] According to one embodiment, preferably, Fischer-Tropsch waxes have solidification points of 50° to 105°C, especially 75° to 105°C, and, regardless of this, are further characterized by a kinematic viscosity of less than 25 mm2/s, especially less than 20 mm2/s, at least 10°C above the sol