Synthesis of non-ionic water-dispersible resins for use in intaglio inks curing by electron-beam radiation. Annual report

Several types of non-ionic resins which cure under the action of radiation such as UV or electron beam have been synthesized. The resins disperse in neutral water when uncured. The water dispersibility is conferred by incorporating polyethylene oxide sequences in the resin molecules. The polymerizing action is conferred by methacrylate groups. Typically, one end of each polyethylene sequence is attached to a methacrylate group, and the other end is chemically linked in various ways to produce resins varying from 2 to 4 methacrylate functionality. The linking moieties used are (1) a phosphazene ring, (2) a siloxane center, (3) a poly (methyl methacrylate) backbone, and (4) a mixture of difunctional and trifunctional isocyantes. When the resins containing the urethane linkages were used with low viscosity crosslinkers, the mixtures were of appropriate viscosity for use in intaglio inks and cured with less than two megarads exposure to give reasonably flexible scuff-free films. The other resins were not viscous enough for use in intaglio inks and in some cases cured too slowly.