Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02246680 1998-09-22
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Slip agent emulsion formulation for the printing industry folding
process.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an emulsion formulation and more
specifically to an emulsion formulation which can be used as a slip agent for
printing substrates during the printing process.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In the printing industry, it is known that the printing processes of
have developed through the years. Nowadays, the printing processes use
different kind of mechanisms. In the above invention, we are dealing
particularly
with the web printing process system. When using this process, the ink is
applied
onto a web. These inks are first dried by evaporation of the solvents
contained
therein when the printed surface is heated.
There has been developed a printing method in which a film of an
aqueous emulsion agent is formed on a wet surface right after printing to
improve
the problems associated with the drying method such as gloss to the surface.
Now, we have seen that the web printing operation folding process
needs to use an emulsion or slip agent to protect the freshly printed surface
and
provide ink smudge resistance. The problem with the actual slip agents are
tremendous because of an excessive use of slip agents containing toxic
chemicals, which are toxic for skin, inhalation and drinking such as
polydimethylsiloxane (silicones).
The present invention does not contain any toxic chemical element.
The new emulsion formulation helps in the drying of printing ink and various
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desired properties such as gloss to the surface. The new slip agent is applied
when the ink is still in the wet state, resulting in the elimination of static
electricity,
thereby increasing printing speed and providing ink smudge resistance. It has
also been discovered that, in addition to these previously stated advantages,
application of this emulsion will provide lubrication to the ink resin and
paper
fiber, reduce printing process costs. This emulsion is also environment
friendly.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide an emulsion
formulation which is environment friendly, highly stable in a wide range of
temperatures and can be stored for an extended period of time. The temperature
range at which this formulation can be stored may vary from -40°C to
+50 °C.
This particular criteria permits an impressive capacity to adapt to
temperature
variations that can be encountered, for example, during transportation. ~',s
can
be seen, the new slip agent can be stored for several years without aria
degradation. In contrast, the formulations currently available on the market
have
a limited storability of up to approximately a year to a variable range of
temperature to about -15°C to +25°C.
Another object cf the present invention is to provide stable
emulsions that are applied to the surface of the printed substrate after the
ink is
applied.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a an emulsion formulation comprising:
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from about 10 to about 30 percent by weight of a C1$ to C45 paraffinic oil or
a mixture thereof;
from about 0.1 to about 0.5 percent by weight of acrylic acid;
from about 0.3 to about 0.7 percent by weight of polyvinyl pyrolidone;
from about 0.01 to about 0.5 percent by weight of triethanolamine; and
the balance being water.
Preferably the amount of a C~$ to C45 paraffinic oil, acrylic acid,
polyvinyl pyrolidone (P.V.P) and water is in amount of about 25, 0.1, 0.5 and
75
percent by weight respectively.
The formulation may further include from about 10 to about 30
percent by weight from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol,
polypropylene
glycol or a mixture thereof; preferably the formulation includes from about 40
t~
70 percent by weight of water.
In use, the formulation can be applied onto printing surfaces as ~:
slip agent by diluting it in water by about five to fifteen times its
concentration.
Generally, the extent of dilution depends on the type of printing press and
the
speed at which the press is operated. The formulation can also be used in
industries other than the printing industry such as the rubber and fiber
industries
where slip agents are used.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a composition of matter for protecting a printing substrate
comprising,
by weight:
from about 1000 to abo~!t 3000 parts of a C1$ to C45 paraffinic oil or a
mixture thereof;
from about 10 to about 50 parts of acrylic acid;
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from about 30 to about 70 parts of polyvinyl pyrolidone;
from about 1 to about 50 parts of triethanolamine; and
the balance being water.
Also, the composition may further comprise from about 100? to
about 3000 parts by weight from the group consisting of polyethylene glycol,
polypropylene glycol or a mixture thereof; preferably, the composition
includes
from about 4000 to 7000 parts of water, for transportation and storage before
dilution.
In accordance with still another aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a process for preparing an emulsion composition comprising
mixing, in the following order:
from about 10 to about 30 weight percent of a C1$ to C45 paraffinic oil or a
mixture thereof;
from about 0.1 to about 0.5 weight percent of acrylic acid;
from about 0.3 to about 0.7 weight percent of polyvinyl pyrolidone;
water; and
from about 0.01 to about 0.5 weight percent of triethanolamine.
The process may further comprise, before the addition of water,
mixing from about 10 to about 30 percent by weight from the group consisting
of
polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol or a mixture thereof.
The term "break" as used herein means the separation of water and
oil of the emulsion formulation. This is undesirable as it renders the
formulation
ineffective.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention does not contain any toxic chemical element.
The new emulsion formulation helps in the drying of printing ink and various
desired properties such as gloss to the surface. The new slip agent is applied
when the ink is still in the wet state, resulting in the elimination of static
electricity,
thereby increasing printing speed and providing ink smudge resistance.
The emulsion formulation of the present invention generally
comprises:
from about 10 to about 25 percent by weight of a C18 to C45 paraffinic oil or
a mixture thereof;
from about 0.1 to about 0.5 percent by weight of acrylic acid;
from about 0.3 to about 0.7 percent by weight of polyvinyl pyrolidone;
from about 0.01 to about 0.5 percent by weight of triethanolamine; and
the balance being water.
Any C1$ to C45 paraffinic oils or mixtures thereof would be suitaaie
for preparing the emulsion formulation of the present invention. Preferably, a
mixture of an equal amount of paraffinic oils are used to prepare the emulsion
formulation of the present invention.
It was found that various emulsion agents can be used. Acrylic acid
was found to be an excellent emulsion agent in this case.
The pH of the formulation is maintained at about 5.2 to 5.8, and
preferably at about 5.5, by the addition of triethanolamine. Outside of this
range,
the emulsion tends to break, resulting in the separation of water and oil.
Any type of water, either ionized, distilled or tap water, may be used
in formulating the emulsion formulation of the present invention. Preferably,
at
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least 40 percent by weight of water is included in the formulation. Below that
amount, the emulsion tends to break. Similarly, it was found that the addition
of
inorganic salts, acid, anionic, or cationic emulsifiers also tend to break the
emulsion.
Also, the emulsion formulations may further include from about 10
to about 30 percent by weight of additives from the group consisting of
polyethylene glycol, polypropylene gi~rcol, or a mixture thereof may be added
to
the emulsion formulation, preferably the latter comprises from about 40 to
about
70 percent by weight of water.
While preparing the formulation, the above ingredients are slowly
mixed at room temperature using, for example, a circulation pump. It has been
found that mixing at high speed could break the emulsion rather than provide a
homogeneous mixture. The ingredients should be added for mixing in the
following order: paraffinic oil, acrylic acid, polyvinyl pyrolidone, water and
triethanolamine.
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MATERIAL
Corresponding chemical abstract registry numbers are listed in
Table 1.
Table 1: Chemical Abstract Registry Numbers of Starting Material
Chemicals Registry Numbers
C18 to C45 paraffinic oil 72623-84-8
mixture ~ 72623-85-9
72623-87-1
acrylic acid 79-10-7
polyvinyl pyrolidone 9003-39-8
water 7732-18-5
polyethylene glycol (CarbowaxT"")30322-68-3
propylene glycol 57-55-6
polypropylene glycol(CarbowaxT"")30322-69-9
triethanolamine I 102-71-6
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EXAMPLE 1
Preparation of a emulsion formulation
In one embodiment of the present invention the emulsion
formulation was prepared by mixing the following components at room
temperature in the order indicated:
Components Amount (% by weight)
C18 to C4~ paraffinc 25
oil mixture
acrylic acid 0.1
polyvinyl pyrolidone 0.5
wate r 74. 3
triethanolamine 0.1
Total ! 100
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EXAMPLE 2
Preparation of another emulsion formulation
In another embodiment of the present invention, a emulsion
formulation was prepared by miring the following ingredients at room
temperature in the order indicated:
Components Amount (% by weight)
C1$ to C45 paraffinic 25
oil mixture
acrylic acid 0.1
polyvinyl pyrolidone 0.5
polyethylene glycol 10
polypropylene glycol 10
water 54.3
triethanolamine 0.1
Total 100
While the foregoing embodiments of the invention have been
described and shown, it is understood that all alternatives and modifications
may
be made thereto and fall within the scope of the invention.
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