Composition for invisible ink responsive to infrared light

Claim 2

A thermal transfer ink composition that is transparent or nearly transparent having more than 60% reflectance or transmission % T in the visible range between 400 and 700 nm comprising: a) 0.5 to 5% of a phthalocyanine dye having OR, SR, OH or NR 2 donor groups absorbs light between 700 nm to 1200 nm that is transparent or nearly transparent having more than 60% reflectance in the visible range of the spectrum; b) 60 to 80% of a urethane derivative of a modified oxidized synthetic petroleum wax that solubilized the phthalocyanine dye; c) 4 to 15% carnauba wax; and d) 10 to 20% ethyl vinyl acetate polymer; whereby the ink composition may be detected by a IR sensor detecting light in the IR range of 700 to 1200 nm, and able to be printed on non porous surfaces.

Claim 3

The composition of claim 1 wherein said phthalocyanine dye has the formula: ##STR2## Where Nu are functional groups substituted by nucleophilic reaction on the original phthalocyanine molecule with donor groups.

Claim 4

The composition of claim 2 wherein M is selected from the group consisting of copper, iron or manganese.

Claim 5

The composition of claim 3 wherein the donor group is selected from amine groups, hydroxy groups, alcoxy groups and thiol groups.

Claim 6

A thermal transfer ink composition that is transparent or nearly transparent having more than 60% reflectance or transmission % T in the visible range between 400 and 700 nm comprising: a) 0.5 to 5% of a phthalocyanine dye having OR, SR, OH or NR 2 donor groups absorbs light between 700 nm to 1200 nm that is transparent or nearly transparent having more than 60% reflectance in the visible range of spectrum; b) 60 to 80% of a polyethylene wax; c) 4 to 15% of a urethane derivative of a modified oxidized synthetic petroleum wax that solubilized the substituted phthalocyanine dye; d) 4 to 10% of a carnauba wax; and e) 10 to 20% ethyl vinyl acetate polymer; whereby the ink composition may be detected by an IR sensor detecting light in the IR range of 700 to 1200 nm, and able to be printed on non porous substrates.

Claim 7

A thermal transfer ink composition that is transparent or nearly transparent having more than 60% reflectance or transmission % T in the visible range between 400 and 700 nm comprising: a) 0.5 to 5% of a phthalocyanine dye having OR, SR, OH or NR 2 donor groups absorbs light between 700 nm to 1200 nm that is transparent or nearly transparent having more than 60% reflectance in the visible range of spectrum; b) 60 to 80% of a polyethylene wax; c) 4 to 15% of a urethane derivative of a modified oxidized synthetic petroleum wax that solubilized the substituted phthalocyanine dye; d) 4 to 10% of a carnauba wax; and e) 10 to 20% ethyl vinyl acetate polymer; whereby the ink composition may be detected by an IR sensor detecting light in the IR range of 700 to 1200 nm, and able to be printed on non porous substrates.

Claim 8

The composition of claim 1 wherein said phthalocyanine dye has the formula: ##STR3## Where Nu are functional groups substituted by nucleophilic reaction on the original phthalocyanine molecule with donor groups selected from amine, hydroxyl, alcoxy and thiol groups.

Claim 9

The composition of claim 6 wherein M is selected from the group consisting of copper, iron or manganese.

Claim 10

The composition of claim 6 wherein N is in the amine groups.

Claim 11

A thermal transfer ink composition that is transparent of nearly transparent in the visible range between 400 and 700 nm comprising: a) 0.5 to 5% of a combination of two or more invisible IR absorbing phthalocyanine dyes having OR, SR, OH, NR 2 donor groups; b) 60 to 80% of a wax selected from the group consisting of polyethylene wax, natural paraffin wax and urethane derivative of oxidized synthetic wax, c) 4 to 15% carnauba wax, and d) 10 to 20% ethyl vinyl acetate polymer.

Claim 12

A thermal transfer ink composition that is transparent of nearly transparent in the visible range between 400 and 700 nm comprising: a) 0.5 to 5% of a combination of two or more invisible IR absorbing phthalocyanine dyes having OR, SR, OH, NR 2 donor groups; b) 60 to 80% of a wax selected from the group consisting of polyethylene wax, natural paraffin wax and urethane derivative of oxidized synthetic wax, c) 4 to 15% carnauba wax, and d) 10 to 20% ethyl vinyl acetate polymer.

Claim 13

The composition of claim 9 wherein said phthalocyanine dyes have the formula: ##STR4## Where Nu are functional groups substituted by nucleophilic reaction on the original phthalocyanine molecule with donor groups selected from amine, hydroxyl, alcoxy and thiol groups.

Claim 14

The composition of claim 9 wherein M is selected from the group consisting of copper, iron or manganese.