Synthesis and characterization of waterborne acrylic-co-resin for the development of water-based ink and study of the effect on printing properties after cross-linking

In this study, waterborne acrylic-co-resins were first synthesized using Methylmetha acrylate (MMA), butyl acrylate (BA), acrylic acid (AA), diacetone acrylamide (DAAM) monomers and azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) by solution polymerization in a set of four different formulations by varying the weight % of DAAM. Based on the characterization results of all different formulations of acrylic-co-resin, a suitable resin was selected to prepare water-based cyan and black ink. Developed water-based cyan and black inks had desirable ink properties, i.e., particle size of 306 nm and 215 nm, viscosity values were measured 70 cp and 80 cp, pH value was of 8.5 and 8.2, surface energy of 32 dynes/cm and 30 dynes/cm respectively. The drying of printed ink was measured within 7 and 8 seconds, respectively. Adhesion values for cyan and black ink were measured at 70.19 % and 51.37 % , respectively, which needed further improvement for bonding with the printing substrate. Adipic dihydrazide (ADH) enhanced ink bonding by forming a ketone-hydrazide crosslinking. Four different concentrations of ADH (0.1 %, 0.2 %, 0.3 %, and 0.4 % of weight of acrylic-co-resin) were prepared, and all the properties of ink were tested. It was observed that adhesion was improved from 70 % to 95 % . • Water-based inks for gravure printing applications. • Use of ADH as a crosslinker to improve the printing properties. • Environment-friendly and sustainable solution for flexible packaging to reduce the carbon footprint and VOCs emission.