Agfa-Gevaert has been granted a patent for a method of decorating natural leather using radiation curable inkjet inks. The process involves jetting decorative images onto leather and curing the inks, which contain specific proportions of polymerizable compounds and may include organic solvents, with a glass transition temperature below 25°C. GlobalData’s report on Agfa-Gevaert gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.
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According to GlobalData’s company profile on Agfa-Gevaert, Document anti-counterfeiting was a key innovation area identified from patents. Agfa-Gevaert's grant share as of July 2024 was 85%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.
Method for decorating natural leather using radiation curable inks
The patent US12070964B2 outlines a method for manufacturing decorated natural leather through a process that involves jetting radiation curable inkjet inks onto a base coat on the leather surface. The inks used in this method contain a colorant and a polymerizable composition, which consists of 0.5 to 15.0 wt % of polyfunctional polymerizable compounds and at least 85.0 wt % of monofunctional polymerizable compounds. Notably, the inks can be solvent-free or contain up to 35.0 wt % organic solvent, and they are characterized by a glass transition temperature of less than 25° C. The method also allows for the inclusion of white pigments, such as titanium dioxide, in the ink formulations.
Further details of the method include the potential application of a protective topcoat, which may also be based on polyurethane, after the inks have been partially cured. The patent specifies that the natural leather surface can be crusted leather, and it may involve additional steps such as heat pressing or embossing. The ink formulations can include specific pigments for blue, yellow, and red or magenta inks, ensuring a wide range of decorative possibilities. The claims emphasize the composition of the inks, including the types of polymerizable compounds and photoinitiators, which are crucial for achieving the desired decorative effects on the leather.
To know more about GlobalData’s detailed insights on Agfa-Gevaert, buy the report here.
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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
