Recyclable printed plastic container and method

摘要

A recyclable article having an external surface with an image printed thereon by droplets of ink is provided. The droplets of ink comprise a composition that includes a hydrophilic component. In embodiments, the hydrophilic component can facilitate the separation or loosening of the image from the external surface of the container when the image is exposed to a liquid-based solution at an elevated temperature. Methods for facilitating recycling of recyclable articles having printed images are also disclosed.

主权项

1. A method for removing cured ink from a plastic container having an image that is digitally-printed by a drop-on-demand ink jet process, the method comprising:
providing a plastic container having a curved external surface with a digital image printed directly on the curved external surface of the plastic container by a drop-on-demand ink jet printing process, the image comprising cured droplets of ink applied directly to the curved external surface of the plastic container and having an adhesion score of at least 6.0 and up through about 9.0, and the droplets of ink comprising a composition including a removal -promoting additive; exposing at least a portion of the digitally printed image of the plastic container to a liquid-based solution at an elevated temperature, wherein the elevated temperature is at least about 85° C.; and removing at least a portion of the digitally printed image from the curved external surface on which the image was printed.