Acrylic-urethane/modified Rhodamine-B eco-friendly UV-curable anticounterfeiting ink

Abstract

Counterfeiting is an ever-growing global problem challenging companies, governments, and customers. In recent decades, as a potential remedy, anticounterfeiting technology and information security have gained a great deal of attention from academia and industry. In this work and for the first time, Rhodamine B (RhB), an efficient and enticing fluorescent material, was modified and used as a reactive stimuli-responsive component in the formulation of an eco-friendly ink. Additionally, a UV-curable polyurethane dispersion (UCPUD) with zero volatile organic compound was synthesized and employed as the matrix for the fluorescent ink. The modified RhB and UCPUD were thoroughly characterized using Fourier-transform infrared and proton nuclear magnetic resonance analyses. Exploiting the fluorescent monomer in the ink formulations could enhance the absorption intensity (λmax = 552 nm) of the prepared ink up to 7 with respect to its solution (λmax = 519 nm). The printed pattern was immediately illuminated with brilliant red-pink fluorescence emission upon UV irradiation. It has been shown that the prepared fluorescent ink has potential applications in the encryption, security marking, and optical authentication of confidential cellulose substrates. © 2022 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.